Safeguarding
At Pontllanfraith Primary school we value our children and their futures. With this in mind we have a Safeguarding Policy designed to keep our pupils as safe as possible.
SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
As a parent we hope you will help us in our legal duties to protect all our pupils. As a school we have a duty to contact Social Services where we are concerned that a child may be at risk or suffering harm. Sometimes we may need to speak to you about your child and your circumstances.
Staff will:
Remember that the priority is to protect the child;
Treat the matter seriously;
Listen but do not judge;
Believe the child
Tell the child that they have done the right thing in talking to a safe adult;
Tell the child what will happen next where possible
Inform the Headteacher of all concerns immediately
Staff will not:
Contact the parents - this is the job of the Headteacher or social services;
Ask lots of questions if a child has told concerning information
Speak to anyone about whom allegations are made (including colleagues);
Promise to keep secrets
When school staff have concerns for a child, the Headteacher will usually discuss this with the parent, but in some circumstances this will not be possible or they make seek advice from Social Services first. All staff have a Duty to Report.
The Headteacher will not ask parents before making a referral to Social Services if:
The parent knew of the concerns and did not protect the child
The parent is the cause of concern
The parent would not be able to discuss the concern
As a parent/carer you play a vital role in all that the school do, especially when it comes to ensuring all our pupils are safeguarded and protected.
As a school we ask that you as parents:
Talk to staff about any concerns you have for your child
Remember that the school MUST share concerns about your child
The school will NOT judge you, but they may have to share difficult information
The school MUST prioritise the safety and wellbeing of pupils, they cannot keep secrets from other agencies
When we need to discuss concerns with parents, nobody within our school will judge you, or accuse you, we simply need to discuss the facts and decide whether you may need some extra help to give your child every opportunity they deserve.
Safeguarding Leaflet for Parents
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces.
Operation Encompass aims to support children who are victims of domestic violence.
It is a very simple idea, but one that will help us to support and protect vulnerable children. When the Police attend an incident of domestic violence where one of our pupils is present, they will inform the school’s Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) at the start of the next school day. In Pontllanfraith, our DSP is our headteacher. She has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
We know that when children do witness domestic abuse at home, this is a highly traumatic experience for them. By taking part in Operation Encompass, we can provide compassionate support to our pupils, in line with our school ethos. This builds on our existing commitment to child safeguarding.
You can read more about Operation Encompass at www.operationencompass.org.
