Safeguarding & E-Safety
Our Safeguarding Policy
What is safeguarding and how does the school ensure its provision is effective?
The first question lots of parents ask is 'What is safeguarding?' One of the best definitions I have heard is:
'It's looking out for everybody and making sure everyone is ok. Like, asking Tommy how his family are because I know they are going through a tough time.'
A mid day supervisor
Safeguarding, as our insightful mid day supervisor points out, is about making sure everyone is ok and develops to the best of their ability. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure safeguarding is effective in school.
'Keeping Children Safe in Education' explains that safeguarding is:
Protecting children from maltreatment
Preventing impairment of children's health or development
Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
We work hard in school to ensure safeguarding is effective. We do many things, a flavour of which is detailed below:
The first week of every academic year is always dedicated to the topic of 'Keeping Healthy, Staying Safe.' This topic is designed as a whole school project but is taught in an age sensitive manner (e.g. our youngest children learn about the importance of thorough teeth cleaning whilst our older children learn about the importance of regular exercise. Similarly, E-Safety is taught to all children but in a way that reflects the age of the children). Whilst this topic starts the year, it is not left there but is constantly reinforced throughout the year.
The school has a well thought through 'Relationships and Health Education' curriculum. For our younger children, this focusses on developing healthy friendships with their peers and how to have safe relationships with adults. For our older children, it moves on to a deeper understanding of what healthy relationships are. This is complemented in Year 6 where our children take part in the GREAT project that focusses on domestic violence. Similarly, our older children learn in greater depth how to keep themselves physically, and mentally, healthy. The mental health of our children is something we have taken seriously for a number of years. That is why we have employed the counselling service, Place2Be, since 2015.
Our Year 6 children take part in the DARE program to ensure they are aware of the dangers of drug abuse.
We aim to teach to the highest standard and to give our children access to the widest possible variety of opportunities. This includes a wide range of extra curricular sporting and musical opportunities. Our curriculum aims to develop our children into responsible, global citizens. We believe this approach will help our children feel a part of the global community and contribute to it. We believe this approach will develop a healthy, positive mindset.
We always follow statutory safeguarding policies and procedures, as well as ensuring the school site is safe and secure.
Our Safeguarding team
All schools must have a member of staff who has overall responsibility for safeguarding. This role is called the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). At Burford, that role is filled by Mrs Lister, the Headteacher. She has day to day responsibility for safeguarding, as well as being responsible for its strategic overview. If you have any safeguarding questions, or concerns, she is the best person to speak to.
Ms Chapleo (Head of School) and Mrs Arnold (Assistant Head Teacher) are the school's Deputy DSL's. They are fully qualified to deal with safeguarding concerns and do so in Mrs Lister's absence.
We have a safeguarding team in school who meet once a week to discuss safeguarding issues. The team is made up of Mrs Lister, Ms Chapleo, Mrs Arnold, as well as Ms Stephens (Attendance Lead) and Mrs Taylor (Place2Be manager).
A team of safeguarding governors monitor the quality of safeguarding provision in school. There is also a safeguarding team within the trust central team, and local authority, that is available to offer advice to the school's DSLs, as well as to monitor the quality of safeguarding within school.
E Safety
Always be careful when you are using the internet. It can help you to keep in touch with your friends and help your education - but it can also cause harm to you and to others.
Remember help is always available at school if you are having any problems online.
Don’t be afraid to talk to your teacher or another adult at school.
If you or anyone you know is worried about Child Exploitation, Online Protection or anything related to Internet safety please click the link below which will take you to the CEOP reporting website:
CEOP
Think you know - Age 5-7
Think you know - Age 8-10
Think you know - Age 11-13
Tips for staying safe online:
Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.
Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore.
Keep your privacy settings as high as possible
Never give out your passwords
Don’t befriend people you don’t know
Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online. Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do
Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are
Think carefully about what you say before you post something online
Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude
If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately.