Safeguarding
We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice. The Senior Designated Officer (SDO) is the Head of School Mrs Allington. For a copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy please click on the policies link under the information tab above or use the link below. The procedures contained in this policy apply to all staff and governors and are consistent with those of the Devon Safeguarding Children Board (DSCB).
Safeguarding and key people you can talk to:
Keeping our children safe is our number one priority. We have many elements to our safeguarding support and procedures. You can find more information about our approach to safeguarding as a Trust at: https://www.firstfederation.org/safeguarding-2/
If you have any concerns about the safety of your child, yourself, or another child, please contact a member of staff listed below.
At Mrs Ethelston’s Primary our safeguarding team is:
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The Senior Designated Officer (SDO) is the Head of School Mrs Allington
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The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officers (DDSO) are Mrs Jory-Kellaway, Mrs Dare and Miss Smith
e-safety Statement
At Mrs Ethelston's CE Primary we are committed to the use of computer technologies and recognise the Internet as a valuable tool for learners of all ages. We acknowledge that computers and the internet do have the potential for inappropriate use and access to undesirable material and that we have a duty of care to protect our pupils.
All pupils use computer facilities, including the internet, as an essential part of the curriculum and to support learning opportunities within the school. There are well publicised concerns regarding access to materials on the internet that would be unsuitable for pupils. The school takes reasonable steps to minimise the access to unsuitable material by ensuring supervised usage of the internet alongside a filtered internet service provider which prevents access to specific internet sites.
For more information about e-safety, or any other safeguarding issue, please see the information board by the school office, or use the links below.
http://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
Internet Safety
Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.
Explore one of the six Thinkuknow websites for advice about staying safe when you're on a phone, tablet or computer.
Prevent Duty
In July 2015, the Government published advice for Governing bodies, school leaders and school staff. The advice explained what the Prevent Duty means for school and how schools should demonstrate compliance with the duty.
The Prevent Duty is part of the school's safeguarding procedures and practices.
Building resilience in our young people and the promotion of fundamental British values is at the heart of preventing radicalisation. We do this by providing a safe place in which children can discuss issues, and we aim to give them the knowledge and confidence to challenge extremist beliefs and ideologies.
Our new prevent duty, is carried out under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which legally requires us to take steps to prevent pupils from being drawn into terrorism. We take this duty seriously and carry out the four main actions responsibly, namely: risk assessment, working in partnership, staff training and IT policies. If we assess a child as at risk, we will refer to the Channel Programme, which focuses on providing support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
In terms of training, staff have received training to familiarise them with the Prevent Duty. In terms of internet safety, we ensure suitable filters are in place to keep children away from extremist materials, in keeping with Devon guidelines.
We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in our care.
What we do if there is a concern
If we have a concern about a particular pupil we will follow the school’s normal safeguarding procedures, including discussing with the school’s designated safeguarding lead, and where deemed necessary, with children’s social care. In Prevent priority areas, the local authority will have a Prevent lead who can also provide support.
We may also contact the local police force or dial 101 (the non-emergency number). They can talk to us in confidence about concerns and help us gain access to support and advice.
The Department for Education has dedicated a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable staff and governors to raise concerns relating to extremism directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk. Please note that the helpline is not intended for use in emergency situations, such as a child being at immediate risk of harm or a security incident In an emergency situation we will follow the recommended emergency procedures.
Early Help
What is Early Help?
Early help means taking action to support a child, young person or their family early in the life of a problem, as soon as it emerges. It can be required at any stage in a child's life from pre-birth to adulthood, and applies to any problem or need that the family cannot deal with or meet on their own.
Please see below website for further information regarding early intervention:
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/early-help-early-intervention/ Devon Early Help for parents:
https://www.devonscp.org.uk/early-help/
Operation Encompass
The sharing of information between the Police and schools will allow early intervention support by Key Adults in schools. The aim of this support is to assist any child affected by domestic abuse to remain in school, so that they continue learning in a safe and secure environment.
What will we do?
At Mrs Ethelston's Primary Academy, we will ensure that we will:
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participate fully in Operation Encompass;
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identify Key Adults;
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complete the Log Sheet; and
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complete the summary sheet for statistical and auditing purposes.
We follow-up on any actions as directed by Operation Encompass and check on the welfare of pupils in school.
Mrs Ethelston's Primary Academy is proud to be part of the Operation Encompass intervention. For more information, clicks on the link below:
https://www.operationencompass.org/
Operation-Encompass-Information-Booklet.pdf
Domestic Violence
There is a lot of support in our local area and nationally for anyone who is suffering from Domestic Abuse. Please use the links below if you need help.
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE, is a form of sexual abuse which sees children/young people being manipulated or coerced into sexual activity for receiving ‘something’ such as; gifts, money, food, attention, somewhere to stay etc.
Technology is very often used to groom victims. This may occur through social networking sites and mobile phones with internet access.
CSE has gained a large amount of media attention over the last year as lots of services involved with children and young people have noticed a big rise in cases involving CSE.
Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse. Information regarding CSE can be found here on their websites below:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation/
www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_projects/sexual_exploitation.htm
County Lines
County lines is when criminals from major cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, London and Birmingham expand their drug networks to other areas of the country. This activity brings violence, exploitation and abuse to rural communities. County line networks are having a massive impact on rural counties. Our school staff have all been trained to look for the signs of this in our community.
https://www.devonscp.org.uk/child-abuse/county-lines-and-criminal-exploitation/
Mosaic Supporting Family Bereavement
Mosaic supports children and young people throughout Dorset...
Founded in 2007, Mosaic was created to fill the gap in bereavement provision across the county. Prior to this, support for bereaved children and young people was limited as the only support available was from hospices offering support after the death of someone suffering from a long-term illness.
Mosaic support children and young people who have been bereaved of someone special, such as a parent, sibling, friend or a member of their extended family. This includes all causes of death such as long-term illness, sudden death, suicide, murder or road traffic accident.
https://mosaicfamilysupport.org/
FearFree
FearFree is a charity working to break the cycle of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking across the Southwest. We support over 10,000 adults and children every year to not only keep them safe but help them to rebuild their lives free from fear and abuse.
Our support is tailored to the person’s needs and experiences, and we help them right from crisis intervention, through to 1-1 or group work recovery sessions, to specialised employment and education programmes. We know abuse has no bounds and all of our services are completely free of charge and open to all genders, sexualities, backgrounds and beliefs.
At FearFree, the charity recognises that supporting a victim and their family is just part of the solution. To really break the cycle, we must address the cause. To do this, we also run successful perpetrator programmes that enables people to recognise and address their abusive behaviour to stop it from happening again as well as programmes that seek to raise awareness of the signs of abuse within schools and colleges.
We change lives, provide hope for the future, and give people the opportunity and skills to flourish in their future relationships. Not just for the short term, not just until the next time. But permanently.
https://www.fearfree.org.uk/
Downloads & Useful Links
fft-child-protection-and-safeguarding-policy-july-2024.pdfParent Pamphlet on the Prevent StrategyRisk Assessment School referral flow chart
Snapchat.pdf
Parental Controls-Android users
PArental Controls- iPhone users
Pantosaurus
Please use the links below to access the NSPCC websites for information from Pantosaurus, child exploitation, radicalisation to advice on keeping children safe online in Think U Know.
Free Support for Separating Parents
"The Devon-based Social Enterprise, Only Mums & Dads with the support of Devon County Council is offering free on-line support to parents going through a divorce or separation. Group webinars are held fortnightly. They are completely free to attend. Any parent can also get the free Devon Separation Resource Pack.
Further information can be found here"
Are you concerned about a child?
If you have serious concerns about a child or young person, or if you need help parenting your child you can call 0345 155 1071 or email mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk
Out of hours please call 0845 6000 388. If it is an emergency dial 999.