Parklands is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and  visitors to share this commitment.

The school aims to ensure that:

• Appropriate action is taken in a timely manner to safeguard and promote children’s welfare
• All staff are aware of their statutory responsibilities with respect to safeguarding, identifying children in need of early help, at risk of harm or those that have been harmed.
• Staff are properly trained in recognising and reporting safeguarding issues
• A culture of vigilance is created and maintained to ensure that we will also act in the best interests of children to protect them online and offline.
• Systems for reporting abuse are well promoted, easily understood and easily accessible for children

Purpose of our Safeguarding Policy

Parklands Primary School’s safeguarding policy provides clear direction to all school stakeholders about expected practice in dealing with safeguarding issues. It makes explicit the school’s commitment to the development of good practice and effective procedures, ensuring that safeguarding concerns and referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in a way that supports and protects the needs of the child.

There are three main aims to our Child Protection Policy:

Prevention: by creating a positive school atmosphere and providing high quality teaching and pastoral support to pupils;

Protection: by following agreed procedures and ensuring staff are appropriately recruited, trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to Child Protection concerns;

Support: by providing support for pupils and school staff and for children who may have been or are being abused.

All those working in education can contribute to the safeguarding and protection of the welfare of a child in need.

According to the DfE, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• protecting children from maltreatment;
• preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
• ensuring children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility at Parklands Primary School.

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is childcentred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

This policy applies to all who come into contact with children at Parklands Primary School including:

• Teachers
• Teaching assistants
• Administrative assistants
• Supply teachers
• Students
• Midday supervisors
• Visitors/volunteers
• Adult helpers
• Governors
• Trustees

If in doubt, anyone with concerns should seek advice from the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Mrs Laura Darley (Head teacher).