Safeguarding

Safeguarding Charter

At Sylvester Primary Academy we will:

• Work in partnership with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in keeping with the KSCB’s ‘Levels of Need Guidance’ to secure improved outcomes for young people
• Ensure that safer recruitment practices and safeguarding policies and procedures set out a culture of vigilance and challenge
• Provide induction and regular training that enable all adults to recognise signs of abuse and neglect; act in the interests of the child and maintain an attitude ‘it could happen here’.
• Work collaboratively with other agencies to promote early help for young people and families before their needs escalate to a point where intervention would be needed via a statutory assessment.
• Challenge ourselves and others to ensure actions are completed in a timely way and press for reconsideration if the situation does not improve.
• Quality assure all safeguarding practices including maintaining support and oversight of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Team, their actions and decisions and record keeping.
• Ensure all adults working with young people follow an agreed code of conduct that promotes safe working practices and makes responsibilities and expectations clear, including the understanding that anyone can make a referral.
• Complete any actions arising from the Local Authority’s 175 Safeguarding Audit in order to ensure policies and procedures follow KSCB, Local Authority and statutory guidance.
• Implement any learning arising from serious case reviews, for example the need to listen and respond to the views of children, especially when assessing their needs.
• Provide students with a curriculum which promotes their safeguarding and enables them to maintain healthy relationships.

At Sylvester Primary Academy we take the Safeguarding of our children extremely seriously. Therefore if you have any reason to be concerned regarding the safety of a particular child, please contact the designated Safeguarding Officers:

​	​Designated Safeguarding Lead M​iss Brenchley (Vice Principal)
D​eputy Safeguarding Lead M​s Harrison (Principal)	D​eputy Safeguarding Lead M​iss Tomlinson (Reception Teacher & Assistant Principal)		D​eputy Safeguarding Lead M​rs Hayes (Learning Mentor)	W​raparound Safeguarding Lead M​iss Cavanagh

S​afeguarding is everyone's responsibility...

Anyone can make a referral if a child is at risk of significant harm.

If you are worried a child may be suffering significant harm, or if you are concerned a child has suffered harm, neglect or abuse, please follow the advice below:

If you believe a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm, you should contact the police by dialling 999.

If you have concerns about a child or young person but believe they are not at immediate risk you can:

• Discuss your concerns with a professional you trust such as a health visitor, teacher or GP,
• Contact the MASH Team (see below) on 0151 443 2600 and choose from one of the options provided.
• Contact Merseyside Police on 101 (24-hour non-emergency number).

I​nformation & Resources - Support for Parents & Children

N​SPCC PANTS

Developed in consultation with children, parents, carers and teachers, Talk PANTS is here to help children understand their body belongs to them, and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

Talk PANTS is here to help children understand that they have a right to say no and if they need to speak out about something, someone will listen.

We know that a simple conversation can make a BIG difference, and that’s what Talk PANTS is all about.

To help you get the conversation started, please click here

K​eeping Children Safe Online Workshop

S​afeguarding Resource Hub for Children

T​he 'Safeguarding Resource Hub' contains a wealth of information for children up to 11 years old, ranging from information on loss and bereavement to keeping safe online.

T​he link to these resources can be found via the following link - https://www.safeguardingresourcehub.co.uk/Resource-Hub?ugroup=1

O​nline Safety Advice for Parents & Children

O​ur 'Online Advice' page contains link to various useful parental guides for keeping children safe online, the page can be found via the following link - www.sylvesterprimaryschool.co.uk/parents/online-advice/

T​he NSPCC website also contains a wealth of information for parents in relation to keeping children safe online - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

C​hildnet contains a range of online safety resources & information for young people to access online. These resources are seperated into relevant age categories;

3​-7 Years

7​-11 Years

C​hild Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status.

Children or young people may be tricked into believing they’re in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol. They may also be groomed online.

Some children and young people are trafficked into or within the UK for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation can also happen to young people in gangs. The Listen to my Story campaign has been developed by Merseyside Police, local councils and third sector agencies throughout the Merseyside area to raise awareness of CSE in our communities and to educate young people, parents/carers, teachers, health professionals and service industry workers as to the signs and vulnerabilities of CSE.

For more information about ‘Listen to my Story’, please visit www.listentomystory.co.uk.

R​adicalisation & Extremism

From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty.

In order for schools to fulfil the Prevent duty, it is essential that staff are able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation, and know what to do when they are identified.

Schools can build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views. It is important to emphasise that the Prevent duty is not intended to stop pupils debating controversial issues. On the contrary, schools should provide a safe space in which children, young people and staff can understand the risks associated with terrorism and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge extremist arguments.

T​he educate against hate website contains a wide range of information for parents as well as common questions relating to radicalisation & extremism, please find the resource via the following link - https://www.educateagainsthate.com/

T​he NSPCC website also has a section for young people containing details of dedicated helplines relating to a wide range of topics including radicalisation, this page can be found here - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/dedicated-helplines/

O​peration Encompass

W​e are an Operation Encompass School...

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead /Officer (known as key Adult) prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved. 

Information is shared with a school’s Key Adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead or Officer) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

Operation Encompass aims, by directly connecting police and schools, to secure better outcomes for children , to enable schools to better understand the impact living with domestic abuse has upon children, to help schools to better understand  a child’s lived experience and to therefore be able to support and nurture each child , making a child’s day better and giving them a better tomorrow.

F​urther Support & Contacts

National Support

• Forced Marriage Unit 0207008 015,fmu@fco.gov.uk
• Child Helpline: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
• Karma Nirvana Helpline: 0800 5999 247
• NSPCC:080 8800 5000
• Iranian/Kurdish Women’s Right Organisation 0207 9206460

Local Contacts

• Merseyside Forced Marriage & HBV Protocol: www.liverpoolscb.org
• Savera Liverpool (DAS for BAMER Communities): 07716 266 484
• https://www.saverauk.co.uk/
• Amadudu (BME Refugee): 0151 734 0083
• South Liverpool DVS; 0151 494 2222
• LDAS 0151 263-7474
• Irish Community Care: 0151 237 3987
• ABC DVP: 0151 482 2484
• WHISC: 0151 707 1826
• Liverpool Domestic Abuse service: 0151 263 74 4
• Knowsley Domestic Violence Support Service: 0151 548 3333