Safeguarding
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do here at Laurel Lane Primary School. Great importance is placed on identifying opportunities in the taught curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding.
Our broad curriculum gives pupils opportunities to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding, and skills that significantly impact personal development, behaviour, and welfare, and equips every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding.
Our curriculum covers all areas of safeguarding through each of the strands to a different degree, however, some go into more detail. We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age-appropriate level, or at a small group or 1:1 level where a more urgent need arises.
We plan to constantly challenge children to think deeply about safeguarding matters and their own personal physical and mental wellbeing. We value pupils’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
We give pupils’ opportunities across the curriculum to explore values, personal rights, responsibilities, and equal opportunities that develop moral concepts that impact positively on safeguarding, promote British values and prevent radicalisation and extremism. There are many opportunities throughout our learning in school to explore safeguarding issues.
Practical safeguarding opportunities are planned into the curriculum. For example:
- Road and rail safety (including out of school visits, bike-ability, work with police officers in the community)
- Poolside and water safety through swimming lessons
- Fire awareness (including visits from the local fire service)
- Visits to school from medical staff
- Visitors from charities such as NSPCC
- Work from local voluntary sector services particularly around safe transition to Secondary school
- Online safety quizzes and training
- Our visits and experiences incorporate “Stranger Danger”, being safe in the outdoors, what to do if??
- What to do if you are separated from your group (in relation to school visits)
- Safe use of technology including password security and privacy settings
We have developed an open and safe learning environment in which pupils express their views, seek help, and help others. The promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity, for pupils and staff, helps prevent any form of direct or indirect discriminatory behaviour.
Our children learn to not tolerate any prejudiced behaviour. Our behaviour policy promotes making good choices and exhibiting good learning behaviours.
Assembly time and circle times are used to promote personal safeguarding matters and explore themes. For example, we talk about anti- bullying including cyber bullying and British values including how these values are promoted in our multi–faith society. Staff and children are quick to challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language in lessons and around the school. Our school reflects the diversity of pupils’ experiences and provides pupils with a comprehensive understanding of people and communities beyond their immediate experience including the role of women in society and different family groups.
Laurel Lane is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We believe that pupils have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse; where staff are vigilant for signs of any pupil in distress and are confident about applying our safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection Policy.
Designated Safeguarding Lead Miss A Walton (Deputy Headteacher)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads Mrs N Moffatt (Headteacher) & Mrs S Keenan (Learning Mentor)
Prevent Lead Miss A Walton (Deputy Headteacher)
Safeguarding Governor Miss A Walton (Deputy Headteacher)
Safeguarding Team Miss A Walton, Mrs N Moffatt, Mrs S Keenan, Mrs G Rowden & Miss E Attwood
PRIVATE FOSTERING
Private fostering is when a child or young person under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) is looked after for a period of 28 days or more by someone who is not a close relative, legal guardian or person with parental responsibility. Close relatives include parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
Parents and Private Foster Carers should notify the Local Authority about a planned arrangement six weeks in advance of it starting or in an emergency, within 48 hours. This is a legal requirement.
Once informed, the Local Authority will work in partnership with the child, parents and private foster carer to make sure that the best possible arrangements are in place for the child.
If you would like more information regarding private fostering, please follow this link:
Remember our school Designated Safeguarding Lead is always available for help and support also.
SAFER INTERNET DAY
Even though e-safety is integrated into our computing curriculum, we celebrate this day annually to remind pupils, staff and parents the importance of being safe online.
Below is the PowerPoint that we shared with parents during our recent workshop.