Sutton-at-Hone Church of England Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Our Child Protection Policy contains the following safeguarding statement:
- Sutton-at-Hone Church of England Primary School is a community and all those directly connected (staff, governors, parents, families, and pupils) have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure.
- Sutton-at-Hone Church of England Primary School recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children with their best interests at the centre of our work.
- Sutton-at-Hone Church of England Primary School recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within the school that will help children to feel safe, secure, and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection, and justice.
Our school’s core safeguarding principles are:
- That schools are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children
- It is a whole school’s responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as its paramount concern
- All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion, or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection
- All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account
- All staff understand the safe professional practice and adhere to our code of conduct and other associated policies
- All staff have a responsibility to recognise vulnerability in children and act on any concern in accordance with this guidance
There are four main elements to our safeguarding policy:
- Prevention (e.g. positive, supportive, safe school culture, curriculum and pastoral opportunities for children, safer recruitment procedures);
- Protection (by following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns);
- Support (for all pupils, parents, and staff, and where appropriate specific intervention for those who may be at risk of harm);
- Working with parents and other agencies (to ensure appropriate communications and actions are undertaken).
- The procedures contained in this policy apply to all staff (including temporary staff and volunteers) and governors and are consistent with those of the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP).
If you would like further information, please read our Parent Pamphlet for The Prevent Strategy or the Statutory Guidance for Preventing Dirty Guidance here.
Further Information
If you have any concerns please ring the school office and a Designated Safeguarding Lead will be happy to speak to you.
To visit our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, please view our policies page here.
Please visit our page for other helpful and useful resources.