Child Protection and Safeguarding
Statutory Information: Child Protection Procedures
Child Protection and Safeguarding:
Changes in the law, notably the Children’s Act (1989), means that the staff in schools have a duty to report any concerns that a child may be suffering significant harm, particularly, as a result of abuse. It is a DfE requirement that the school nominates a senior member of staff who will have special responsibility for Child Protection. In Leeds schools this person is known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The DSL and the Head Teacher receive professional training in this area, and staff will deal with all these matters in complete confidentiality.
The school’s DSL is: Mrs Strong
The school’s Deputy DSLs are: Mrs Gibbons and Mrs Speight
They will deal with all Child Protection and Safeguarding Issues.
Mrs McGee is the Designated Safeguarding Governor with specific responsibility for Child Protection and Safeguarding. [In March/April/May 2020 Mrs Gilmore is acting as the Interim Designated Safeguarding Governor,]
The school has a legal responsibility to collate basic information including who has parental responsibility for a child, and to pass on this information to the relevant agencies if requested. In the event of an investigation into a possible case of child abuse, the school has a legal duty to cooperate with the investigating authorities to the best of its ability to promote the child’s welfare. Whilst the school will always attempt to work in partnership with parents, and try to ensure that parents are fully informed of, and participate in, any action concerning their child, if there is a conflict of interest; the welfare of the child must be the paramount consideration.
ALL staff who work in school receive safeguarding and child protection training at least annually and every three years this is refreshed by LCC advisers. The HT and DSLs attend specific 3-day training as well.
Staff also receive annual training on Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and they all sign to say that they have read this and taken note of the changes and its content.
SAFEGUARDING IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO EVERYONE AT ST THERESA’S.
Keeping myself safe Week 2022:
The week beginning 28 February 2022 is our keeping ourselves safe week. The children will be learning about many aspects of safeguarding including how we can keep themselves safe in school and at home. The Head will lead assemblies with Y5/6 and F2/Y4 and will pitch the tone and content accordingly. The presentation is as follows:
This policy statements for Child Protection and Safeguarding are published here for your consideration:
Child Protection and Safeguarding policy 2021-22.pdf
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy COVID Adendum
Safer Recruitment Policy Sept 2021
Policy for Attendance Monitoring.pdf
The above policy statement has been added as an addendum, following advice from LCC (April 2020) in response to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak and lock-down procedures. DSL/HT
St Theresa’s Accessibility Plan 2020 – 2022
Anti-Bullying Statement for Parents and Carers
St Theresa’s School and its Governors are fully committed to safeguarding its pupils and vulnerable adults. The school follows closely the Children Leeds policy and practice for recruitment and the Health and Safety of all its pupils and staff. All those who work in school are expected to follow all relevant guidelines including the LA’s safer working practice guidelines printed below:
Safer Working Practice in LCC Schools Feb 2022.pdf
As part of our safeguarding role in school, we have a duty of care to ensure that our children and young people remain safe in school and at home. In this regard we follow the Government’s guidance on Domestic Violence and different forms of abusive behaviour in the home that our children might be witness to. It also includes information about the Prevent strategy and how to combat against that. Please refer to the websites below:
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/domesticviolence
We are committed to helping all our families especially when things go wrong at home for whatever reason. Our main aim is the protection and safeguarding of our children and young people:
Domestic Violence project letter to parents/carers
This letter was sent out to parents (originally in July 2016) to highlight the focus that we now have as a school on DV and protecting both the children and the adults involved in this form of physical and coercive abuse.
Please see the following link to a website with information about safeguarding your child in your car:
https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/car-seats-and-child-safety-in-the-car/
Other price comparison sites exist and St Theresa's does not promote one over another... this is here to help protect your children whilst travelling to and from school.
