Safeguarding and wellbeing at Norton in Hales CE Primary school

Keeping children safe in education

Norton in Hales CE Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. Strict child protection and recruitment procedures operate and all appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

There have been important updates to the safeguarding duties for schools, including the statutory duty to report HBV, CSE, CCE and PREVENT.

 If an adult has a concern about any aspect of the welfare or well-being of a child they should inform a Designated Safeguarding Lead and record it as a concern.

 Everyone should listen; a child will disclose to a person who they trust. As a staff team we are confident in recognising, referring, responding and recording safeguarding incidents.

The Designated Safeguarding Leads at Norton in Hales Primary School are:

Lead DSL

Angela Alkureishi (Lead DSL)

Deputy DSL's

Theresa Buckley

Christopher Thompson

Jessica Leivers 

Wendy Palin 

Debbie Bayley

Prevent Duty 

From July 2015, schools have a specific duty to safeguard young people from being drawn into terrorism – this duty is known as the Prevent Duty.

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views. 

Honour Based Violence

Forced Marriage

A Forced Marriage (FM) is a marriage conducted without the valid consent of one or both parties and where duress is a factor. FM is now a specific offence under s121 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and comes into force on 16 June 2014.

For more information please follow the government guidance link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage

For more information please follow the NHS guidance link 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Child Sexual Exploitation is where young people under 18 are encouraged, trapped, forced or coerced into a sexual relationship or situation by an adult. It often involves the young person being offered something in return for performing sexual acts such as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, gifts, money, food, accommodation or affection. CSE is a form of abuse. Children may be at risk from or involved with serious crime (CCE).

For more information please follow the NSPCC information link

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation/

Peer on Peer abuse

 Children can abuse other children. This is most likey to include, but may no be limited to:

• bullying
• physical abuse
• sexual violence
• sexual harassment
• upskirting- which typically involves taking a picture under a person's clothing without them knowing, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to obtain sexual gratification (This is an illegal act)
• sexting 
• initiation/hazing type violence and rituals

Mental Health

Mental Health problems can, in some cases, be an indicator that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse, neglect or exploitation. 

Keeping safe online 

Norton in Hales CE Primary School believes that the safe use of information and communication technologies brings great benefits. Recognising online safety issues and planning accordingly will help to ensure appropriate, effective and safer use of electronic communications.

Volunteers

Volunteers in school are widely recognised as a valuable resource and are needed for a variety of reasons, such as school trips and regular reading help. It is important that all volunteers understand safeguarding requirements in school and as such these are detailed in our Volunteer's Policy.