Safeguarding Information
DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD | Jo Sharpe |
DEPUTY SAFEGUARDING LEAD(S) | Katy Calder, Rachael Hyslop, Lauren Barlow and Gemma Parker |
NOMINATED GOVERNOR WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING | Brenda Porter |
DESIGNATED TEACHER – LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN | Katy Calder |
EARLY HELP LEAD | Katy Calder |
MENTAL HEALTH LEAD | Lauren Barlow |
NOMINATED SAFEGUARDING GOVERNOR | Steve McNorton |
CHAIR OF GOVERNORS | Brenda Porter |
SAFEGUARDING
Merefield School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all members of the school community to share this commitment.
To this end we will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.
The safety and well-being of all children and young people is of paramount importance. We recognise that parents and carers send their children to school each day with the expectation that the school provides a safe and secure environment in which their children can flourish.
We therefore have a wide range of measures in place to ensure this is put into practice and is maintained.
Child Protection at Merefield School
Our school staff are trained to be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Sefton Safeguarding Children’s Partnership policies and procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.
Parents and carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to concern about a child's welfare, including risk from abuse and neglect. The staff will seek to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer and, where possible, inform them of the referral to Children Social Care. This will only occur where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm.
In accordance with local Information sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children are safe and receive the right support at the right time.
School will seek advice from the multi-agency safeguarding Hub (MASH) integrated front door when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the school responsible for Child Protection (known as the Designated Lead) is charged with carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interest of the child.
Policies
We have a number of policies in place at Merefield School which support our ethos for ensuring our children are safe, secure and in an environment where they can learn and feel secure
These are available on our website.
Induction and Training
All our staff and volunteers have an induction schedule, which includes safeguarding training plus every member of staff has formal training every year.
This knowledge is maintained throughout the school year with 7-minute briefings, regular reminders and updates from the Sefton Safeguarding Children’s Partnership
Robust Recruitment Procedures
As a school we take time to assess all applications and include clear expectations around safeguarding and suitability to work with children. We apply these protocols and expectations to regular volunteers too. Candidates should be expected to answer questions around safeguarding in their recruitment selection day.
PSHE Curriculum and E Safety Curriculum
Through our 'My Emotional Wellbeing' and 'My Community' curriculum, children will learn how to keep themselves safe.
DESIGNATED LEADS
We have six members of staff who undertake the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead including responsibility for Child Protection and Safeguarding and deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. These are listed above.
Site Security
We have stringent management and maintenance of our site to ensure it is safe and secure which includes management of visitors to our site.
All visitors must sign in and wear a visitor badge and be escorted unless they have met our vetting requirements to work in school unsupervised.
First Aid
We have staff who are trained to administer emergency first aid and where necessary, we will advise parents of any treatment undertaken in school.
We also have additional paediatric first aiders around the school to support when necessary and a number of staff trained to support with the administration of medication.
Safeguarding Resources
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO TACKLE CHILD ABUSE
https://tacklechildabuse.campaign.gov.uk/
HOW TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR SHARE CONCERNS IN SEFTON.
SEFTON SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN PARTNERSHIP
Sefton Local Safeguarding Children Partnership - (seftonscp.org.uk)
NSPCC SPEAK OUT STAY SAFE PROGRAMME
Speak out Stay safe programme | NSPCC Learning
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION
BULLY BUSTERS PROJECT
https://www.bullybusters.org.uk/
TALKING TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT TERROISM ATTACKS
talking_to_children_about_terror_attacks.pdf (seftonscp.org.uk)
Operation Encompass Safeguarding Statement
Our school is part of Operation Encompass.
Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.
Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.
Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.
Once a Key Adult (DSL) and their deputy/ies (DDSLs) have attended either an Operation Encompass briefing or completed the online Operation Encompass Key Adult training they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other school staff and Governors. All schools staff and Governors can undertake the online training.
Our DSL undertook training in 2023
Our DDSLs undertook training in 2024
Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school and we ensure that when a new child joins our school the parents/carers are informed about Operation Encompass.
The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.
As a staff we have discussed how we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification. We have used the Operation Encompass Handbooks to inform our thinking.
We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.
The Safeguarding Governor will report on Operation Encompass in the termly report to Governors. All information is anonymised for these reports.
We have used the Operation Encompass Key Adult Responsibilities checklist to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.
When Head Teacher, DSL or DDSLs leave the school and other staff are appointed, they will ensure that all Operation Encompass log in details are shared with the new Head Teacher /Key Adults and that the new member of staff will undertake the Operation Encompass online training.
