Safeguarding
The Wolds and Vale federation 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 in the Policies section of our website.
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.
We actively support the Government’s Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.
At the Wolds and Vale Federation, we take our role in safeguarding very seriously as we believe all children have the right to feel and be safe.
If you have a concern about a child’s safety and/or well-being, please speak to our Designated Safeguarding Leads or our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. Our Safeguarding Governor is also contactable via the Admin Team at either school.
Please remember, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Visit the below website for important information for parents and carers, children and young people and professionals who work with them.: https://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/about-us/worried-about-a-child/
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a joint initiative which involves North Yorkshire Police (NYP) and the Safeguarding Children’s Boards for the City of York and North Yorkshire, working together to ensure appropriate safeguarding and support is provided to children caught up in incidents of domestic abuse.
The initiative works by safeguarding Officers from NYP referring incidents of Domestic Abuse to identified key adults in schools, where a child between the ages of four and eighteen years of age has been directly involved, or has been a witness during the domestic incident. This is done every day across North Yorkshire, prior to the start of the following school day. This is completed so that pastoral support can be given to the child. We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved. See link for further details: http://www.operationencompass.org
Safeguarding Information for Visitors
All staff and visitors alike have a responsibility for safeguarding our pupils. To ensure this we ask the following:
- Wear your ID / visitor badge at all times.
- Switch off you mobile phone / device and store it in your bag.
- In the event you do need to use your mobile phone or camera enabled device, please do so in an area that is not accessed by the children, this includes corridors. Such places could be in one of the offices or in the staff room.
- Do not take pictures, videos or sound recordings of any pupils unless you have sought permission from the school.
- If you are working with a child, please ensure the class teacher is aware of this, where you are working and approximately how long for.
- If you are working with a child, please do so in a space that is open, or have an open door or visible by others through a window.
- If you have a concern about a child please pass this on to the child’s class teacher, who will then follow our safeguarding procedures. If they are not available, please speak with our Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mrs Mould, if she is not available Mrs Evans, Miss Trotter or Miss Childs, the Deputy Safeguarding Leads.
- If you have a concern about another adult in school, please ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Always share concerns with school staff, no matter how small they may appear, and don’t keep them to yourself.
- If a child says something to you that you think could be a safeguarding concern, act as above, and if possible write down what was said immediately. Listen to the child, do not question them or promise them that it will remain confidential between the two of you.
Thank you
The NSPCC website can be found using the following link https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
