Safeguarding

The school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr Steve Gillan, in his absence, Miss Hannah Kelloway is the Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead. The School Governor responsible for Safeguarding is Mrs Christine Salter.

A full version of the School’s Child Protection Policy is available on request or from the Policy section of this website.

Thurlbear CE VA Primary School follows the procedures set out by the Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and take into account guidance issued by the DfE in Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2023 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018.

• Ensure we have a designated safeguarding lead and deputy lead person for child protection who has received and maintained appropriate training and support for this role; training should include the ‘Prevent’ training in respect of radicalisation and extremist behaviour
• Ensure we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection.
• Ensure each member of staff, (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) and the governing body knows the name of the current Designated Safeguarding Lead and their role
• Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated safeguarding lead
• Exercise our duties under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 by ensuring that all staff are appropriately trained to identify vulnerable children and refer them appropriately
• Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibilities placed on the school and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations, contained in this policy, in the school prospectus and on our website
• Notify Children’s Social Care if a pupil in receipt of a child protection plan, is absent from school for more than 2 days when this absence is unexplained
• Develop effective links with relevant agencies and cooperate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters, including attendance at child protection conferences, and strategy meetings if required
• Respond appropriately when children are missing education
• Apply the Somerset Local Safeguarding Board multi- agency Escalation Policy if there is any concern about the actions or inactions of social care staff or staff from other agencies
• Maintain secure child protection records separate from the main pupil file and in locked locations
• Ensure that there are clear procedures, known to all staff, which are followed where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer. The LSCB website provides information on allegations management.
• Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed which includes having a trained person on every recruitment panel
• Apply confidentiality appropriately and in line with HM Gov. Information Sharing Guidance 2015

Safeguarding Documents