SAFEGUARDING

We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued

The school will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.

A copy of our safeguarding policy can be found here.

Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The school should make parents/carers aware that records of welfare concerns may be kept about their child. They should be informed that school staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies. However, in situations where the child is suspected to be at risk of harm, the law says that schools may take advice from other agencies without informing parents/carers.

In accordance with local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.

Schools will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the school with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Safeguarding Leads) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.

Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, schools or any person who has care of a child “may….do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the police investigate any concerns further.

What to do if you need to contact someone about a Child Protection concern

We are all responsible for the Child Protection. If you think you or the child is in immediate danger and needs urgent help, please call the police on 999.
Members of the public should contact Cambridgeshire County Council Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub if you are:

• Concerned that a child may be suffering physical, sexual or emotional abuse or is being neglected
• A child or young person and you are being abused or neglected
• A parent or carer and you feel you are harming your child or are close to doing so

Contact numbers can be found here: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/children-s-social-care/about-social-work/

For professionals, including school staff, procedures are in place for concerns to be referred to a Designated Person for Child Protection.  The full details can be found within our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy below.

Parents, carers or other members of the public can also pass on safeguarding concerns to the school by making contact with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. To get in touch, you can email support@bottishamvc.org or phone us on 01223 811250.

Further information can be found in the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy below, and on the Local Safeguarding Children Board website: http://www5.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/lscb/

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