SAFEGUARDING

‘Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, every day’.

Safeguarding Team:

Ms J. Watkins (Vice Principal) - Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mr I. Cooper (Principal) - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

M​iss L. Weaver (Vic Princiapl) - Deputy Designated Safegurding Lead

Mrs P. Steele (Learning Mentor) - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

M​r P. Nixon (Learning Mentor) - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

M​rs R. Pender - Governor responsible for Safeguarding

The safety of our children is of paramount importance to all staff, governors and community members in our school. The school also has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular, police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate child protection concerns but have a legal duty to refer them.

Our school is committed to safeguarding children and promoting children’s welfare and expects all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment and maintain a vigilant and safe environment.

Everyone has a responsibility to act without delay to protect children by reporting anything that might suggest a child is being abused or neglected.

By signing in to our site, you are agreeing to follow the school’s safeguarding advice to visitors and, where appropriate, the code of conduct for staff and volunteers.

OUR ROLE:

The School Safeguarding/Pastoral Team ensure that Knowsley School’s Safeguarding Charter is adhered to and followed. It is our priority to keep children and adults ‘safe’. The team meet to complete regular 'Supervision Meetings' to discuss any concerns or ongoing issues. In addition:

• We work in partnership with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in keeping with the KSCB’s ‘Levels of Need Framework’ to secure improved outcomes for young people
• We provide induction and regular training that enable all adults to recognise signs of abuse and neglect; act in the interests of the child and maintain an attitude ‘it could happen here’
• We work collaboratively with other agencies to promote early help for young people and families before their needs escalate to a point where intervention would be needed via a statutory assessment
• We challenge ourselves and others to ensure actions are completed in a timely way and press for reconsideration if the situation does not improve
• We quality assure all safeguarding practices including maintaining support and oversight of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Team, their actions, decisions and record keeping 
• We ensure all adults working with young people follow an agreed code of conduct that promotes safe working practices and makes responsibilities and expectations clear, including the understanding that anyone can make a referral
• We complete any actions arising from the Local Authority’s 175 Safeguarding Audit in order to ensure policies and procedures follow KSCB Local Authority and statutory guidance 
• We implement any learning arising from serious case reviews, for example the need to listen and respond to the views of children, especially when assessing their needs
• We provide students with a curriculum which promotes their safeguarding and enables them to maintain healthy relationships
• We ensure that safer recruitment practices and safeguarding policies and procedures set out a culture of vigilance and challenge

SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS AND NEED FOR SUPPORT

O​PERATION ENCOMPASS

Whiston Willis Primary Academy is part of Operation Encompass, which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces. Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse. Police forces have a statutory duty to share Operation Encompass notifications with schools.

As a school, we have ensured that all members of our safeguarding team, known as Key Adults, have been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures, allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right. We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.

M​ULTI AGENCY SAFEGUARDING HUB

T​he Knowsley Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) brings together agencies from services that have contact with children and adults at risk to make the best possible use of their combined knowledge to keep them safe from harm. MASH provides a first point of contact for Early Help, Children's Social Care and Adults Social Care enabling schools, professionals and members of the public to raise concerns about the safety and welfare of children or adults. Contact number for MASH is 0151 443 2600.

E​ARLY HELP

In the context of safeguarding children, 'Early Help' refers to the support provided to children and families at the earliest possible time when they are facing challenges, preventing issues from escalating.

Children and families who are experiencing difficulties, such as those with disabilities, SEND, mental health issues or low income can also access support through the Early Help process.

EARLY HELP

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SAFEGUARDING IN THE CURRICULUM

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SAFEGUARDING IN THE CURRICULUM

Is the point of contact for cases that do not meet current Children’s Social Care threshold or where an appropriate agency has not been identified which can support the needs of the child and their family.

E-SAFETY
Whiston Willis want everyone to get the most out of tech and enjoy happy and safe digital lives. With regularly updated articles and expert advice, follow Digital Parenting.

Here you will find plenty of resources and support - helping you make the right digital choices for your family.

As well as the Online Advice section in the ‘Parents’ Menu, containing links to guides for social media documents and safety guidelines.

C​HILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status.

Children or young people may be tricked into believing they’re in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol. They may also be groomed online.

Some children and young people are trafficked into or within the UK for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation can also happen to young people in gangs. The ‘Listen to my Story’ campaign… The Listen to my Story campaign has been developed by Merseyside Police, local councils and third sector agencies throughout the Merseyside area to raise awareness of CSE in our communities and to educate young people, parents/carers, teachers, health professionals and service industry workers as to the signs and vulnerabilities of CSE.

For more information about ‘Listen to my Story’, please visit www.listentomystory.co.uk.

All of our staff have been trained in the signs of CSE. If you are concerned about your child or someone you know let us know – we will be able to help.

R​ADICALISATION & EXTREMISM

From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty.

In order for schools to fulfil the Prevent duty, it is essential that staff are able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation, and know what to do when they are identified.

Schools can build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views. It is important to emphasise that the Prevent duty is not intended to stop pupils debating controversial issues. On the contrary, schools should provide a safe space in which children, young people and staff can understand the risks associated with terrorism and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge extremist arguments.

Further information for parents can be found at:

Prevent Leaflet

http://www.ltai.info/

http://educateagainsthate.com/

Other useful contacts:

National Support

• Forced Marriage Unit 0207008 015,fmu@fco.gov.uk
• Child Helpline: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
• Karma Nirvana Helpline: 0800 5999 247
• NSPCC:080 8800 5000
• Iranian/Kurdish Women’s Right Organisation 0207 9206460

Local Contacts

• Merseyside Forced Marriage & HBV Protocol: www.liverpoolscb.org
• Savera Liverpool (DAS for BAMER Communities): 07716 266 484
• https://www.saverauk.co.uk/
• Amadudu (BME Refugee): 0151 734 0083
• South Liverpool DVS; 0151 494 2222
• LDAS 0151 263-7474
• Irish Community Care: 0151 237 3987
• ABC DVP: 0151 482 2484
• WHISC: 0151 707 1826
• Liverpool Domestic Abuse service: 0151 263 74 74
• Knowsley Domestic Violence Support Service : 0151 548 3333

Inclusion

Whiston Willis Primary Academy is committed to ensuring the best possible education for all pupils regardless of ability, background, ethnicity, gender or disability.  We continually monitor the progress of all pupils and take steps to intervene where there is evidence that individuals or groups are falling behind.  Our school ‘Inclusion Team’ that consists of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) and one Learning Mentor  liaise with parents and external agencies to provide additional support for children who require it.  We also acknowledge that some children will be more able (‘Gifted and Talented’) and we aim to ensure that these children’s needs are also well catered for.

A copy of our Special Educational Needs Policy and Equality Policies are available in the ‘Statutory Policies’ section of the website.