Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding.

In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred, considering, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. No single professional can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances and therefore, it is essential that information is passed and shared with the correct authorities, without opinion, bias or prejudice.

If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action. 

Taken from ‘Keeping children safe in education’ - Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (2021) 

The role of school staff 

School staff play an essential role in protecting children.

They have regular contact with children and young people, so are in a strong position to identify early signs of abuse and neglect.

Schools should:

• create safe environments for children and young people through robust safeguarding practices
• ensure that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, don't pose a risk to children
• make sure staff are trained, know how to respond to concerns and keep-up-to-date with policy and practice. Any staff member who has a concern about a child’s welfare must follow the referral processes set out in paragraphs 21-27 of ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (2019)
• teach children and young people about staying safe
• maintain an environment where children feel confident to approach any member of staff if they have a worry or problem
• have a designated safeguarding lead who will provide support to staff members to carry out their safeguarding duties and who will liaise closely with other services such as children’s social care

 

Hornton Primary School has a legal and moral duty to safeguard all children, and therefore must report any indicators of neglect or abuse, including disclosures from children. 

Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found here:

Where children leave the school, Safeguarding Leads must ensure their child protection file is transferred to the new school as soon as possible.’