Safeguarding & Child Protection

 Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in Keeping Children Safe in Education as:

• protecting children from maltreatment
• preventing impairment of children's mental and physical health or development;
• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

How do school staff safeguard pupils?

The Teachers’ Standards 2012 state that teachers, including Headteachers, should safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties.

• All staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn.
• All staff should be aware of the indicators of abuse and neglect so that they are able to identify cases of children who may be in need of help or protection.
• All staff should be aware of systems within the school which support safeguarding and these should be explained to them as part of staff induction.
• All staff should know what to do if a child tells them he/she is being abused, exploited or neglected.
• All staff should be able to reassure victims that they are taken seriously and that they will be supported and kept safe.
• All staff should be aware that children may not feel ready or know how to tell someone that they are being abused, neglected or exploited.