Safeguarding

Safeguarding Statement

At St James Primary School, our core responsibility is for the safety and well-being of the children in our care. As such, we take our responsibility for safeguarding, including our statutory responsibilities, very seriously. Only if children are safe and happy are they able to fulfil their potential in their learning.

All members of the safeguarding team are level 2/3 trained.

If you have any safeguarding issues or concerns please speak to a member of our safeguarding team on 01543 452328

Here is a list of the member of our Safeguarding team:

Mrs Seona Baker- Federation Safeguarding lead
Mr Dan Sandy- Safeguarding Local School Committee Associate
Mrs Jo Wilson - Executive Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mrs Claire MacInnes– Head of School and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs Sarah Lines – Deputy Head of School and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

We achieve this objective by:

Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed Child Protection Plan.
Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe. Pupils are taught about safeguarding as a part of the national curriculum through PSHE, SRE and Religious Education.
Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
Ensuring we practise safer recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children in our school.
Ongoing staff development/training and learning to recognise children in need of protection.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s Responsibility

In order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, the school will act in accordance with the following guidance:

Keeping Children Safe in Education
Working Together to Safeguard Children

We have a number of policies in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment including our Safeguarding Policy and online safety policies. Please use the link below to view our policies::

https://www.stjamesprimaryschool.com/policies/

At St James, we take the safety of our children very seriously, both in the real world and online. You can find out more about online safety in the Online Safety section of our website.

What is Safeguarding and Child Protection?

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

protecting children from maltreatment
preventing impairment of children’s health or development
ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
taking action to enable all children have the best outcome

Child Protection is the protection of children identified as either suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect.

Safeguarding Support in Walsall

MASH is the first point of contact for any professional or concerned individual who has concerns about a child. They will provide consultation, advice and support and will make a decision regarding the most appropriate course of action.

MASH contact details: Telephone: 0300 555 2866 option 2

Opening hours:

Monday – Thursday 8.45-17.15

Friday 8.45-16.45

Address: Civic Centre, 2^nd floor, Darwall Street, Walsall, WS1 1TP

Outside these hours, you should contact the Emergency Response Team

Telephone: 0300 555 2922 or 0300 555 2836

In an emergency, please call 999

Walsall Prevent Page

Please see below a leaflet which outlines Dangers in the Community. This has been shared by West Midlands Police Force.

Dangers in the Community

We are asking parents to be vigilant about their child accessing the free online chat website Omegle.

More information can be found at

https://www.internetmatters.org/

The Underwear Rule

Simple, relaxed conversations with your child can really help to keep them safe. The underwear rule is one way we can work together to prevent child abuse.

At Beacon we teach the NSPCC’s underwear rule using the ‘PANTS’ acrostic. PANTS stands for

Privates are private
Always remember your body belongs to you
No means no
Talk about secrets that upset you
Speak up, someone can help

The NSPCC website has a wide range of resources and guidance to help support families to introduce the underwear rule at home.

Useful Website:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/

Speak out. Stay safe.

At St James we also use the NSPCC Speak out. Stay safe programme with our children.

Speak out Stay safe is an online safeguarding programme for children aged 5- to 11-years-old.

The programme helps our children to understand:

abuse in all its forms and how to recognise signs of abuse
that abuse is never a child’s fault and that they have the right to be safe
where to get help and the sources of help available to them, including Childline.

‘Street Teams’ is based in Walsall and is the only organisation in Walsall specialising in working with children and young people who are at risk of been abused through sexual exploitation or affected by CSE.

Street Teams operates a multi-faceted prevention programme called ‘Keep Safe’. This programme involves community outreach work, workshops and alternative learning schemes, education and training with schools and specialist work with gangs, boys and other young people deemed at high risk.

For further information contact:

Street Teams - 01922 621208