Safeguarding
All staff at Broughton are committed to ensure the safety of children is our highest priority. Staff are trained to identify any risks and are vigilant to ensure the protection of all children. All staff have received training on the most current guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023'.
We strive to ensure that all our students remain safe and free from harm, and we are committed to playing a full and active part in the multi-agency approach to child protection concerns.
Additionally, we have a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, and to have a child protection policy and procedures in place, which should be shared with you, to address concerns about the safety and protection of children and young people.
Through our day-to-day contact with students, and direct work with families, our staff have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse, neglect and exploitation. Parents/carers should be aware therefore, that where it appears to a member of staff that a child or young person may have been abused, we are required, as part of the local child protection procedures to report this concern to Children’s Social Care immediately. Therefore, to avoid any misunderstandings, parents/carers of students who sustain accidental injuries such as cuts/bruises/fractures should inform us without delay and explain the cause.
Principles
Children and young people have a right to be safe.
Parents/carers have a right to be informed of any concerns.
Children and young people are best protected when we work together with parents/carers.
Partnership
Please speak to us if you have any concerns.
We will inform parents/carers of any concerns we have and will offer help and support as necessary.
We will seek your permission to share information.
We will involve you and actively encourage you to participate in any meetings regarding your child.
We will consult with other agencies when we have concerns that a child or young person may have been abused, neglected or exploited.
Prevention
We aim to offer help and support at the earliest opportunity as needs emerge (Early Help).
We have a comprehensive PSHE curriculum that teaches our students about keeping safe.
We will take positive action to prevent children and young people from abuse, neglect and exploitation through the development of an open culture that informs children and young people of their rights and encourages them to speak about any concerns.
Responding to Concerns
We will listen to parents/carers who raise concerns about their child and offer support.
We will refer all allegations or concerns that a student has been, or is likely to be, abused, neglected or exploited to Children's Social Services.
We will put support in place as soon as we are aware of any concerns this may include completing an Early Help Assessment.
Child on Child Abuse
Physical and emotional abuse of children by other children will not be tolerated and will be dealt with. Parents/carers will be kept informed of actions taken. All concerns about abuse will be referred immediately to Children’s Social Care and the police.
Parents/carers or students can report abuse by contacting Dedicated helpline for victims of abuse in schools | NSPCC and Stop abuse together (campaign.gov.uk)
We will ensure students are believed and listened to and support is put in place. This may include a safety plan. Sanctions will be put in place for the perpetrator(s).
Emotional health and wellbeing
We aim to support any students who experience any difficulties with their emotional health and wellbeing. Please speak to a member of staff for more details and access support at Be Kind to My Mind here
Domestic Abuse
As part of Operation Encompass we receive notifications from the police relating to domestic incidents when children/young people live in the household. The aim is for us to offer advice and support.
Parents and carers are encouraged to speak to us about domestic abuse.
Online Safety
Children can be harmed and abused online and therefore we have measures in place to protect them. We also teach students how to keep safe on line.
It is important that Parents/carers have adequate safety measures in place at home, that children receive consistent messages of how to keep safe on line and that they are appropriately supervised.
Child Protection Strategy Meetings and Conferences
If circumstances require, a member of our staff will attend strategy meetings and child protection conferences and will share information. This information will be shared with parents/carers beforehand where possible. We will keep confidential child protection records separately from a student’s academic and other records. And these will be transferred to their future school/college.
Confidentiality
Information from any source, including parents, about possible child abuse cannot be kept confidential.
Information and records about children who are the subject of a Child Protection Plan will be given only to those people who need it and will be kept strictly confidential by them.
If parents have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of their child, they should contact our Designated Safeguarding Leads:
- Mr Oliver McPhail (Headteacher);
- Mrs Gill Simpson (Deputy Headteacher);
- Mrs Caroline Lowcock (Assistant Headteacher);
- Mr Dan Bate (Learning Mentor)
on 01772 862788
Encompass
Schools in Lancashire participate in a project, called Operation Encompass, which is run in partnership with Lancashire Police.
Following a domestic abuse incident attended by Lancashire Police, at which children from our school are present, Lancashire Police will notify us early the next morning and prior to the start of the school day. This enables us to offer support or whatever is needed to any child arriving at school. Each school has a member of staff (key adult) who is trained to liaise with the police, when required, whilst ensuring support is available to the child. The adult in our school is Mr McPhail.
We are committed to providing the best possible care and support for all our pupils and this is one way in which we can do this. In the meantime, if you would like to speak to someone further about the project or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr McPhail via the school office.