KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION – INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

Hillcrest Early Years Academy is committed to providing a happy and safe environment for our children to learn.

The following information will help you to understand how we keep your children safe by telling you:

-How children can be harmed.

-What we must do to keep your child safe from harm.

-What you must do as a parent to help your child be safe and enjoy school.

CHILD PROTECTION

This is a very important subject in which all staff receive regular training. Our priority is to work with you but there may be times when we have to involve other people and agencies.

Everybody has a responsibility to safeguard children and to keep them from harm. Harm is identified in four ways:

Physical – This is when a child is deliberately hurt or injured.

Sexual – This is when a child is influenced or forced to take part in a sexual activity. This can be a physical activity or non-physical i.e. being made to look at inappropriate images.

Emotional – This is when a child is made to feel frightened, worthless or unloved. It can be shouting, using threats or making fun of someone. It can also be when children see their parents, or visitors to the home, fighting or using violence.

Neglect – This is when a child is not being taken care of by their parents. It can be poor hygiene, poor diet, not keeping appointments, not coming to school or being left home alone.

All staff at the academy are trained to identify the signs of Extremism and Radicalisation which is where children can be put at risk of harm from the holding of extreme political or religious views.  Please click on the link below to view the policy.

USEFUL CONTACTS AT THE ACADEMY

If you would like to speak to a member of staff about a safeguarding concern then please contact one of our safeguarding leaders. These are:

Miss Z Thorpe-

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Headteacher

Miss Van Camp-

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs D Mitchell-

Lead Safeguarding Trustee

All safeguarding leaders can be contacted by phoning the academy: 01427 613483

REPORTING CONCERNS OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS

If you suspect or believe a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm (including any form of mistreatment or abuse) you should ALWAYS report your concerns.

In an emergency always dial 999

If there is no immediate danger to the child, or if you need some advice or information, you can contact the Children Services Customer Service Centre (CSC) on 01522 782111. If it is outside normal office hours you can contact the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 01522 782333

WHAT DOES HILLCREST DO TO KEEP PUPILS SAFE?

Details of our child protection and safeguarding procedures are detailed in our Child Protection and Safeguarding policies. In addition to this, the Academy also has other specific policies in place to ensure that safeguarding issues can be comprehensively addressed.

These policies are available on the website

Specifically:

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND HAPPY?

Parents are the most important people to keep their children safe.

Parents should always:

-Feel confident to raise concerns about your child.

-Talk to the academy if you need help or support.

-Read the academy policies about keeping children safe.

-Let the academy know if your child has a medical condition.

-Let the academy know if you have any issues, including court orders, relating to the safety of your child.

-Let the academy know if there is a change in your circumstances i.e. change of address, contact number, change of name, separation or divorce, loss of income etc.

-Tell the academy who will be dropping off or collecting your child and provide the school with at least two other emergency contacts.

-Let the academy know if your child is going to be absent from school and the reasons.

See the link below to find out information about keeping your child safe online, which can be found under the Parents tab on our website.