Children have a right to be cared for and protected – protecting them is everyone’s responsibility. Here at Little Waltham C.E.V.A Primary School we have a duty of care to ensure that all children in our school are kept safe from harm. We are committed to provide a secure and supportive environment in which children can develop and grow into mature and responsible people. Safeguarding children is an essential part of our holistic approach to ensure that children are protected from abuse and neglect and that every child reaches their full potential.

The best interests of the children will always be our priority. As such, there are times we will need to record, monitor and share information with other agencies. We will share concerns about our pupils with the child’s parents/carers unless we have reason to believe that such a move would not be in the child’s best interest.

All staff at the Little Waltham have safeguarding training which is regularly updated.

Parents and carers play a role in safeguarding children in their community. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, you should report them. The school is required to have a designated safeguarding lead for this purpose. Parents and children should speak to the headteacher or a designated safeguarding lead if they have any concerns about a child or staff member.

If you have a concern about a child, please contact the Head Teacher (Designated Safeguarding Lead) or deputy designated safeguarding lead. Or any concerned adult is able to contact to the Essex Family Operations Hub. During office hours please use 0345 6037627, out of office hours please use 0345 6061212.

The Prevent Duty outlines the responsibility of everyone to ensure that others are not drawn into any sort of radicalisation, not necessarily violent extremism or terrorism; this can be online or not. Children in particular can be incredibly vulnerable and we, as professionals who work with your children, have undertaken the recommended training to look out for possible indicators. A change in your child’s behaviour, or a child that you know, could be an indication that something is not quite right. If you are worried, please speak to our headteacher or one of our deputy safeguarding leads.

The main entrance at the start of the school day is down the access road. Gates will be locked between 9am and 3.05pm. Entrance to the school between these hours is by reception only; there is a bell which will notify the office when visitors arrive. Children who arrive late must be brought into the school reception area by an adult.

For your child’s safety we ask all visitors to ensure they enter through the main entrance at the school office, sign into the Visitors’ book and collect a badge (unless it is a parent event). Upon signing in please ensure you are familiar with the school safeguarding leaflet.

Any child leaving the premises temporarily to attend appointments (dental or medical etc.) must be ‘signed out’ and ‘signed back in’ by their parents at the office.

Visitors to the school without a DBS will wear red lanyards and visitors to school who have a DBS will wear a green lanyard.

It is important that the school has all relevant medical information. Parents are asked to ensure that the school is kept informed of any changes in relation to medical conditions and allergies.

If a child requires regular medication, parents are asked to complete a written permission slip for staff to oversee the administration, with clear instructions about timing and dose. All medication will be kept in the school medical room/office excluding asthma inhalers which will be kept in your child’s classroom.

If your child is unwell during the school day we will make every effort to contact you. It is important that we have up-to-date information about contact numbers.

If your child has an accident in school, first aid will be administered by a member of staff. We have qualified first-aiders in school who will supervise in the case of a more serious injury. If we have any concerns about a child following an accident in school, parents will be contacted immediately and your child may be taken straight to hospital.

If your child sustains a minor head injury during the course of the day, you will receive a ‘bumped head’ slip/band, thus minimising the risk of mistaken diagnosis should your child become unwell on returning home.

In the event of a child suffering from sickness or diarrhoea, parents are asked to keep the child at home for at least 48 hours after the last bout of vomiting/diarrhoea. It is important to prevent any individual from spreading an infection/virus to other site users.