Safeguarding Information

Ingrow Primary School

Safeguarding Information for Parents

At Ingrow the health and safety of all children is of paramount importance. As parents, you send your children to school each day with the expectation that school provides a secure environment in which they can flourish. In order to ensure that this expectation becomes reality, we put a wide range of measures in place:

The Health and Safety Policy

The school has a health and safety policy, is monitored each term by the relevant committee of the school governors. Each term there is a fire drill that practices efficient evacuation from the buildings. The school conducts an annual Fire Risk Assessment. There is also a critical incidents plan that details what staff and parents should do in the case of emergencies.

First Aid

The Ingrow policy states that members of staff cannot give medicines to children. In the case of a pupil needing medication during the day parents are welcome to come into school to administer correct dosages. For the majority of medicines a dose before and after school is perfectly adequate.

In school there are always trained members of staff who volunteer to oversee first aid. There are a number of first aid kits situated around school. When a child is poorly, or has suffered an accident in school or on the playground there are 4 steps staff follow - A trained first aider is consulted - The incident is logged in the accident book- For head injuries a Head Note is issued - If there is any doubt at all that the injury is serious a parent is contacted with advice to take the child to hospital.

Site security

Ingrow provides a secure site, but the site is only as secure as the people who use it. So we ask everyone to follow a few simple steps:

Make sure all gates are closed, except at the start and end of each school day.

Make sure doors are kept closed; this is to protect children and staff from unknown visitors entering school.

Make sure that empty classrooms are secure and the windows are closed and lights turned off.

If you are a visitor, volunteer or student we ask you only enter through the main entrance and sign in at the office window.

If you need to collect a child during school, we ask you to collect them from the office and sign them out. Children will only be allowed home with adults with parental responsibility or confirmed permission.

Attendance

Excellent attendance is expected of all children, but when children are unwell parents are expected to confirm absence by telephoning the school office. If the office has not been given a reason for a child’s absence, the school has a policy of phoning home to find out why the child has not arrived in school.

At Ingrow we take punctuality very seriously, and take legal action against parents who do not ensure good attendance and punctuality.

If your child’s attendance falls below 95%, you will be contacted by an Educational Welfare Officer who will give you notice that you need to improve your child’s attendance. If you do not comply with their advice and your child’s attendance continues to cause concern and meet the attendance target of 95% then you will be issued with a Penalty Notice and a fining and prosecution process will commence.

Full details of our Attendance Policy can be found on the school website.

We will continue to work alongside our parents and the local authority to support you and your child in every aspect of their education.

DBS /C R B checks

Volunteers that come into school for any reason must have a DBS (Previously known as Criminal Records Bureau) clearance. For extended contact with children, when children may be left alone with an adult, or when an adult visitor may be in and around the school building a full DBS/CRB search will be conducted. The office has the forms which need to be completed. Visitors who do not yet have clearance will not be left alone with a child or group of children. Visiting speakers, with correct clearance are always welcome into school so that can give specialist knowledge to the children.

Safeguarding Policy

Mrs. A Vinnicombe, Mrs A Campbell, Mrs L Murphy and the Chair of Governor, Mrs A Mulcock are the designated adults in school, and deal with any incidents of safeguarding children. All allegations of abuse by or complaints of a teacher will be dealt with following the Area Child Protection Committee procedures.

We do allow parents to take photos and short camcorder clips of their children when involved in a school production or assembly. Parents are asked to sign a privacy declaration should they use any of the above this is to say the photos are for family memrobilia only. Upon entry to school parents consent to school taking photographs and photos for local press etc is obtained.

In school we deal with safeguarding in different ways. In Personal, Social and Health Education we discuss relevant issues with the children - such as Drugs, Sex and Relationships , Stranger Danger and Racism and Bullying. Children are encouraged to explore and discuss these issues. During other lessons safety issues within the subject are discussed and safe practices taught, such as using equipment properly in PE and Design and Technology. At all times there has to be appropriate staffing levels and when the curriculum is taking out of school appropriate and agreed pupil/adult ratios are maintained. The lead adult always assesses visits as to the level of risk and all trips are finally authorised by the Head of School and Senior Leadership Team .

Internet Safety

Children should be encouraged to use the internet as much as is possible, but at all times in a safe way. Parents are asked each year if they agree to their child using the internet. Pupils must never be left unattended whilst online and teachers should ensure that this does not happen.

We would also like to remind parents to monitor their child’s internet use at home and ensure that they are only playing age appropriate games.

Equal opportunities

“At Ingrow we try to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. All children are given equal access to the school and its curriculum and all at Ingrow are considered equal in the learning partnership. When children have special needs we make arrangements to inform parents and design specific programmes”.

Children with disabilities must be able to take a full and active part in every lesson and every measure must be taken to ensure this.

Behaviour policy

Good behaviour is expected at Ingrow Primary School and we have high expectations of the children. Although the emphasis is always on the positive, there are times when children have to be disciplined in order to maintain the safety and security of all children.

We think that rewards are very important so our children have the opportunity to receive

stickers , show another teacher good work, show the Head of School good work, Team Points, ‘You’ve Earned it’ Certificates, Golden Time, and we celebrate good work and behaviour in assembly.

In school we follow a ladder of behaviour consequences:

* The child is warned and given a chance to choose to do the right thing

* The child is removed from the class / works in another class

* The child looses playtime

* The child is reported to a senior member of staff, a letter is sent home

* The child is excluded from school by the Head teacher.

Staff are discouraged from handling children, but when they deem it is safest to do so guidance has been given on safe methods of restraining a child so that they do not harm either themselves or others.

Anti Bullying Policy

At Ingrow the definition of bullying is: “A systematic and extended victimisation of a person or group, by another or group of others.”

Children are told that silence is the bully’s best friend. Although bullying in this school is rare the school always acts quickly with a process of investigation, communication and action.

Bullies will not be tolerated. It is in working together that we will make Ingrow even better.

better.”