Safeguarding

Axminster Community Primary Academy is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our children in school. We believe that pupils have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse; where staff are vigilant for signs of any pupil in distress and are confident about applying the/our safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.

Safeguarding and key people you can talk to:

Keeping our children safe is our number one priority. We have many elements to our safeguarding support and procedures. You can find more information about our approach to safeguarding as a Trust at: https://www.firstfederation.org/safeguarding-2/

If you have any concerns about the safety of your child, yourself, or another child, please contact a member of staff listed below.

Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm – safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment – and that we all feel safe in our environment.

If you are ever concerned about the safety or well‐being of someone at our school please talk to one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead s (DSLs).
 

Safeguarding Statement

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This means that we have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place.

Parents and carers are welcome to read the Policy on request. 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 his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. If a member of staff is concerned about a child’s welfare, they will record their concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the DSLs as soon as possible the same day.

If a member of staff has concerns which relate to the actions or behaviour of another member of staff (which could suggest that s/he is unsuitable to work with children) then this will be reported to one of the DSLs in confidence, who will refer the matter to the Head of School (or the Executive Headteacher if the concern relates to the Head of School) who will consider what action to take.

Operation Encompass

What is Operation Encompass?

Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse. It was launched on the 1st October 2015 and it is a process by which Key Adults (Designated Safeguarding Leads) in schools, academies, nurseries are informed that a child/young person may have been affected by domestic abuse within 24 hours of the event taking place.

How will it help?

The sharing of information between the Police and schools will allow early intervention support by Key Adults in schools. The aim of this support is to assist any child affected by domestic abuse to remain in school, so that they continue learning in a safe and secure environment.

What will we do?

At Axminster Community Primary Academy, we will ensure that we will:

• participate fully in Operation Encompass;

• identify Key Adults;

• complete the Log Sheet; and

• complete the summary sheet for statistical and auditing purposes.

We follow-up on any actions as directed by Operation Encompass and check on the welfare of pupils in school.

Operation EncompassOperation Encompass Information Booklet

Prevent Duty - Preventing Radicalisation in school

Building resilience in our young people and the promotion of fundamental British values is at the heart of preventing radicalisation. We do this by providing a safe place in which children can discuss issues, and we aim to give them the knowledge and confidence to challenge extremist beliefs and ideologies.

Our new prevent duty, is carried out under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which legally requires us to take steps to prevent pupils from being drawn into terrorism. We take this duty seriously and carry out the four main actions responsibly, namely: risk assessment, working in partnership, staff training and IT policies. If we assess a child as at risk, we will refer to the Channel Programme, which focuses on providing support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.

In terms of training, staff have received training to familiarise them with the Prevent Duty. In terms of internet safety, we ensure suitable filters are in place to keep children away from extremist materials, in keeping with Devon guidelines.

We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in our care.
 

What we do if there is a concern

If we have a concern about a particular pupil we will follow the school’s normal safeguarding procedures, including discussing with the school’s designated safeguarding lead, and where deemed necessary, with children’s social care. In Prevent priority areas, the local authority will have a Prevent lead who can also provide support.

We may also contact the local police force or dial 101 (the non-emergency number). They can talk to us in confidence about concerns and help us gain access to support and advice.

The Department for Education has dedicated a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable staff and governors to raise concerns relating to extremism directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk. Please note that the helpline is not intended for use in emergency situations, such as a child being at immediate risk of harm or a security incident In an emergency situation we will follow the recommended emergency procedures.

Downloads & Useful Links
Safeguarding LeafletSafeguarding Policy 2024