Safeguarding
Safeguarding Statement
Bloxham Primary School is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We undertake rigorous checks on all staff and volunteers who work in our school and maintain a central record documenting these. Staff involved in recruitment and selection of employees are trained in safer recruitment, and all our staff and volunteers are required to complete relevant Child Protection and Safeguarding training to enable them to keep children safe from harm.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Louise Thomas. She should be the first point of contact for any concerns around safeguarding and concerns linked to any child. Gill Barnes is our Safeguarding Governor, who can also be contacted via the school office.
As part of our role to safeguard pupils, please be aware that, like all schools, we have a duty to share information with other agencies where there are any concerns about the safety or well-being of a child.
Our safeguarding policy is available to download via the link below, or you can request a paper copy via the school office.
If you are concerned about a child’s welfare out of school, please speak to Louise Thomas on 01295 720224 or contact the Oxfordshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0345 050 7666.
If you have immediate concerns and think a child is in danger, you can call the police.
Designated Safeguarding Leads in School
| Mrs Thomas Inclusion Manager |
Mrs Dwyer
Higher Level Nurture Assistant
We have become aware that some parents are leaving very young children alone in their cars while they collect other children from school. This is a serious safeguarding concern.
Please see the following guidance from GOV.UK:
The law on leaving your child on their own
The law does not say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it’s an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.
Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, for example at home or in a car.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) says:
- children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
- children under 16 should not be left alone overnight
- babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone
Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’.
https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone
In addition, we have sought advice from our Schools Officer at Thames Valley Police. He was especially concerned about the risks of having a child alone in a car, including, but not limited to, another car hitting the car (quite a frequent event in car parks), if the parent / carer was delayed and the child became distressed, if the child managed to climb out and was right by the road. If the Police were called to this type of occurrence, then they would most certainly create a Child Protection referral which goes to MASH, this then could lead to Children's Social Care involvement and safeguarding measures put in place.
Further Documentation & Information
- Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy (Located on the Policies & Procedures page)
- Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy – COVID Addendum (Located on the Policies & Procedures page)
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Keeping Children Safe in Education is statutory guidance that schools and colleges in England must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Governing bodies and leadership teams are asked to ensure that all staff in their school or college read at least Part one of the guidance which is provided below as a separate document.
Useful Safeguarding Links
- Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board This website brings together information for children, young people & their families, as well as the professionals who work with them.
- Childline Free and confidential help for young people in the UK
- CEOP Child Exploitation and Online Protection
- NSPCC The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Parents Protect An information and resources website which aims to raise awareness about child sexual abuse, answer questions and give adults the information, advice, support and facts, they need to help protect children.
- Think U Know It can seem difficult to keep up to date with the technology that children use. You can find out much more information and support about digital technologies here.
- Internet Watch Foundation IWF is an organisation working with the internet industry, police and Government.
- Kidsmart Where children can learn how to get the best out of the Internet and stay safe online.