SAFEGUARDING
"Safeguarding is a term which is broader than ‘child protection’ and relates to the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Safeguarding is defined in the DfE's document, Working Together to Safeguard Children as:
- protecting children from maltreatment
- preventing impairment of children’s health and development
- ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes "
In line with these principles, Fir Ends School maintains and follows a number of key policies and procedures to identify, monitor and report concerns relating to safeguarding.
In general terms, these typically relate to physical, sexual or emotional abuse and neglect, but also safeguarding responsibility also extends to issues surrounding radicalisation, cultural expectations, personal safety, use of the internet and the mental wellbeing of children and family adults.
Within school, all staff and governors receive annual training and updates on issues relating to safeguarding in general and key staff are identified as 'Safeguarding Leads' to co-ordinate and monitor responses to concerns.
At present the staff in these roles are:
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Rachel Watson
Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Mr Daryl Spencer
Safeguarding Governor: Mrs Claire Harding
If you have any concerns about a child you can contact either of these staff, who will be able to identify appropriate next steps to respond to your concerns.
If you have concerns that a child is in immediate danger, you can contact the Cumbria Safeguarding Board directly - follow this link to find out more.