Skip to content ↓

Safeguarding

SAFEGUARDING OVERVIEW

At Ravenscote the Health and Safety of all children is of paramount importance. Parents send their children to school each day with the expectation that our school provides a secure environment in which their children can flourish through our vision of Engage - Enrich - Excel. We therefore have to ensure that this expectation becomes reality.

Safeguarding Statement

“It could happen here”

At Ravenscote Junior School, we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils.

We make every effort to provide an environment in which children and adults feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and feel confident to talk if they are worried, believing they will be effectively listened to.

We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure children receive effective support, protection and justice.  Child protection forms part of the school’s safeguarding responsibilities.  We expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguarding our pupils.

We follow the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership’s (SSCP) procedures and have a number of policies and procedures in place with contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.

Everyone’s responsibility

At Ravenscote we understand that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All members of staff, including teaching and support staff, receive annual safeguarding training.

This covers all areas in the DFE document, Keeping Children Safe in Education’ – including the Prevent Strategy, FGM and Child Sexual Exploitation.

The school has tight procedures that record issues that relate to child protection. We work with an array of agencies including Children’s Services, the School Nurse and the Police. Additional updates and training are given to staff as needed throughout the year. 

Safeguarding Team

DSL
Mrs Nicholson

DDSL
Mrs Wells 
Miss Porta-Rios
Miss Wheeler
Miss Mills

Mrs Nicholson attends regular training to keep up-to-date with all issues relating to child protection and safeguarding. She is also in charge of Online Safety.

In the absence of Mrs Nicholson, Mrs Wells acts as the DSL.

The named Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Beth Weller.

Early Help Offer

The purpose of early help is to prevent issues and problems becoming serious and harmful to a child or young person, their family and community. When children and families need this extra support, they often need it quickly. Ravenscote Junior School is committed to striving to ensure concerns, no matter how small, are listened to and supported effectively, maximising the chances of effectively safeguarding all of our children.  

Click here to see our Early Help Offer.

Vetting Procedures

All members on the school staff have to have a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) in order to work in school. In addition, all volunteers in regulated activity with children are DBS-checked.

Visitors to the school either provide their own DBS on arrival or are members of professional bodies who are registered by their employer, such as OFSTED inspectors or Local Authority employees who have a DBS through their own professional body.

Any one-off visitor, such as a visiting author, will agree to our safeguarding statement at sign in, and be provided with a safeguarding information leaflet which they must read. These visitors will be supervised at all times by a member of school staff. Parents who help out on educational visits will be asked to agree to adhere to a Parent, Carer and Volunteer Agreement, and will be supervised by a member of school staff throughout the visit.

Risk Assessments

All areas of the school undergo biannual risk assessments by the school’s designated risk assessor. This means that though we cannot remove risks entirely, we have looked at ways of minimising them. These risk assessments are undertaken on areas such as classrooms, halls, playground and the car park.

We carry out risk assessments for all educational visits including our Year 4 and Year 6 residential trips. In addition, risk assessments are undertaken on special events that might occur in the school - such as the Year 3 Big Night In and the Year 5 Big Camp.

Security

Access to the campus, both for vehicles and pedestrians is via security gates. Staff have access to the gates by key fob. Visitors can only gain access by gate release authorised by office staff. Access to the external doors are by key codes. All fire exits are either twist lock or bar push exits.

Please remember if you suspect a child is in immediate danger call 999.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information is contained within our Child Protection and Safeguarding policy. Please click here for our School Policies.

For further support with your child's wellbeing. Please visit our Well being page by clicking here.

Child on child abuse: please see bottom of page Child on child abuse - parent information leaflet.

Keeping children safe online:

NSPCC Online Safety

Think U Know

NSPCC underwear rule:

Underwear Rule Parents and Carers’ Guide

Guide for foster carers

Guide for parents and carers with learning disabilities

Underwear Rule Children’s Guide

Guide for children with learning disabilities

Guide for children with Autism

Leaving your child at home:

Law on leaving your child home alone (Gov.uk)

Support and advice services:

NSPCCE-mail or telephone: 0808 8005000

CHILDLINE: Telephone: 08001111

PACE: (Parents against child exploitation) Tel: 0113 240 3040

ONE IN FOUR: (Advocacy service, counselling service and information service for those who have experiences sexual abuse.)