Safeguarding

‘Safeguarding is Everybody’s Business’

Our school complies with all statutory requirements for ensuring that our children are kept safe at all times. We believe that ‘Safeguarding is Everybody’s Business’ and our policy can be downloaded from our school website's policy page.

The Core Safeguarding Team for all safeguarding and child protection issues are Mr Mark Joule (Headteacher & DDSL), Mrs Kerry Robbins (Deputy Headteacher & DSL), Mrs Katie Taylor (Deputy Headteacher & DDSL) and Mrs Carys Trigg (DDSL).

Ms Charley Lee is our Children and Families Support Worker

The Designated Governor is Mr Mike Whitaker.

At Winsford High Street Primary and Nursery School, we take the safeguarding of our pupils very seriously. We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for children, staff and visitors and promoting a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns which they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.

We aim to safeguard and promote the welfare of children by protecting them 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; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

We have key policies to help keep our pupils safe when in school and we welcome parents to read these documents. The aim of these policies is to ensure that our school has effective measures in place to safeguard from the potential risk of harm and that the safety and wellbeing of the children are of the highest priority in all aspects of our school’s work.

Our policies are applicable to all on and off-site activities undertaken by pupils whilst they are the responsibility of the School.

We will ensure that all staff read at least Part one of DfE guidance "Keeping children safe in education" and that mechanisms are in place to assist staff to understand and discharge their role and responsibilities as set out in this document.

Our Safeguarding Policy can be found in the Policies section of our Website.

Keeping our children safe at High Street

Please find information about how we keep your child safe at school and how through pupil voice your child believes we keep them safe. Please see the PDF at the bottom of this page.

Prevent Duty Agenda

What is the Prevent strategy?

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.

The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.

How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This is underpinned by the new duty in the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 ‘to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.’

This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence.

Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

What does this mean in practice?

Even when the extent of extremism in schools may be perceived to be low – it has a high impact. Keeping children safe from these risks is part of safeguarding and we approach it in the same way as safeguarding children from other risks.

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

These include:

Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
Providing safe environments for discussing controversial issues
Opportunities to express their views but appreciate the views of others
Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.

Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community. Prevention work can be seen within our RE and PSCHE curriculum, anti-bullying prevention and e-safety focus.

What is radicalisation?

It is when a person starts to support terrorism or forms of extremism that leads to terrorism.

They are usually 13 years old or upwards but not always.
They may have a personality or identity crisis.
They may have unmet aspirations or have a personal crisis.
They may have a need for adventure or excitement.
They may feel that their culture or religion is under threat.
Individuals may feel socially isolated or suffering depression.
They may demonstrate criminal behaviour.
They may be groomed by others who promise them excitement, glory or freedom.

What are the signs?

Overly sensitive about online viewing.
Feeling isolated or expressions of “us and them” mentality.
Becoming more argumentative or domineering in their viewpoint – quick to condemn those who disagree with their opinions.
Downloading extremism content.
Social isolation – especially if they had been social previously.
Abnormal routines or travel patterns.
Altered appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Prevent relate to British values?

Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy.

British values include:

Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty and mutual respect
Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?

The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.

The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.

Is extremism really a risk in our area?

Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and misogynistic extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.

We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.

Although serious incidents involving radicalisation have not occurred at this school to date, it is important for us to be constantly vigilant and remain fully informed about the issues which affect the region in which we teach. Staff are reminded to suspend any professional disbelief that instances of radicalisation ‘could not happen here’ and to refer any concerns through the designated Child Protection / Safeguarding leads Mrs Robbins, Mr Joule and Mrs Taylor.

What is Channel?

Channel is a partnership approach to support individuals vulnerable to recruitment by violent extremists.

Channel provides advice and guidance around issues of violent extremism to senior managers and front line professionals. They assist in the ability to assess the nature and extent of vulnerability, need and risk around extremism; providing an appropriate support package to divert them away from potential threat at an early stage.

Extremism and Radicalisation Policy

We have a policy to safeguard pupils around extremism and radicalisation. This is available to view on the policy page.

What to do if you have concerns

If you have concerns about a child who may be vulnerable please contact:

IART (Integrated access and referral team) on: 0300 123 7047

Further Contact Details:

Prevent Cheshire – Emma Hart 01606 362147

Cheshire Channel – Lesley Price 01606 365986

Online Safety for parents and carers:

Please see the separate online safety page for parents on the school website as well as weekly updates on our weekly newsletters.