Safeguarding
Key Information
It is with the highest priority that all those who come into contact with children and families at Watcombe Primary School have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. We pride ourselves in having robust systems and procedures in place to ensure that concerns are raised, actions taken and that impact is reviewed. The Governing body is accountable for ensuring that our policies and procedures are in place, are followed and are effective. There are two governors with specific responsibility for overseeing the strategic implementation of the Safeguarding Policy. The school has a strong working relationship with outside agencies and our proactive practise is often held-up as an example for others.
Safeguarding is an integral part of recruitment (senior leaders and governors have all been trained in Safer Recruitment), induction and on-going training for all staff and volunteers working within the school. It is also is a standard agenda item within the weekly staff briefing meeting. Our safeguarding records are comprehensive and stored using an online management system.
We also prioritise teaching the children how to keep themselves safe and healthy. This is achieved through the planned curriculum, through windows of opportunity and through whole school events such as Child Assault Prevention training from YR-Y6. Alongside this, the Watcombe Safeguarding Team, offer information sessions for parents, send home regular safeguarding updates and actively encourage parents to come in and share concerns.
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Leaders have shaped an environment where safeguarding is at the core. There is an expectation that everyone has a safeguarding role, and leaders have provided training opportunities to further emphasise this.
The local authority holds the school’s safeguarding proceedures in high regard. Using detailed and thorough analysis of the safeguarding culture in school, leaders seek ways to constantly improve. The local authority celevbrates leaders’ work and has used Watcombe as a model for other schools to see how a successful safeguarding audit return should be completed.
Key Documents
Keeping Children Safe in Education
An You can download the DFE guidance keeping children safe in education and keeping children safe in education for school and college staff (part 1) from the links below:
ALL adults working within the school are required to read this annually and complete the form to confirm that they have done so.
Working Together to Safeguard Children
You can download the DfE guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ July 2018:
You can download the DfE guidance ‘Safer Working practice for Adults who work with Children and Young People in Education’ October 2015:
If you would like to volunteer in school you will need to complete a DBS check (through the school) and you will receive a copy of the ‘Volunteers Help Guide
Online Safety
Do you know how to ensure that your child is safe when using the internet?
Helping your child to stay safe on the internet is something that we place great importance on and as such is a key part of ICT lessons for children of all ages as well as the wider curriculum. There are some useful help guides for parents which can be downloaded here:
Social Media
Are you or your children using Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Kik, TikTok?
Are you keeping yourself and your children safe online? Please read the guides below which will help protect both yourself and your children when using these sites/apps.