Safeguarding
“This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.” For further information about safeguarding please refer to the policies section.
Nateby Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Consequently all adults working in school are required to complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Enhanced Police Check.
All schools have a clear responsibility to ensure they work together with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. As a result, if concerns are raised within our school, or a child or parent reports a situation involving possible abuse, we are required to refer such matters to the appropriate Children’s Services, in line with Government and Lancashire Education Authority.
It may be helpful for parents to know that the Local Authority requires Head Teachers to report any obvious or suspected case of child abuse which includes non-accidental injury, severe physical neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. This procedure is intended to protect children at risk and schools are encouraged to take the attitude that where there are grounds for suspicion it is better to be safe than sorry. This does mean that Head Teachers risk upsetting some parents by reporting a case, which on investigation proves unfounded. In such circumstances, it is hoped that parents, appreciating how difficult it is for Head Teachers to carry out this delicate responsibility, would accept that the Head Teacher was acting in what were believed to be the child’s best interests.
Our Designated Senior Person for safeguarding is:
Mrs C Vardey (Headteacher)
Our Deputy DSP is:
Mrs Helen Smith
Our Safeguarding Governor is Mr Mark Barlow
Operation Encompass
Nateby Primary School works very closely with the Police to ensure we are informed of any situation that occurs outside of school hours where it may have an effect on our pupils. We do this through ‘Operation Encompass’. Use this link to learn more:
https://www.operationencompass.org/
Operation Encompass is a national initiative with the aim of helping to protect children, through better communication between the police and schools.
Lancashire’s qualifying criteria for Op Encompass:
• All domestic abuse incidents
• Vulnerable child investigations
• Missing people
All of the above include children aged 4 – 17yrs.
How does it work?
When the police attend an incident of domestic abuse, vulnerable child or any missing investigation involving children (even if they were not present at the time), key information about it will be shared in the strictest confidence with a designated member of staff at the school or college.
This information is sent by the police electronically to the school/college the child/children attend.
The school/college is then able to provide the young person with immediate support to complement existing safeguarding measures.
At Nateby the Key Adult for Operation Encompass is Mrs Vardey
Use this link for child protection services:
Contact Children & Social Care Team Lancashire: 030 0123 6720
Helpful websites:
https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/