West Leigh Infant School

Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mrs Yolande Sayer

Deputy Safeguarding Leads - Miss Sarah Froydenlund and Mrs Claire Parish

Safeguarding Governor - Mrs Maria Pepermens

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.

Worried About A Child?

All professionals must make a referral, within one day, to Southend on Sea children's social care if there are signs that a child or an unborn baby:

• Is suffering significant harm through abuse or neglect;
• Is likely to suffer significant harm in the future.

Where practicable, concerns should be discussed with the parent and agreement sought for a referral to children's social care unless seeking agreement is likely to:

• Place the child at risk of significant harm through delay or the parent's actions or reactions;
• Lead to the risk of loss of evidential material

If you are concerned that a child is being abused or neglected, or that they may be at risk of harm, you should contact:

The school’s Designated Safeguarding Person without delay, if they are not available or your concerns have not been dealt with to your satisfaction then contact the numbers below: