Safeguarding
Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mrs Yolande Sayer
Deputy Safeguarding Leads - Miss Sarah Froydenlund and Mrs Sharon Cekerevac
Safeguarding Governor - Mr Steven Bessant
Safeguarding Your Child
West Leigh Infant School is committed to safeguarding your child and to following the Department for Education document: which is https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 ‘… statutory guidance for schools and colleges who must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.’ It should be read alongside the guidance of: Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE, 2015). The two key principles of this document are:
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: for services to be effective each professional and organisation should play their full part; and
- A child-centred approach: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.
At West Leigh Infants we believe that to enable all children and young people to achieve their potential, they should:
- Have their basic needs met.
- Enjoy the medical, educational, pleasure and welfare services necessary for a healthy and positive childhood.
- Live in a safe environment protected from exploitation, abuse or harm.
- Feel loved and valued and be supported by a network of reliable and affectionate relationships.
- Have a positive image of themselves and a secure sense of identity including cultural and racial identity.
- Be consulted and have views taken into account on all matters and decisions that affect their lives.
- Be helped to develop good inter-personal skills and confidence in social situations to enable them to become competent in looking after themselves and coping with everyday living.
- Where there is a conflict of interest between parents and children, and in all decisions relating to their future, the child’s interest must be given primary consideration.
In order to make sure all of the above can happen we:
- Aim to prevent unsuitable people from working with the children by carrying out DBS checks on all staff, governors and volunteers. At least one member of every interview panel has received Safer Recruitment training.
- Promote safe practice and challenge any poor or unsafe practice
- Identify instances where there are grounds for concern about a child’s welfare and initiate or take appropriate action to keep them safe
- Contribute to effective partnership working between all those involved in providing services for our children.