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Safeguarding
Safeguarding and Child Protection at Handford Hall
The Governors and Staff at Handford Hall Primary School are fully committed to ensure every child, who is a pupil at our school, is safe and protected from harm.
Handford Hall’s Safeguarding policy gives clear direction to staff, volunteers, visitors, governors and parents about expected behaviours and legal responsibilities we all have: to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children at our school.
To achieve this we aim to:
- Promote safe practice within our school, including recruitment procedures to prevent unsuitable people from working with the children
- Identify instances where there are grounds for concern about a child’s welfare and initiate or take appropriate action to keep them safe
- Contribute to effective partnership working between all those involved in providing services for our children
Handford Halll’s Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead is Mrs Caston. Deputy designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Blake, Mrs Grew, Miss Bodkin, Miss Kirby and Mrs Hilton. Our nominated Safeguarding Governor is Henrietta Wells.
The Designated Safeguarding lead (DSL) takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.
One key message that parents need to be very clear about is that if you have a concern about a child's well-being you must contact the school as soon as possible and make contact with our Designated Safeguarding lead.
PLEASE CALL THE SCHOOL on 01473 251603 and request to speak to Mrs Caston, Mrs Blake, Mrs Hilton, Mrs Grew, Miss Kirby or Miss Bodkin.
Support for parents and families is available through a number of agencies. Click below for more information.
All information is treated with the strictest of confidence.
Our policy applies to all Pupils, Staff, Parents, Governors, volunteers and visitors.
Handford Hall’s Safeguarding Children Policy is available under School Polices Tab.
Useful safeguarding links
Click HERE to visit the NSPCC website. Tel: 0808 800 5000
Click HERE to visit the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board. Tel: 0808 800 4005
Click HERE to visit the Childline website. Tel: 0800 1111
On-line Safety
Keeping safe on-line is very important to us at Handford Hall Primary.
Our e-safety policy reflects the importance of using information systems and electronic communication safely. We aim to keep our children safe online and also when using mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. We feel it is important to educate our children on the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology.
All of our pupils and staff have signed our acceptable use of technology agreements and training is provided regularly for both staff and pupils.
Mr Harraway is our on- line safety co-ordinator.
These websites may be useful to you if you have any questions about your child's safety online:
Prevent Duty
HM Government has published guidance for authorities, including schools, on their responsibilities under
the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, which came into effect on 1 July 2015.
Under the Act, schools and other authorities have a duty to “have due regard to the need to prevent people
from being drawn into terrorism”.
So what is the Prevent strategy?
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.
How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?
From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from other dangers. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.
What does this mean in practice?
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
These include:
- Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
- Challenging prejudices and racist comments
- Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.
Mrs H. Caston
Prevent Lead
If you believe that a child, family or staff member may be at risk of radicalisation, extremism or violent views.
Please contact Mrs H Caston