New Brancepeth Primary Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils and we expect all staff and visitors to share our commitment. We believe that all pupils have the right to be happy and safe to learn in a secure, nurturing environment. It is the responsibility of everyone to make sure this happens.
All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, race, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm and free from abuse.
All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately in line with school and Trust safeguarding policy.
Staff Responsibility for Safeguarding
All staff are responsible for safeguarding pupils and receive appropriate training.
Any and all concerns, however small, should be reported to the school designated officers for safeguarding who are:
- Mrs H L Templeton, Headteacher (Designated Safeguarding Officer)
- Mrs C Robson, Deputy Headteacher (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)
- Miss K Hodgson, Assistant Headteacher (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)
- Mrs Jayne Gibson is our Academy Council Member responsible for safeguarding.
Any concerns about the Headteacher should be reported to the Chair of our Academy Council: Mrs Alison Moore (a.moore600@discoveryfederation.net)
Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:
- Recruitment – ensuring safer recruitment of new staff;
- Staff & Visitors – ensuring they are vetted, informed and trained in all areas of child protection and safeguarding;
- Behaviour & Safety – including respect and positive relationships, anti-bullying, e safety and promoting safe, happy behaviour and lifestyle;
- Curriculum – equipping children with the skills and attitudes to enjoy life and play an active part in society whilst keeping themselves safe;
- Premises – ensuring the school environment is secure, safe and fit for purpose;
- Prevent- protecting vulnerable pupils from possible radicalisation or extremism
- Child sexual exploitation;
- FGM
- Peer on peer abuse
- Recruitment and Training
- All staff are recruited in line with Safer Recruitment policy and practice. The Headteacher and at least one governor have received Safer Recruitment training. All appointments are subject to receipt of satisfactory DBS checks and references.
Staff receive regular training in safeguarding and child protection. Designated safeguarding officers have regular and appropriate training.
Information Sharing
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:
- emergency contact numbers;
- the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
- the child’s special health requirements;
- information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.
Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
PARENTS & CARERS MUST TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.
We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
In order to keep children safe we may sometimes share information with other professionals. This is always done in line our Keeping Children Safe in School policy that can be downloaded from our School Policies section of the website or click here School Policies.
Links with External Agencies
Because our first concern must be the well-being of your child, there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures.
We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Support, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs.
Reporting Concerns or Complaints
Further to the above procedures, we have in place a concerns and complaints policy. This enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is of concern.
School concerns should be raised in the following order.
- To the Class Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Head Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Chair of Governors.
To contact your child’s class teacher, Head teacher or Academy Council Chair please telephone our Main Office in the first instance on (0191) 373 0736 or via newbrancepeth@durhamlearning.net .
Should you wish to contact the Trust (Advance Learning Partnership), then please call 01388 825 285.
To view our Complaints Policy please find this within our ‘Policies’ section.
Everyone has a responsibility to help protect children. If you have any concerns for the welfare of a child you can report these to the Local Authority Child Protection Team on 03000 26 79 79.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger you should contact the police on 999, or for non-urgent matters call 101.
