Ms Sigston (Designated Safeguarding Lead/DSL)

Mr Jones (Dep. DSL)

Mrs Cooper (Dep. DSL)

If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact these key members of staff. You can also find information and report a concern here: https://www.essex.gov.uk/report-a-concern-about-a-child

Safeguarding statement

The safety and well-being of children is a core responsibility of the school: children who feel safe and happy will thrive. At Ivy Chimneys, we take safeguarding, including our statutory responsibilities, very seriously. Please follow the link to read policies relating to safeguarding: Child Protection Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Behaviour Policy, E-Safety Policy.

We achieve this objective by:

• Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
• Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
• Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe. Pupils are taught about safeguarding as a part of the national curriculum through PSHE, SRE and Religious Education.
• Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
• Ensuring we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
• Staff development, including learning to recognise children in need of protection. This includes taking the stance that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

PREVENT STRATEGY

Since July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have had a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism under Prevent, a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including extreme right wing groups, violent Al Qa’ida-influenced groups and other causes. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs, gang violence, abuse and sexual exploitation. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves. 

OUR RESPONSE

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy. These include:

• Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity;
• Challenging prejudices and racist comments;
• Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity;
• Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural
• Development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, and by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils. 

The Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher and Chair of Governors have received Prevent Awareness Training which has been cascaded to all staff working at Ivy Chimneys Primary School.

KEY TERMS

Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause

Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism 

If you have any further concerns or comments to make, please speak with Rebecca Sigston, Head Teacher in the first instance. Parents can access the latest up-to-date advice and support at http://actearly.uk/

At Ivy Chimneys Primary School, we are working in partnership with Essex Police to identify and provide appropriate support to pupils who have experienced domestic abuse in their household.

The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, or witness to a domestic abuse incident. Domestic abuse impacts children in a number of ways. They are at increased risk of physical injury during an incident, either by accident or because they attempt to intervene. Even when not directly injured, children are greatly distressed by witnessing physical and emotional suffering of a parent.

Encompass has been created to highlight this situation. It is the implementation of key partnership working between police and schools. The aim of sharing information with local school is to allow key adults (usually the designated safeguarding lead), the opportunity of engaging with the child and provide access to support that allows them to remain in a safe and secure familiar environment.

In order to achieve this, Essex Police will share basic information of domestic incidents where one of our pupils has been present. On receipt of this information, the key adult will decide on the appropriate support required for that pupil. All information sharing and resulting actions will be undertaken in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). We will record this information and store it in accordance with record keeping procedures outlined in these regulations.

The purpose and procedures in Operation Encompass have been shared with parents and governors. Further information can be found by clicking on this link.

https://www.operationencompass.org/