Keeping children safe at Dunton Green

At Dunton Green Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority.

We are committed to providing a safe, caring and supportive environment in which children can learn, develop and flourish. Everyone who works at, visits or volunteers at our school has a responsibility to help keep children safe.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

We work closely with children, families and other professionals to:

• provide a safe and secure environment for children;

• help children understand how to keep themselves and others safe;

• identify children who may need additional help or support;

• recognise and respond to concerns about abuse, neglect or exploitation;

• take prompt and appropriate action when we are concerned about a child's welfare; and

• work in partnership with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Our safeguarding arrangements are informed by statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Our Safeguarding Team

If you have a concern about the safety or welfare of a child, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Daisy Holliday - Head of School

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs)
Justine Hennessy - Family Liaison Officer
Sarah Norsworthy - Assistant Head of School
Ben Hulme - Executive Headteacher

Safeguarding Governor
Hilary Wilder

You can contact the school safeguarding team through the school office:

Telephone: 01732 462221
Email: office@dunton-green.kent.sch.uk

If you are worried about a child, please tell us. No concern is too small to share.

What should I do if I am worried about a child?

If you are concerned about something you have seen or heard, or about a change in a child's appearance, behaviour or wellbeing, please speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads as soon as possible.

You do not need to be certain that a child is being harmed before raising a concern.

If a child tells you something that concerns you:

• listen carefully and take them seriously;

• remain calm and reassuring;

• do not promise to keep what they tell you a secret;

• do not investigate or ask leading questions;

• explain that you will need to share the information with someone who can help;

• record the concern accurately; and

• report it immediately in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Concerns outside school

You do not have to contact the school before reporting a safeguarding concern.

If you are worried that a child may be at risk of harm, you can contact Kent Children's Social Care directly.

Kent Children's Social Care: 03000 41 11 11
Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm

Out of hours: 03000 41 91 91

If a child is in immediate danger, always call 999.

Concerns about an adult working with children

We take all concerns about the conduct of adults working or volunteering in school seriously.

If you have a concern about the behaviour of a member of staff, volunteer or another adult working with children at Dunton Green, you should report this to the Head of School as soon as possible.

If the concern relates to the Head of School, it should be reported to the Executive Headteacher.

If the concern relates to the Executive Headteacher, it should be reported to the Chair of Governors.

Concerns will be managed in accordance with statutory safeguarding guidance and, where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

Online Safety

Technology is an important part of children's learning and their lives. We teach children how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully and how to seek help when something online makes them worried or uncomfortable.

Online safeguarding includes protecting children from risks relating to:

• online content;

• contact with other people;

• their own or others' online conduct; and

• online commercial risks.

The school has appropriate filtering and monitoring systems in place to help protect children when using school technology and internet-connected devices. These arrangements are reviewed regularly as part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities.

We also work with parents and carers to help children develop safe and healthy habits when using technology at home and at school.

If you are concerned about something that has happened online, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team.

Child-on-child abuse

Children can sometimes cause harm to other children.

We recognise that child-on-child abuse can take many forms, including bullying, physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual violence, harmful sexual behaviour and abuse that takes place online.

We do not dismiss harmful behaviour as 'banter', 'part of growing up' or 'just having a laugh'.

Children are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult whenever something makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable. All concerns are taken seriously and responded to appropriately.

Preventing radicalisation

Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism forms part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities.

We help children develop the knowledge and skills they need to think critically, understand different perspectives, challenge prejudice and keep themselves safe.

Staff are trained to recognise and respond to concerns that a child may be vulnerable to radicalisation. Any such concerns are managed through our established safeguarding procedures and, where necessary, in partnership with other agencies.

Attendance and safeguarding

Regular school attendance is important for children's education, wellbeing and safety.

We recognise that changes in attendance, patterns of absence or children missing education can sometimes be indicators of wider safeguarding concerns.

We therefore monitor attendance carefully and work with children and families to understand and address barriers to regular attendance.

Where necessary, we work with other agencies to ensure children receive the right help and support.

Operation Encompass

Dunton Green Primary School is part of Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a partnership between schools and the police that helps schools provide timely support to children who have experienced or been exposed to domestic abuse.

Where the police attend an incident of domestic abuse involving a child connected with our school, relevant information may be shared securely with trained members of our safeguarding team before the start of the next school day.

This enables us to provide appropriate support and understanding for the child when they arrive at school.

Information received through Operation Encompass is treated sensitively and confidentially and is managed in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.

Safer recruitment and visitors

We follow statutory safer recruitment procedures when appointing staff and engaging volunteers.

Appropriate checks are undertaken according to the role being carried out, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks where required.

All visitors must report to the school office, sign in and follow the school's safeguarding and visitor procedures while on site.

Visitors must wear the identification provided by the school and must not take photographs or recordings of children unless specifically authorised to do so.

Helping children to keep themselves safe

Safeguarding is embedded throughout school life and our curriculum.

We teach children, in an age-appropriate way, about:

• healthy and respectful relationships;

• recognising unsafe or worrying situations;

• boundaries and consent;

• online safety;

• bullying and discrimination;

• seeking help;

• trusted adults;

• personal safety; and

• how and when to speak up.

We want every child at Dunton Green to know that there are adults who will listen to them, take them seriously and help them.

Working with families

Strong relationships with parents and carers are an important part of keeping children safe.

We aim to work openly and constructively with families and will usually discuss concerns with parents or carers.

There may, however, be circumstances where we need to seek advice or make a referral to another agency before speaking to a parent or carer, particularly where doing so could place a child at greater risk or compromise a safeguarding investigation.

Our first consideration will always be the safety and welfare of the child.

Our safeguarding policies

You can find further information about our safeguarding arrangements in our:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

• Online Safety Policy

• Behaviour Policy

• Attendance Policy

• Staff Code of Conduct

• Whistleblowing Policy

• Complaints Procedure

Useful safeguarding information

Keeping Children Safe in Education
Department for Education statutory safeguarding guidance.

Kent Children's Social Care
For concerns about the safety or welfare of a child.

CEOP Safety Centre
For advice and reporting concerns about online sexual abuse or exploitation.

Childline
Free and confidential support for children and young people.

NSPCC
Advice and support for adults who are worried about a child.

If you are worried about a child

Speak to us.

Contact the Dunton Green safeguarding team on 01732 462221 or speak to a member of staff.

For concerns requiring Children's Social Care:

03000 41 11 11 – Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
03000 41 91 91 – out of hours

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.