Safeguarding

Safeguarding at St Mary’s RC Primary

At St Mary’s RC Primary, Safeguarding is very high profile and everybody’s business, all of the time. Our school is totally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to give our children everything they need to ‘be the best that they can be.’ Where there is a barrier to well-being, health or success, we want to remove it.

We review our child protection policy and procedures frequently, with updated training provided for all school staff in order to offer a consistent, high quality approach to child protection and safeguarding. Our school has recruitment procedures that support the safeguarding of young people, as laid out in the Local Authority Safe Recruitment guidance. Our inclusion team discuss the needs of our children on a weekly basis with full inclusion meetings every four weeks.

What to do if you are concerned

If you are concerned about a child’s wellbeing, please share your concern with Mrs Gerrard, our Designated Safeguarding Lead, at the earliest opportunity. Contact her on 0161 723 4210 or rgerrard@stmarysradcliffe.stoccat.org.uk

If your concerns relate to the actions or behaviour of a member of staff or volunteer in school, then you should report this to the Headteacher (or Mrs Gerrard, the Designated Safeguarding Lead) who will consider what action to take and seek relevant advice.

If the concern relates to the Headteacher, refer the matter to the Chair of Governors.

Safeguarding Training and Policies

We update our Safeguarding Policy annually. This ensures that any new learning is incorporated into our policy and it can respond to the most up-to-date thinking regarding child protection. All of our staff take part in very comprehensive Safeguarding training, ensuring that Safeguarding is seen as everybody’s business and everybody is equipped with the tools they need to protect our children. Regular updates keep our training refreshed and current. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead ensures that safeguarding newsletters and publications are circulated to all of our staff. It keeps us up to date and also spotlights a particular issue to deepen our knowledge.

Safeguarding Procedures

Safeguarding Procedures for School Staff

Teachers and Teaching Assistants monitor the wellbeing of children on a day to day basis. If they, or any other member of the team, have any concerns relating to the safeguarding of a child they fill in a safeguarding form. This is handed directly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will decide what actions to take. We regularly work with a range of agencies locally who can help us to ensure the best outcome for the children in our care.

Safeguarding Procedures for Parents

If parents have any concerns relating to the wellbeing of their children or any other children they can report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will decide what action to take.

Should you ever have urgent concerns for the immediate safety of a child, you should contact the police, in the case of an emergency, or you can make a direct referral to MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) on 0161 253 5678.

Safeguarding Procedures for Children

If children are concerned about their own well-being or the well-being of another child, they are encouraged to speak immediately to a teacher or trusted adult in school. All children are reminded of this throughout the school year, on our posters around school which explain the role of Mrs Gerrard, our Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Early Help: Guidance for parents to access support

The Early Help delivery model has been developed through the multi- agency Children Trust Partnership. There are three locality Early Help teams based in Radcliffe, Bury and Whitefield which support all five neighbourhoods. The teams are working with children and young people, age 0-19, and their families. The teams are linked to the schools, so that every school in the borough has an Early Help contact. The Early help teams link with partner associations to ensure a joined up approach. Contact details: Radcliffe Locality Team: 0161 253 7465/7468 Whitefield Locality Team (including Prestwich): 0161 253 5077 Bury East Locality Team (including Tottington/ Ramsbottom): 0161 253 500

See further information on our pastoral support page.

Bury Young Carers

The Bury Young Carers service (BYC) offers information, support and advice on issues relating to young carers who are looking after a parent or guardian who is disabled, has a mental health issue or has a problematic use of drugs or alcohol. They offer one to one and group support and activities for young people aged 7-18 years old Tel: 0161 253 5144 http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4855

Safeguarding in our Curriculum

Equipping our children with the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves, and others safe, is very important to us at St Mary’s. We talk to our children about ways to keep safe, discussing safeguarding sensitively in our lessons, worship, assemblies and through displays. As part of our curriculum we work to develop ‘pupil voice’, showing children that their opinions matter and are valued.

Some examples of how keeping safe is embedded into our school life are:

PE – We learn about Healthy Lifestyles, how to exercise properly, keeping safe during all sports and how being active can help us to stay fit and healthy.
Computing – Staying safe online is a big part of our IT curriculum. We have regular e-safety updates, parent meetings and assemblies. We have monitoring software in school to ensure children can’t view anything inappropriate and we teach them explicitly how to enjoy the web safely.
NSPCC – Every 2 years, our children work with the NSPCC on important safeguarding matters. The NSPCC deliver age appropriate assemblies on Safeguarding issues and deliver workshops to Year 5 and 6 classes. The activities aim to educate children about abuse in an age appropriate way. NSPCC posters are displayed in school.

Other Areas covered- Road safety, Sun safety, Water safety, Handwashing, Tooth brushing, Forest school safety, Fire safety, Firework code,Electricity safety, Safety around the house, Bikeability, Puberty, Transition, Peer mentoring, Self-esteem, Bereavement and loss, Growth mindset, Relationships Education and more.