Safeguarding

The Deans Primary School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. As a school we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. All staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Aims & Principles

The main aims of this policy statement are to ensure that staff are fully engaged in being vigilant about radicalisation; that they overcome professional disbelief that such issues will not happen here and ensure that we work alongside other professional bodies and agencies to ensure that our pupils are safe from harm. The principle objectives are that:

• All Staff and Governors will have an understanding of what radicalisation and extremism are and why we need to be vigilant in school.
• All Staff and Governors will know what the school policy is on anti-radicalisation and extremism and will follow the policy when issues arise.
• All parents and pupils will know that the school has policies in place to keep pupils safe from harm and that the school regularly reviews its systems to ensure they are appropriate and effective.

Definitions & Indicators

Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favouring of extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic or social conditions, institutions or habits of the mind. Extremism is defined as the holding of extreme political or religious views.

Procedures for Referrals

Although serious incidents involving radicalisation have not occurred at The Deans Primary School to date, it is important for us to be constantly vigilant and remain fully informed about the issues which affect the region in which we teach. Staff are reminded to suspend any professional disbelief that instances of radicalisation ‘could not happen here’ and to refer any concerns through the appropriate channels (currently via the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Headteacher).

We believe that it is possible to intervene to protect people who are vulnerable. Early intervention is vital and staff must be aware of the established processes for front line professionals to refer concerns about individuals and/or groups. We must have the confidence to challenge, the confidence to intervene and ensure that we have strong safeguarding practices based on the most up-to-date guidance and best practice.

The Designated Lead for Child Protection and Safeguarding and the Headteacher will deal swiftly with any referrals made by staff or with concerns reported by staff.

The Headteacher will discuss the most appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis and will decide when a referral to external agencies is needed.

The Role of the Curriculum

Our curriculum promotes respect, tolerance and diversity. We are committed to ensuring that our pupils are offered a broad and balanced curriculum that aims to prepare them for life in modern Britain. Children are encouraged to share their views and recognise that they are entitled to have their own different beliefs which should not be used to influence others. Our PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education), Citizenship and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) provision is embedded across the curriculum, and underpins the ethos of the school.  Teaching the schools’ core values alongside the fundamental British values supports quality teaching and learning, whilst making a positive contribution to the development of a fair, just and civil society. Children are regularly taught about how to stay safe when using the Internet and are encouraged to recognise that people are not always who they say they are online. They are taught to seek adult help if they are upset or concerned about anything they read or see on the Internet.

Role of Governing Body

The Governing Body of our School will undertake appropriate training to ensure that they are clear about their role and the parameters of their responsibilities as Governors, including their statutory safeguarding duties. The Governing Body will support the ethos and values of our school and will support the school in tackling extremism and radicalisation. In line with the provisions set out in the DfE guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018’ the governing body will challenge the school’s senior management team on the delivery of this policy and monitor its effectiveness. 

Recruitment

The arrangements for recruiting all staff, permanent and volunteers, to our school will follow Salford’s guidance for safer recruitment best practice in education settings, including, but not limited to, ensuring that DBS checks are always made at the appropriate level, that references are always received and checked and that we complete and maintain a single central record of such vetting checks. We will apply safer recruitment best practice principles and sound employment practice in general and in doing so will deny opportunities for inappropriate recruitment or advancement. We will be alert to the possibility that persons may seek to gain positions within our school so as to unduly influence our schools character and ethos. We are aware that such persons seek to limit the opportunities for our pupils thereby rendering them vulnerable to extremist views and radicalisation as a consequence. Therefore, by adhering to safer recruitment best practice techniques and by ensuring that there is an ongoing culture of vigilance within our school and staff team we will minimise the opportunities for extremist views to prevail.

Staff Training

Through INSET opportunities in school, we will ensure that our staff are fully aware of the threats, risks and vulnerabilities that are linked to radicalisation; are aware of the process of radicalisation and how this might be identified early on.

Procedures for Referrals

Any colleague with concerns will speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mrs Sheppard) or the Headteacher. The concern will be logged and a timeline started. The Local Authority Prevent Coordinator will be contacted.

Our school is part of a project, which is run between Salford Local Authority, schools and Greater Manchester Police. The project called Operation Encompass, has been designed to provide early reporting of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside school, which might have an impact on a child in school. This is communicated through a secure email to school following an incident.

The project ensures that at least one member of the school staff, known as the Key Adult, is available to liaise with children’s services and the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence.

In this way, we aim to support each child who has been involved in, or witnessed, a domestic abuse incident.

At The Deans Primary School we have four Key Adults. They are:

David Nightingale (Headteacher & Safeguarding Lead)

Bev Sheppard (Deputy Headteacher and Deputy Safeguarding Lead)

Lucy Fullman (Deputy Safeguarding Lead)

Hannah Carri (Deputy Safeguarding Lead)

If the school receives an Encompass notification we will make sure that a person the child trusts is available to help – if the child needs this. Most of the time this support is silent; keeping a careful eye on him or her and making sure the child has a calm school day. The confidential information is ordinarily not shared with all staff, just an agreement on how to help, if needed.

All schools have a duty to share any information with other organisations if they feel a child is at risk of being hurt. The Key Adults may contact other organisations.

The sharing of information from the police allows the school to be ready to help your child straight away, and it means that parents are aware that the Key Adults know that something has happened. Parents can come and talk to our Key Adults. The Key Adults can point you towards other people that can help.

Our aim is to support children and their families.