At Pirton Hill Primary School, we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that we all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn. We all have the responsibility to make this happen.

We will ensure that:

• The welfare of the child remains paramount.
• All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• All staff and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to our Designated Senior Person for Child Protection. 

Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding practices cover all areas of school life and include:

• Staff & Visitors: Ensuring they are vetted, informed & trained.
• Children’s Behaviour: Promoting safer & happier behaviours & lifestyles.
• Parents & Carers: Promoting links & supporting families.
• Premises: Keeping them safe, pleasant & fit for purpose.
• Curriculum: Providing positive, life affirming learning experiences.
• Outside School: Ensuring safer activities and environments outside school.

Safer Recruitment
As a school, we follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. Ongoing checks and ‘whistle-blowing’ are in line with current policy.

Staff Training
Staff are trained in child protection issues and they are aware of the procedures to follow. Staff are encouraged to be vigilant in order to maintain the safety of our children. All staff are expected to be familiar with following key documents: ‘GUIDANCE FOR SAFER WORKING PRACTICE FOR ADULTS WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 2015’ and ‘KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION 2022’.

Safeguarding Policy
All staff have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children issues and are able to implement the safeguarding children policy and procedure appropriately. Policies are in line with current guidance and procedures.

Staff are able to respond appropriately to any:

• significant changes in children's behaviour;
• deterioration in their general well-being;
• unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse;
• signs of neglect;
• comments children make which give cause for concern.

All staff are aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality

Information Sharing
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:

• emergency contact numbers;
• the child's special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
• the child's special health requirements;
• information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.

PARENTS & CARERS MUST TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.

Lockdown Procedures

As part of our safeguarding arrangements we have a plan for different scenarios. One such scenario is a “lockdown”. Lockdown procedures are important and would be used in response to an internal or external incident which could be a threat to the safety of staff and children in the school.

Lockdown procedures may be activated in response to any number of situations, these may include:

1. A warning being received regarding a local risk of air pollution (smoke plume, gas cloud etc.)
2. A major fire in the vicinity of the school
3. A reported incident, disturbance in the local community
4. An intruder or dangerous animal (e.g. a dog) on the site

In the event of a lockdown parents will be notified as soon as possible.

During a ‘lockdown’ our first priority will be the safety of the children and staff. We ask that you:

• Do not contact the school. Calling the school could tie up telephone lines that are needed for contacting emergency providers.
• Do not come to the school. You could interfere with emergency provider’s access to the school and may even put yourself and others in danger.
• Wait for the school to contact you about when it is safe for you to come get their children, and where this will be from.

Operation Encompass

Our school has been given the opportunity to take part in a new operation that will run jointly with Bedfordshire Police and Luton Children’s Social Care.

Operation Encompass has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur in which a child was present, ordinarily resides at the incident location or with an involved party. We know that children can be significantly affected through witnessing or being exposed to domestic abuse and this operation will allow us to better support our pupils and their families.

A nominated member of staff, known as a Single Point of Contact (SPOC), will be identified to receive in the information. At Pirton Hill our SPOC is our Family Worker, Gill Kent. She will be able to use information that has been shared with her, in confidence, to ensure that the right support is available should it be required by a child.

We are keen to offer the best support available to our pupils and we believe this is going to be extremely beneficial for all those involved.

If you have any concerns or questions, then please contact Gill Kent who will be happy to help on 01582 507924.

More information can be found  on https://www.operationencompass.org/

Useful Links

Link to further information on Child Sexual Expolitation (CSE) (External Link)

Link to further information on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) (External Link)

Link to further information on the prevention of radicalisation (PREVENT) (External Link)

Link to Luton Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) (External Link)

Designated Members of Staff:

Headteacher:

Name: Mr Glenn Booth (Headteacher)

head@pirtonhill.co.uk

Senior designated safeguarding leads:

Name: Mrs Cristelle Ellis (Deputy Headteacher)

cristelleellis@pirtonhill.co.uk

Name: Mr Glenn Booth (Headteacher)

head@pirtonhill.co.uk

Members of safeguarding team:

Name: Mrs Cheryl Shearman (HLTA - Additional Needs)

Name: Mrs Theresa Burton (Pastoral Worker)

Designated prevent lead:

Name: Mrs Cristelle Ellis (Deputy Headteacher)

cristelleellis@pirtonhill.co.uk

Designated CLA (Currently Looked After) lead:

Name: Miss Ciara Keane (Inclusion Leader)

Chair of Governing Body:

Name: Yemisi Olusanya

Designated Governor for safeguarding:

Name: Yemisi Olusanya