Safeguarding
East Ward Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection Policy which can be viewed under the 'about the school tab' and the policies page.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.
We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Kathryn Mort (Headteacher). Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Miss Beth Sheridan (Pastoral and Attendance Manager), Miss Laura Jarvis (Deputy Headteacher) and Mrs Joanna Hall (EYFS Lead and Nursery Teacher). The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Richard Walthall.
The Bury Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) can be contacted on 0161 253 5678.
Childline NSPCC
Tel: 0800 1111 Tel: 0808 800 5000
Photographs and Videos
Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.
Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet including social networking sites. This is emphasised before concerts and shows etc and where practical a record of parents and relatives taking photographs or videos is made.
We understand that in exceptional circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way. If this is the case then please contact the headteacher to discuss how this can be best achieved.
Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We like to use photographs of our children on our website, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around the school. If you do not wish photographs of your child to be used for these purposes, then please contact the Headteacher.
Operation Encompass
Our school has been given the opportunity to take part in a new project that is a Police Initiative and is supported by Bury Safeguarding Board.
The project, Operation Encompass, has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school but which might have an impact on a child attending school the following day. This information will be shared on school days during the school term. When incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday, the police will contact the relevant school the following Monday.
Our school has been given the opportunity to take part in a new project that is a Police Initiative and is supported by Bury Safeguarding Board.
The project, Operation Encompass, has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school but which might have an impact on a child attending school the following day. This information will be shared on school days during the school term. When incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday, the police will contact the relevant school the following Monday.
PREVENT
As part of our safeguarding and child protection duties, we fully endorse the Government’s PREVENT strategy.
From July 1st 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 For Schools.
At Higher Lane Primary school, we build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling our pupils to challenge extremist views.
The statutory guidance refers to the importance of PREVENT awareness training to equip staff to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and to challenge extremist ideas. All our teaching staff have received training on what Prevent is about and how to deal with any issues they may see inside or outside school.
To see our policy relating to this, please visit the Statutory Policies page.
Safer Recruiting
East Ward Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and expect all staff to share this commitment. Any candidate applying for employment at our school will undergo rigorous checks to ensure our children are safe at all times. Checks continue to be carried out on staff and volunteers throughout their employment within our school.
Key members of our staff team and our Governors are trained in Safer Recruitment. There is always at least one trained member of staff involved in the shortlisting, selection process and interview stage.
Our recruitment procedures are very robust and essential checks are made throughout the selection process.
As part of our recruitment and selection procedures we:
- take up references from the applicant’s current or former employer, following up with the author of the
- references if there is anything that appears to be contradictory or incomplete. The school reserves the right to
- contact present employers and any previous employer. Employers will be asked about disciplinary offences,
- including those which have expired.
- consider whether the candidate has the necessary physical and mental fitness to teach, including whether any
- reasonable adjustments are required to enable the individual to provide effective and efficient teaching
- (as required by the Education Health Standards (England) Regulations 2003).
- consider the flexibilities that exist to make appointments subject to the successful completion of a probationary
- period in order to provide the opportunity to assess an applicant’s suitability for the post over a period of time.
- ensure Disclosure and Barring Service Forms are completed and verified before employment commences
- (in line with Section 115 of the Police Act 1997).
- ensure every member of staff completes a Disqualification by Association declaration form about themselves
- and other adults living in their family home.
- check eligibility to work in the UK.
All school posts are exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, and so all criminal convictions must be stated, with dates.
CEOP
If you are concerned about any online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online please click the link below to report it.