How we keep children safe – Oxford Grove Primary School

How we keep children safe

  • Keeping Our Children Safe at Oxford Grove Primary

    Safeguarding Children Statement

    At Oxford Grove Primary School the health, safety and wellbeing of all of our children is our highest priority. Parents/carers and families send their children to our school each day, trusting us to provide a secure and nurturing environment in which their children will grow and achieve. We do everything we can to ensure that this expectation is a reality in our school.

    This page is all about safeguarding our children – keeping them safe in every way within our community, and helping them to learn about how they can keep themselves safe. We have a wide range of measures in place to ensure the safety of our pupils.

    Where necessary, the designated safeguarding lead for the school, Mandy Day, would make a referral to Bolton’s Integrated Front Door (Children’s Social Care) if it was suspected a child was being neglected or abused.

    Child Protection/Safeguarding

    The designated adults for Child Protection/Safeguarding are Mrs M Day and Mrs C Claire, and the designated Governor is Mrs Lynda Wood.

     

     

     

     

     

    Our rigorous and clear procedures are detailed in the school’s Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy 2023-2024. All staff and certain governors have had appropriate child protection training, which is updated regularly through annual training and certified local authority training every two years.

    Physical restraint: This school follows advice that physical restraint may be used if there is the possibility that a child may be about to cause harm to him/ herself or to another. On no occasion will any form of physical contact be used as a punishment. The Senior Leadership Team and the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Officer have been trained in Safer Schools safe handling techniques.

    All allegations of abuse by or complaints concerning an adult in school will be dealt with following clear procedures detailed in the school’s Whistleblowing policy, initially by the Head teacher. For any complaints about the Head teacher, the Chair of Governors, Cllr Linda Thomas, should be contacted directly.

    Whistleblowing

    If members of staff ever have any concerns about people working within the school, paid or unpaid, they have a professional duty to inform the Head teacher or Governing board accordingly. This can be done in writing or verbally but staff will be prepared to discuss issues in the confidence that any such matter will be dealt with sensitively and with the highest appropriate level of confidentiality. The school follows best practice guidance provided by Bolton Local Authority.

    Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism

    In line with the DfE’s Prevent Duty advice (originally issued June 2015 and most recently updated on 7th September, 2023), we are committed to actively promoting the fundamental British Values of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual Liberty and Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths, beliefs and life choices. Our school community embraces and celebrates diversity. We place a strong emphasis on the common values that all communities share such as self-respect, tolerance and the sanctity of life.

    We work hard to broaden our children’s experience, to prepare them for life and work in contemporary Britain. We teach them to respect and value the diversity around them as well as understanding how to make safe, well-considered decisions.

    We recognise that we have a responsibility to protect children from all forms of extremism and this forms an integral part of our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. This includes the use of internet filtering systems in school, to ensure children are safe from extremist material when using the internet. All our teaching staff have completed government training to ensure that they are confident to recognise if a child is at risk of radicalisation. If you have any concerns regarding radicalisation and extremism please contact one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads, Mrs M Day, Mrs C Claire and Miss N Harvey, all of whom are WRAP trained.

    Early Help Assessments (EHA)

    If the school or parent/carer identifies that a child may need some additional support academically, socially or emotionally, an Early Help Assessment (EHA) may be opened. As detailed in Bolton’s Framework for Action, the purpose of the Early Help is to support the wellbeing of our children and families by tackling emerging needs at the earliest opportunity and preventing them from getting worse. An EHA is a document, written in consultation with the child, family, key members of staff and support services. It documents a child’s strengths and areas of need. Within the EHA, key actions regarding the child’s provision and care are recorded and the support and advice of other services may be requested to ensure that the child, family and school are in the best possible position to safeguard the child’s wellbeing. As part of the Early Help process, key members of staff will meet regularly with parents/carers and the child to monitor the impact of the planned support package along with the child’s progress towards set targets. At these meetings, support arrangements will be reviewed and revised accordingly.  

    Health and Safety

    The school has a robust health and safety policy, which is monitored each term by the relevant members of the school governing board. 

    At our request, the Local Authority provide an annual inspection service and we use a monitoring checklist to ensure we are compliant with all Health and Safety responsibilities. The Head teacher, School Business Manager, Site Manager, Caretaker and Governors with responsibility for Health and Safety oversee this comprehensive list.

    When any concerns from staff are reported to any of the above key personnel, an initial examination takes place immediately, assessing what remedial action needs to take place.

    The school has in place an agreed critical incident plan that details what staff and parents/carers should do in the case of emergencies.

    In addition to the Health and Safety Policy, there are also policies regarding food and drink and hygiene. These determine safe practices in school and the kitchen/ dining room.

    Site Security

     The school was built with security of pupils and staff in mind including:

    • Perimeter fencing and gates
    • Fenced Foundation Stage outdoor provision for our youngest pupils
    • A sophisticated intruder alarm
    • A modern effective fire alarm system
    • Door entry system and electronic signing in procedure for all visitors and staff
    • On-site CCTV

    Although we want to have an open door policy, we must balance this against the safety of pupils and staff and we request that parents/carers respect this.  

    Oxford Grove Primary is a secure site with controlled door access and CCTV systems. We have clear routines and procedures in place, including staff wearing ID badges at all times, and the whole school community has a responsibility to help us maintain security. Our children and families are crucial to this process and we encourage you to report any concerns to the school office. We take great care to maintain a secure site around the perimeter of the school and all children are supervised at all times.

    Appointment and induction of staff and work placements

    All staff appointed to work in school have a criminal records search called an enhanced DBS check before they begin work at the school. This search highlights people who have a criminal record or if previous allegations have been made against them. The Local Authority is informed directly by the Disclosure and Barring Service. If any member of staff is found to have a criminal record, the appointment is reconsidered by the Head teacher and the Personnel committee of the Governing Board. 

    The Head teacher, Senior Leadership Team, school office staff and Key Personnel Governors have undertaken the Local Authority training on Safer Recruitment which is updated regularly. This ensures all members of staff involved in the recruitment process at the school have a clear understanding of safe recruitment practice.

    All staff, including newly appointed staff, are briefed on the government’s current guidance on Keeping Children Safe in Education, alongside the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures prior to their first day of work with children. New members of staff are assigned a mentor for their induction period. It is the responsibility of the Senior Leadership Team and the business manager to familiarise new staff with safeguarding procedures, policies and practice which affect the health and safety of all at school, especially the children.

    Induction of volunteers/Supply staff

    All Supply teachers and volunteers must also have an enhanced DBS clearance before working in the school.  Supply teachers and volunteers  are also briefed on the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures before beginning work in the school.  Visitors who do not yet have clearance will, under no circumstances, be left alone with a child or group of children.

    Any volunteers/supply staff to the school must read key safeguarding guidance displayed on the Inventry signing in system before entering. All volunteers/supply staff must wear their badge at all times. Our staff are trained to challenge anyone not following this practice.

    Welcoming Visitors

    We confirm that all visitors with a professional role – e.g. supply teachers, therapists, local authority support agencies, the School Nurse, social care and the police – have relevant clearance. Students who work within our school community also have their DBS clearance confirmed. Anyone who needs to spend time in school without this confirmation will be accompanied at all times.

    Any visitors to the school must read key safeguarding guidance displayed on the Inventry signing in system before entering. All visitors must wear their badge at all times. Our staff are trained to challenge anyone not following this practice.

    Fire Safety

    Our fire bells/fire alert call buttons are tested weekly. The school holds regular half-termly fire drills to practise efficient evacuation from the buildings. The school conducts an annual Fire Risk Assessment. At the beginning of the academic year, classes are walked through their evacuation routes and shown their muster points to familiarise them with their safest exit points. Children who arrive mid-point in the year are also led through these procedures.

    Each year the school welcomes representatives from the local Fire Brigade who come to talk to all our children about Fire Safety.

    Invacuation and lockdown procedures

    We also practise invacuation procedures to ensure children can be brought in swiftly and safely during an emergency situation at least once every half term.

    First Aid

    We have key trained certificated members of staff, designated to oversee first aid and there are a number of first aid kits situated around school.

    Where there is any cause for concern, staff deal with children with the utmost sensitivity and always seek guidance from the Head teacher. Wherever necessary, parents/carers will be contacted or asked to come into school immediately so that they are part of the decision making process for such matters.

    In the case of an emergency, the school will call for emergency treatment first before contacting the parent/carer.

    Medicines

    Please advise the school if there are any changes to your child’s health which the school should know about.

    Parents/carers are allowed to come into school by prior arrangement to administer medication.

    Prescribed medication cannot be administered by school staff without prior agreement. Please visit the school office to discuss this. If a child is receiving ongoing prescribed medication, and you wish the school to administer this, we will ask you to fill in an Administration of Medication form held at the school office.  Medicine and tablets must never be given to a child to be brought into school.

    If a child has a medical condition that requires long term medication, monitoring or adjustments to the setting/curriculum, an independent health and care plan will be written in consultation with parents/carers and relevant medical professionals. This plan will be reviewed at least annually.

    Attendance

    Excellent attendance is expected of all children. However, in the event that a child is unwell, parents/carers are asked to report absence by 9.00am on the day using our school office number – 01204 333380/81. As part of our safeguarding procedures, if we have not been informed of the reason for your child’s absence we will contact you to ascertain why they are not in school.

    On the rare occasions when a child’s attendance and punctuality causes concern, the school will work closely with families and our Safeguarding and Wellbeing Officers will support children and families to bring about improvements rapidly. Attendance rates are reported each term to the Local Authority, annually to the government, and to all children and parents/carers on a weekly basis through our website. Positive systems are in place to encourage children to attend regularly and punctually, and the school is aware of its right to issue fixed penalties to parents/carers who do not ensure good attendance and punctuality.

    In exceptional circumstances, leave of absence may be requested in writing by submitting a ‘Request for Leave of Absence’ form at the school office, explaining in detail what the exceptional circumstances are. 

    Positive Behaviour

    Good behaviour is essential in any school community and we have high expectations that our pupils’ behaviour will be impeccable. Our Positive Behaviour and Discipline Policy 2023-2024 reflects our strong emphasis on affirming approaches, but also our clear boundaries in responding to behaviour choices that threaten the learning, wellbeing or safety of others.

    Anti-Bullying

    It is the responsibility of the whole school to ensure that Oxford Grove is a bully-free zone. We are proactive in promoting a caring and positive ethos between all members of the school community. We have an Anti-Bullying Policy 2023-2024 with very clear procedures in place in the event of an incident involving bullying or prejudice. We follow a Personal, Social, Health and Relationships Education (PSHRE) curriculum that includes a whole school understanding on what bullying behaviour is; STOP (Several Times on Purpose). This aspect of the curriculum is delivered through circle time, lessons, discussion groups and school assemblies. Every year we focus on revisiting this theme during the National Anti-Bullying Week.

    The school’s response to accusations of bullying is unequivocal. We do not tolerate harassment, bullying or prejudice of any kind in our school community, and as soon as we are aware of an issue we act promptly and effectively. The Senior Leadership Team must be informed immediately and action will be taken.

    Our children know that we pride ourselves on being a ‘listening school’. If any child tells us that they feel they are being bullied, they know that we will support them and deal with the problem very quickly. Although accusations of bullying in this school are rare, the school always acts swiftly with a process of investigation, communication and action. Bullying and prejudice will not be tolerated.

    Curriculum Design

    The curriculum deals with safeguarding in two key ways.

    Firstly, the curriculum is designed to focus on exploring specific, relevant issues with the children through our topics and planning around Personal, Social, Health and Relationships Education (PSHRE) and our Online Safety aspect of the Computing curriculum. Specific topics include such themes as Healthy Diet, Healthy Relationships, Healthy Lifestyle Choices and Stranger Danger. The school ensures that the statutory relationships guidance stipulated by the Department for Education is taught across all year groups. Children are encouraged to explore and discuss these issues together and with their teachers/teaching assistants. We also discuss a wide range of issues around safety and emotional wellbeing on a very regular basis in assemblies and through whole school curriculum days.

    Secondly, the curriculum is designed so that safety issues within the subject are discussed and safe practices taught, such as using equipment properly in PE, Science and Design and Technology. At all times the school ensures there is appropriate staffing levels and when the curriculum is taken out of school, agreed pupil/adult ratios are maintained.

    Online Safety

    Online Safety is taught alongside computing skills throughout a child’s time at Oxford Grove. We take online safety very seriously at Oxford Grove, and as such we adopt the best practice guidance from the Local Authority including adopting their model Online Safety Policy 2023-2024. The school has clear rules for responsible Internet use, which are displayed in classrooms and the Computing Suite. Each year during Safer Internet Week, children watch videos and discuss safe internet behaviour using materials provided by the UK Safer Internet Centre. All children sign an Online Safety Promise with their parent/carer annually as part of the Home School Agreement, which is also included in our induction process for all new pupils.

    Children are taught to use the internet at all times in a safe way. Pupils are never left unattended whilst online. If any adult or child suspects misuse, either by a child or an adult in school, the issue must be reported to the Senior Leadership Team without delay.

    We have Local Authority maintained filtering systems in place to prevent children at school accessing websites considered to be unsafe or inappropriate, and encourage parents/carers to be aware of the online material and websites that their children could be accessing at home through Online Safety workshops and information provided on our website.  If we become aware of issues relating to specific children, we inform parents/carers.

    Digital Leaders from KS2 are trained each year in online safety by the Local Authority. The Digital Leaders complete tasks such as leading Online Safety sessions in class and presenting regular assemblies about a wide range of online safety issues, including those brought up by children in school.

    Risk Assessments and School Trips

    All school trips involve the undertaking of a risk assessment and our children wear high visibility tabards on all educational trips.

    Additional risk assessments are conducted for all activities beyond the school grounds, and these are read by, agreed to and signed by the lead adult, the Educational Visits Co-ordinator, the Business Manager and the Head teacher.  

    Disability Equality Scheme and Equal Opportunities

    At Oxford Grove we work to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. All children are given equal access to the school and its curriculum and all are considered equal in the learning partnership. The school has in place an Equality Scheme 2020-2023, detailing plans that ensures the differing needs of all pupils and staff are met.

    When children have special needs, we make arrangements to consult with children, parents/carers and staff to make adaptations to the curriculum to ensure that the outcomes for all of our children allow them to reach their full potential.

    Staff ensure that children with physical needs and disabilities are be able to take a full and active part in every lesson and activity, and every measure is taken to facilitate this.

    Safety on the playground

    Before and after school

    Parents/carers are responsible for children on the school grounds before the bell rings at 8:30am unless the child attends breakfast club and then the breakfast club staff are there for them after the child has entered the school building at 8:00am.

    To ensure safety before and after school:

    • Please do not allow your children to ride bikes or scooters once in the school grounds at the beginning or end of the school day;
    • Please do not allow your children to play on the playground equipment;
    • Please do not bring dogs onto the school premises

     During school hours

    We have very clear rules about behaviour and use of play equipment in the playground areas which our children are taught. Supervising adults are outside with the children every playtime and lunchtime.

    Swimming

    Swimming is a statutory part of the National Curriculum for physical education. Children are required to be able to swim at least 25 metres competently, confidently and proficiently. They should be able to swim a range of strokes and perform self-rescue from water in different situations. In 2023-24, years 3, 4, 5 and 6 children will take part in swimming lessons. The children are accompanied by members of staff who remain poolside during the lesson and closely supervise the children in the changing rooms. The children are taught how to swim by fully trained instructors.

    Police/Community Officers

    We have excellent relations with our local police and community officers who regularly attend our school events and are they are invited in to different classes to talk about a variety of topics, focusing on safe choices in the community.

    Road Safety / Rail Safety / Water Safety

    Road Safety Officers visit the school on an annual basis to ensure that all children are aware of how to stay safe as pedestrians. The school hold assemblies each year focused on water safety around reservoirs, rivers and lakes. A representative from Network Rail visits the school annually to discuss rail safety and this message is reinforced by additional workshops for Year 6, led by Crucial Crew in conjunction with the police.

    Jewellery

    For the sake of safety we request that jewellery should not be worn to school, with the exception of small stud earrings and watches (smart watches are not allowed in school). The Local Authority regulations state that all jewellery must be removed for P.E.

    Image Consent

    Oxford Grove Primary uses images of children in our displays, our newsletters, our website/blogs and occasionally in press releases in line with procedures detailed in the school’s Information Management Policy 2023-2024. Parents/carers are given the option at induction, and at the start of each school year, to consent to the use of their child’s image. Parents/carers can change their preferences at any time by informing staff in the school office.

    No Smoking Area

    Our school building and grounds are a designated ‘No Smoking Area’ so we ask for your co-operation in extinguishing cigarettes before entering the site.

    Bolton Encompass

    The purpose of Bolton 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 on children in a number of ways. Children 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/hearing the physical and emotional suffering of a parent/carer.

    The Encompass protocol has been created to address this situation. It is the implementation of key partnership working between the police and schools. The aim of sharing information with schools is to allow ‘Key Adults’ the opportunity of engaging with the child and to provide access to support that allows them to remain in a safe but secure familiar environment. 

    Following the report of an incident of domestic abuse, by 9.00am on the next school day the school’s Key Adults will be informed that the child or young person has been involved in a domestic incident. This knowledge, given to schools through Operation Encompass, allows the provision of immediate early intervention through silent or overt support dependent upon the needs of the child.

    The purpose and procedures in Operation Encompass have been shared with all staff, parents/carers and governors, and is detailed as part of the school’s full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 2023-2024 published on our school website.

    At Oxford Grove Primary School, our Key Adults are:

    Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mrs M Day

    Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mrs C Claire

Accessibility Toolbar