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Safeguarding at St Patrick's School

 

 

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

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We make every effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment underpinned by a culture of openness where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to.

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Where safeguarding is concerned, we maintain an attitude of “it could happen here” so the purpose of our Safeguarding Policy is to provide staff, volunteers and governors with the framework they need in order to keep our children safe and secure in our school and to inform parents and guardians how we will safeguard their children whilst they are in our care.

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Safeguarding Definition

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The umbrella term "safeguarding" is defined in the Children Act 2004 as protecting from maltreatment; preventing impairment of health and development; ensuring that children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care;  and work in a way that gives the best life chances and transition to adulthood.  Our safeguarding practice applies to every child.

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The Safeguarding team:

Mr M Lobo -  Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs R Mabey - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs M Mullin - ELSA and Family Liaison Officer/Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs S Collins - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Miss G McNabb - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs S Friel - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

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The Governor responsible for Safeguarding is Mr Paul O'Driscoll

 

The Chair of Governors is Mr Steve Deadman

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Staying Safe at St Patrick's

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Staff Training:

All staff receive regular training in safeguarding issues - covering subjects including FGM, Breast Ironing, Neglect, CSE, Mental Health, Internet Safety (including sexting and cyber-bullying), Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

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Online Safety 

As a school we believe that online safety is an important aspect of keeping children safe. We have extensive security measures in place within the school, which are monitored internally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any online safety incidents are recorded and managed in accordance with our Online Safety Policy. Online safety is embedded through computing lessons to ensure that it reaches all pupils at an appropriate level, explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.

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We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents to ensure the online safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online. Any issues that have been identified via our in school security measures, or outside situations which have been brought to our attention, which we feel you, as parents and carers, need to be made aware of will be sent out through email, Twitter and/or  posted on the website.

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Useful Resources for Parents and Carers

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Raising Awareness of sexual abuse of children (NSPCC) TV Advert
As you may be aware the NSPCC have been broadcasting a TV advert to raise awareness of how parents can help their younger children keep safe from child sexual abuse. If you’ve missed it, you can watch it here:https://youtu.be/nMIKUsZjirA

Parents' Pack for PANTS message 
The TV advert directs parents to the PANTS campaign, used in schools for many years. There is now a pack for parents to use, to encourage them to have a conversation that many might feel uncomfortable about having. Information is also available in Welsh and for children with a hearing impairment. The link to the parents’ PANTS pack is here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/underwear-rule

Pantosaurus App for iOS and Android
The NSPCC have also teamed up with award-winning animators, Aardman to create a free app, for both android and iOS, featuring the Panatsorus characters. There are four mini games where players test their skills against Pantosaurus. The app is great fun to use! You can get the app by going to the relevant App Store.

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