Our Designated Safeguarding Lead in school is Mr Stephen Warrell.
The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Sarah Wallace and Mrs Sharon Thomas
The School has adopted the definition of the term ‘Safeguarding’ used in the Children Act 2004.
In summary this is:
- protecting children from maltreatment;
- preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
- ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
- undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.
The School’s safeguarding arrangements cover all aspects of life at School, in particular addressing these issues:
- health and safety;
- bullying;
- other harassment and discrimination, including racism;
- physical intervention;
- meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions;
- provision of medical first aid;
- drug and substance abuse;
- off-site visits;
- intimate care;
- internet and communications safety;
- physical security of the School site;
- protection from maltreatment; and
- recruitment and vetting of staff and visitors to the site.
Click here to access the Government Publication ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
Click here to access the Government Publication ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.
Click here to access the West Midlands Safeguarding Children Procedures.
Click here to access the Childline Website.
Click here to access the Family Lives Website.
Herefordshire MASH Parent Information Leaflet
Prevent
This page gives information about the Government ‘Prevent’ strategy. From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to keep children safe from radicalisation and extremism.
This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.
All of our staff have completed the ‘College of Policing – Channel General awareness Module’ for the Prevent Strategy regarding radicalisation and extremism.
Staff and Governors have also undertaken the WRAP training led by the Community Cohesion and Integration Manager.
What does this mean in practice?
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
These include:
- Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
- Challenging prejudices and racist comments
- Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy.
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.
How does Prevent relate to British values?
Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy.
British values include:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty and mutual respect
- Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?
The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.
The teachers at Weobley will of course make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.
Is extremism really a risk in our area?
Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and gender extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.
We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Staying Safe Online
The school’s E-Safety Office is Mr Warrell – he will keep this page updated with useful websites that promote children’s e-safety.
Click here to access the Get Safe Online Website for useful information about keeping safe when using the internet.
Click here to access the 5-7 pages of the Think U Know Website for great internet safety advice for youngsters.
Click here to access the 8-10 pages of the Think U Know Website for great internet safety advice for youngsters.
Click here for advice about child friendly search engines.
NSPCC Online Safety Checklist Think You Know Internet Safety Advice Leaflet
Thinkuknow produced some great resources for the COVID lockdown’s under the heading #OnlineSafetyAtHome to support children and their families. Whilst lockdown is hopefully a thing of the past, the resources remain valuable.
Each home activity pack contains simple 15-minute activities parents can do at home with their child using Thinkuknow resources.
If you haven’t already, the first thing to do is read the Parents and Carers Helpsheets – there is one for primary and one for secondary. These contain key online safety advice and links to the Thinkuknow resources, as well as support services.
| Pack 1 |
| Pack 2 |
| Pack 3 |
| Pack 4 |
| Pack 5 |
| Pack 6 |
| Pack 7 |
| Pack 8 |
| Pack 9 |
| Concerned about a child? |
Get help from other organisations through the links on the Thinkuknow website click here.
Reporting to CEOP click here for more information.
Information and advice for parents and carers from the NSPCC click here to follow the link.
Looking for further information?
Use the links below to find a range of information about keeping yourself or a child you know safe:
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/4_7/child/
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/worried/
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/11_13/help/
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
- Childline – for support
- UK Safer Internet Centre – to report and remove harmful online content
- CEOP – for advice on making a report about online abuse
- Help with setting parent controlsFollow the links on the site below to help you set parental controls on different devices.
Statement of Behaviour Principles
Weobley Schools’ Federation: Statement of Behaviour Principles
The Department for Education requires governing bodies of maintained schools to publish a statement of behaviour principles for their school. The Governing Body therefore has a duty to produce, and review, a written statement of general principles to guide the Executive Headteacher in determining measures to promote good behaviour and discipline amongst pupils. The document ‘Behaviour and Discipline in Schools – Guidance for Governing Bodies’ (DFE – July 2013) has been used as a reference in producing this Statement of Behaviour Principles.
This is a statement of principles, not practice. Practical applications of these principles are the responsibility of the Executive Headteacher and the Head of Primary School and are set out in a range of school policies including the Behaviour Policies.
The Governor believe that high standards of behaviour lie at the heart of a successful school. Good behaviour enables pupils to make the best possible progress in all aspects of their school life. At our schools, we value everyone as an individual, capable of growth, change and development. Our relationships are underpinned by our co-operative values of inclusion, tolerance, personal responsibility, integrity, equality and pride.
We have high expectations that support the development of our pupils as responsible citizens, able to participate democratically in their community. The purpose of this statement is to give guidance to the Executive Headteacher and the Head of Primary School in drawing up the Behaviour Policies by stating the principles that the Governors expect to be followed. The Governors expect any policy or actions to be in accordance with their responsibility under Equality legislation.
Principles:
- All pupils, staff and visitors have the right to feel safe at all times at school.
- Our schools are inclusive. All members of the schools’ communities should be free from discrimination of any sort. Measures to protect pupils should be set out in the Behaviour and Equality policies.
- All policies should be underpinned by our ethical values of openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others.
- School rules should be clearly set out in the Behaviour Policies and displayed around school. Governors expect these rules to be consistently applied by all staff.
- Governors would like to see a wide range of rewards, consistently and fairly applied in such a way as to encourage and reward good behaviour around school.
- Sanctions for unacceptable/poor behaviour should be known and understood by all staff and pupils and consistently applied. We recognise that the use of rewards and sanctions must have regard to the individual situation and the individual pupil and that school staff will use their discretion in their use. Sanctions should however be applied fairly, consistently, proportionally and reasonably, taking into account SEND, disability and the needs of vulnerable pupils, and offering support as necessary.
- The Governors expect pupils and parents to cooperate to maintain an orderly climate for learning.
- The Governors wish to emphasise that violence, threatening behaviour or abuse by pupils or parents towards staff will not be tolerated.
- The Governors expect the Executive Headteacher and Head of Primary School to include guidance on the use of reasonable force, within the Behaviour Policies.
- The Governors expect the Behaviour Policies to set out the schools’ responses to non- criminal bad behaviour and bullying which occurs anywhere off the school premises and which is witnessed by a member of staff or reported to the school.
Anti-Bullying
At Weobley, we say STOP to bullying.
Click here to access the BullyingUK Website for great help and advice about preventing bullying.
Child Friendly Anti-Bullying Leaflet
Bullying Advice for Parents – HCSB