Safeguarding Policy

Wyke Regis CE Junior School recognises that the welfare of the child is paramount and takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people in its care.

An agreed definition of safeguarding is: ‘All agencies take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised. Where there are concerns, all agencies take action to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies’ – Joint Chief Inspectors’ report 2002.

Promoting welfare involves ‘creating opportunities to enable children to have optimum life chances in adulthood’ – Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (Government guidance 2000).

The Governing Body/Proprietor will act in accordance with Section 175 (or Section 157, for Independent Schools) of the Education Act 2002 and the supporting statutory guidance ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education’ (2006) to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in this school.

All children have the right to be safeguarded from harm or exploitation whatever their

• race, religion, first language or ethnicity
• gender or sexuality
• age
• health or disability
• political or immigration status

Governors, staff and volunteers in this school understand the importance of working in partnership with children, their parents/carers and other agencies in order to promote children’s welfare.

The purpose of this policy is to:

• afford protection for the students at Wyke Regis CE Junior School
• enable staff and volunteers to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
• promote a culture which makes this school a safer place to learn

This policy applies to the Headteacher, all staff (including supply and peripatetic staff), volunteers, governors or anyone working on behalf of Wyke Regis CE Junior School

We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by:

• valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• involving them in decisions which affect them
• making sure all staff and volunteers are aware of and committed to the safeguarding policy and child protection procedures
• sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving children and their parents/carers appropriately
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• adopting a code of conduct for all staff and volunteers
• providing effective management through induction, support and training
• ensuring staff and volunteers understand about ‘whistle blowing’
• dealing appropriately with allegations/concerns about staff or volunteers, in accordance with Government guidance

*Other appropriate policies are in place to support the safeguarding of our children e.g. Safer Recruitment Policy