At Pocklington CE Infant School, we recognise that your child’s welfare is our responsibility and our priority. We are committed to working in partnership with you and will wherever possible discuss with you any concerns that we may have about your child, as well as any concerns you may wish to raise.
We aim to keep parents and carers informed and involved in matters relating to their child whenever possible.
However, as your child’s welfare is our paramount concern, there may be exceptional circumstances where we need to consult with other agencies before informing you.
The ERSCP has established the procedures that we follow, and the school has adopted a Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy in line with this guidance to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children.
If you would like further information about our safeguarding procedures or policies, please speak to the Headteacher, the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Alternatively, you may contact Portia Hewitt or Tom Percy, the Governors with responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, via the school office.
How to report concerns
If you think a child may be in danger, is at risk, is being mistreated or you have concerns about a child’s well-being you should pass on your concerns to Safeguarding and Partnership Hub (SaPH) or in immediate danger the Police on 999.
Tel: (01482) 395500 – choose option 1 and a social worker will be able to talk through your worries and discuss what happens next.
The number above is available:
Monday – Thursday 9.00 am – 5:00 pm.
Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
You do not have to give your name, but it may help with enquiries if you do so. Alternatively, contact Mrs Jenny Rogers for advice.
Enquiries at all other times (including weekends and bank holidays) would need to follow the out-of-hours arrangements. The children’s emergency duty team can be contacted on 01482 393939.
If a child is suffering abuse and requires urgent attention because of immediate danger, call the Police on 999.
Sharing images
If you do not wish your child’s photograph to be used on our school website/app please let the school office know.
Collecting pupils
Please note we do not release children to anyone under 18 as part of our safeguarding practices.
If someone without parental responsibility is coming to collect your child, please let the school office know.
Volunteers in school
We are always pleased to welcome volunteers to help out in school. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the school office. We will share with your our volunteer policy and discuss how you might use your talents!
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared by the police with a school’s trained Key Adult (DSL) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.
Children experiencing domestic abuse are negatively impacted by this exposure; domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience and can lead to emotional, physical and psychological harm. Operation Encompass aims to mitigate this harm by enabling immediate support, making a child’s day better and giving them a better tomorrow.
Operation Encompass believes that children are victims of domestic abuse in their own right and should be acknowledged as such.
Key Documents
Prevent and Safeguarding
What is Prevent?
Prevent is part of the Government’s approach to safeguarding. Its purpose is to help prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It includes protecting children from extremist ideas and from influences that could lead to radicalisation.
Schools and early years settings have a legal duty to consider the risk of children being exposed to radicalisation. Prevent is treated in the same way as other safeguarding responsibilities: concerns are noticed, shared and acted upon so that children and families can receive appropriate support.
What does Prevent mean for our young children?
At Pocklington CE VC Infant School, our children are aged between three and seven. We do not teach young children frightening or inappropriate details about terrorism or extremism.
Instead, our Prevent work is carefully matched to the children’s age and stage of development. We help children to build the values, knowledge and confidence that will help to keep them safe now and as they grow older.
Through play, stories, Collective Worship, PSHE, online-safety learning and everyday school life, children learn:
- that everyone is special and deserves to be treated with kindness and respect;
- to appreciate people from different families, cultures, religions and backgrounds;
- that it is acceptable to have different opinions;
- to listen to others, take turns and resolve disagreements peacefully;
- to recognise unkind, unfair or discriminatory behaviour;
- to tell a trusted adult if something worries, frightens or confuses them;
- that information seen or heard online is not always safe or true; and
- how to make safe and responsible choices.
This supports our Christian character and our commitment to enabling every child to flourish.
How do we fulfil the Prevent Duty?
Many aspects of our usual safeguarding and curriculum work contribute to the Prevent Duty. These include:
- promoting our Christian vision and school values;
- teaching respect for different faiths, cultures and beliefs;
- promoting fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs;
- challenging prejudiced, discriminatory or hateful language appropriately;
- providing age-appropriate online-safety education;
- using appropriate internet filtering and monitoring systems;
- following appropriate safeguarding procedures for visitors and external speakers;
- providing Prevent training for staff; and
- ensuring staff know how to recognise, record and report a concern.
Although radicalisation may appear less likely to affect very young children, children can still be exposed to harmful language, images or ideas through the internet, other people or their wider environment. Any response will always be proportionate, sensitive and centred on the individual child.
What happens if the school has a concern?
There is no single sign that a child or family may be affected by radicalisation. Staff are trained to notice changes or concerns and to share these with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
A concern does not automatically mean that a referral will be made. The school will consider the available information carefully and, where appropriate, seek advice from safeguarding professionals. Prevent is intended to offer early help and support, rather than to criminalise children or families.
Further information and support
If you have any questions about Prevent or are concerned about something your child has seen, heard or repeated, please speak to the Headteacher or Designated Safeguarding Lead.
More information is available through:
- Prevent Duty Guidance
- Educate Against Hate: information for parents and carers
- Get help if you are worried about someone being radicalised
Further details about the school’s approach can be found in our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.