Margaret Wix Primary School
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility and no concern is ever too small to share.
Who can you talk to if you are worried about a child or young adult?
If you ever feel concerned about a safeguarding issue - no matter how small it may be - it is important that you share it. It is everyone's responsibility to look after children and young adults. Never feel that something is too small to say or think that 'it can't happen here'. We all need to be vigilant at all times and to communicate well with each other.
At Margaret Wix Primary School, the wellbeing, health and safety of every child is our priority. We expect all staff, governors, parents, carers and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguarding our pupils. We listen to our children and take what they tell us seriously. All school staff are trained in Safeguarding and Child Protection and know how to identify the signs of abuse, harm and neglect. Each week there are safeguarding update meetings as part of our weekly briefings. These ensure that our staff are trained with the latest information and abreast of all information. Children are aware of the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns and staff are required to report their concerns to a member of the Designated Safeguarding Team
Mrs Gibbs, Mrs Campbell-Pugh and Miss Abbott are the school Designated Safeguarding Officers.
Our safeguarding governor is Mienna Jones.
All staff and governors receive regular training in child protection and safeguarding procedures. As mentioned above, on a weekly basis, staff are updated through our briefing sessions and trained carefully on areas of concerns to look out for. We believe in an honest and open dialogue encouraging worries to be brought to the attention of designated staff. in addition, selected staff have all completed accredited training in safer recruitment procedures.
Our governors visit school regularly to check on the school’s safeguarding procedures including our recruitment processes and the records of all the adults in the school including agency staff and volunteers. Mienna Jones is currently the governor in charge of safeguarding. All staff, including governors, receive training in Safeguarding and Child Protection and follow the procedures set out in the Safeguarding and Child Protection policy.
Safeguarding concerns should be passed onto a Designated Senior Person immediately. The DSPs are Mrs Gibbs, Mrs Campbell-Pugh and Miss Abbott and these individuals have all received very detailed training ensuring an enhanced knowledge of all procedures when a concern is raised.
Concerns can also be shared in confidence with Mrs Gibbs by emailing: head@margaretwix.herts.sch.uk
Additionally, if you have child protection/safeguarding concerns about a child please visit the following link for information about what to do:
You can also contact Children's Services for advice and to report a concern on 0300 123 4043.
REMEMBER, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
Online safety
There are a number of Online Safety websites to support parents and children; the following are a small selection:
The UK Safer Internet Centre has published a leaflet for parents and carers providing information and advice about online gaming, and how to help support children and young people enjoy online games positively and safely. Click here.
Think U Know is the education programme of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre aimed at young people, and encourages safer internet use. One area is aimed at children aged 5-7 years old; another page for 8-10 years old, and more resources for older children.
#DITTO is a free online safety (e-safety) magazine for schools, organisations and parents to keep you up to date with risks, issues, advice and guidance related to keeping children safe online, with a view to enjoying and learning about technology. A new edition is released approx. every 6 weeks. Click here for the link.
We also have a parents section on our website. Please head over to this page for more information, including recent slides from our meeting for parents and carers about keeping children safe on line which took place in March 2023.
Prevent Duty
Margaret Wix Primary School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our children. We believe that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other threat children might face.
All staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
On 1 July 2015 the Prevent Duty (Section 26) of The Counter-Terrorism & Security Act 2015 came into force. This duty places the responsibility on local authorities to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
As part of our commitment to safeguarding and child protection, we fully support the government’s Prevent Strategy and all staff are trained to recognise children at risk.
Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to any post including checks with previous employers and an enhanced DBS.
Safeguarding Procedures
We give the safeguarding of children the highest priority.
Under the Education Act 2002 (Section 175), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
Staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with a parent or carer and, where possible, seek their consent to make a referral to Children’s Services if that is considered necessary. This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm or cause undue delay. The school will seek advice from Children’s Services when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.
Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later found to be unfounded. The school’s Designated Safeguarding Officer carries out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acts in the best interests of all children.
We always welcome help from parents and carers in school or on trips and visits, once necessary checks have been carried out. If you would like further information on DBS checks, please speak to the school office staff.
Let's work together to keep our children safe and give them the best start in life.
Policies with safeguarding can be found here:-