Fir Bank Primary School

Key Information

Child Protection and Safeguarding

Fir Bank recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence are likely to have low self-esteem and may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. Our school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in their lives.

 

Fir Bank will endeavour to support the welfare and safety of all pupils through:

  • Maintaining children’s welfare as our paramount concern
  • ensuring the content of the curriculum includes social and emotional aspects of learning
  • ensuring that child protection is included in the curriculum to help children stay safe, recognise when they don’t feel safe and identify who they might / can talk to
  • Providing suitable support and guidance so that students have a range of appropriate adults to approach if they are in difficulties
  • To raise the awareness of all staff of the need to safeguard children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse by ensuring all staff are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and are aware of the school’s procedures and lines of communication
  • To support the child’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence.
  • To provide an environment in which children and young people feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and feel confident, and know how to, approach adults if they are in difficulties believing they will be effectively listened to
  • Ensuring all steps are taken to maintain site security and student’s physical safety
  • Working with parents to build an understanding of the school’s responsibility to ensure the welfare of all children including the need for referral to other agencies in some situations
  • To develop a structured procedure within the school which will be followed by all members of the school community in cases of suspected abuse.
  • Monitoring children and young people who have been identified as having welfare or protection concerns; keeping confidential records which are stored securely and shared appropriately with other professionals
  • To develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies, especially the Police and Social Care.
  • To ensure that all adults within our school who have substantial access to children have been checked as to their suitability.

Contact:

Rachael McLaughlin – Headteacher

head@firbank.oldham.sch.uk

 

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