Hazel Hurst School

Address
400 Westdale Lane, Mapperley, Nottingham, NG3 6DG

Telephone
0115 960 6759

Email
hazelhurstschool@btconnect.com

Safeguarding Children.

Safeguarding Children

Hazel Hurst School fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding children and follows the Nottinghamshire Child Protection Procedures and Working Together document 2010.

Our policy applies to all staff and volunteers who may work in the school.

There are 5 main elements to our policy:

  • Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children
  • Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe
  • Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases or suspected cases of abuse
  • Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan
  • Establishing a safe environment in which children can develop and learn

We recognise that because of the day-to-day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outwards signs of abuse. The school will therefore:

  • Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to
  • Ensure children know that there are adults in school whom they can approach if they are worried
  • Include opportunities in the PSHE curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse

We will follow the procedures set out by Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the DfES to:

  • Ensure that we have a designated teacher for safeguarding children who has received appropriate training and support for his/her role. The nominated person designated for safeguarding children at Hazel Hurst School is Mrs RJ Eadie
  • Ensure every member of staff or volunteer knows the name of the designated teacher responsible for safeguarding children and their role
  • Ensure all staff receive basic awareness on safeguarding children issues
  • Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring and concerns to the designated teacher responsible for safeguarding children
  • Notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on the child protection register
  • Develop effective links with the relevant agencies and cooperate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences
    Keep written concerns about children even when there is no need to refer the matter immediately. These concerns will be recorded, dated and signed within 24 hours
  • Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file and in locked locations
    In the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, the proprietor should be informed immediately. The proprietor will deal with the case and liase with the appropriate agencies and authorities. The proprietor of the school is:

Mrs RJ Eadie, 25 Gregory Avenue,
Mapperley, Nottingham.
07725 040833

  • The Local Authority has a designated officer (LADO) who is responsible for leading work in relation to allegations about people who work with children. Any advice, guidance or if staff wish to report/discuss a concern should contact Terri-Anne Johnson on 0115 9772379. If necessary, Ofsted should then be informed.
  • In the event of a member of staff being concerned about the safety of a child in relation to another member of staff, either the designated teacher in charge or the proprietor should be informed
  • Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed
  • Remember that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and there is a legal requirement to report any concerns

We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. The school may be the only stable secure and predictable element in the lives of the children at risk. When at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The school will endeavour to support the child through:

  • The content of the curriculum
  • The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives pupils a sense of being valued
  • The school behaviour policy, which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school. The school will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are value and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred
  • Liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as Social Services, Child and Adult Mental Health Service, Education Welfare Service and Educational Psychology Service
  • Ensuring that, where a pupil on the child protection register leaves, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and that the child’s social worker is informed

Useful Telephone Numbers:

Police 0115 9400999
Gedling Social services 0115 8506000
NSPCC Helpline 0808 8005000
Emergency Team 0115 8447333
Local Authority Designated Officer 0115 9772379
Ofsted 0300 1234234