Safeguarding

Whittlefield  Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection/Safeguarding Policy which can be viewed in the Policies section of our website.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

At Whittlefield, we take our role in safeguarding very seriously as we believe all children have the right to feel and be safe.

Our Designated Senior Leader is Mrs Michelle Hume 

Our Deputy Designated Leaders are Mrs Jane Thistlethwaite, Mrs Natalie Sumner, and Mrs Stephanie Vent.

Please remember, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.  Here is a useful link to the ‘Stop Abuse Together’, a new Government resource to help keep children safe from sexual abuse.   

It’s estimated that one in ten children in England and Wales will experience sexual abuse before they turn sixteen.  That’s equivalent to three in every classroom.  Most children won’t tell anyone at the time of their abuse.  That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how to spot the potential signs of child sexual abuse and where to go for support if concerned.

The Government’s new Stop Abuse Together website is to help teachers and parents to spot the signs and know when to reach out for more support. If you have any concerns at all about a child’s safety or wellbeing you can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

Or, you can contact the MASH team directly on 0345 155 1071

Operation Encompass

We are very pleased that we are now linked to the Operation Encompass Scheme.

Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools before the start of the next school day when a child or young person has been involved or exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous evening.

The information is given in strict confidence to a school’s DSL to enable support to be given dependent on the needs and wishes of the child.

Further information about the scheme is available on the Operation Encompass website.

http://www.operationencompass.org