Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility

Children have a right to be cared for and protected, protecting them is everyone’s responsibility. Here at Grendon Underwood Primary School we have a duty of care to ensure that all users of the 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.

Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection

Mrs Jayne Myers, Headteacher

Additional Designated Safeguarding Leads for Child Protection

Mrs Fiona Adams, Assistant Headteacher

Ms Sophie Stainer, Assistant Headteacher

Safeguarding Governor

Charlotte Elms

Safeguarding Statement for Parents

At Grendon school, the health, safety and well-being of every child are our paramount concern. We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. Our aim is for children to enjoy their time as pupils in this school. We want to work in partnership with you to help your child achieve their full potential and make a positive contribution.

To promote a safe environment for pupils, our selection and recruitment policy includes all checks on staff and regular volunteers’ suitability, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, as recommended by Buckinghamshire County Council in accordance with current legislation.

In accordance with our responsibilities under section 175/157 of the Education Act 2002 and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016‘, we have a Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection, Mrs Jayne Myers, who is the Headteacher.  We have additional Safeguarding Leads who are Mrs Fiona Adams and Mrs Stainer.  They have all received appropriate training for their roles. It is Mrs Myers’s responsibility to ensure that all staff in contact with children receive child protection awareness training on a regular basis.

Occasions do arise when our concern about a child mean we have to consult other agencies. Whilst we would always aim to work in partnership with parents there may be exceptions to this when concerns are raised for the protection of a child.

On very rare occasions social care, whilst undertaking an investigation under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, we may want to speak to a child without a parents’ knowledge. This would be a decision made in collaboration with partner agencies and would only be done in situations where a child might be at immediate risk. To gain consent at this point may increase the level of risk to the child or cause evidence of a crime to be lost.

The procedures, which we follow, have been laid down by the local Safeguarding Children’s Board, and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all. If you want to know more about our procedures, please speak to the Mrs Myers, Mrs Adams, Mrs Stainer or your child’s class teacher.