Safeguarding
Here at Menston Primary School we are dedicated to safeguarding the wellbeing of all children and adults in the school and expect everyone in our community to share this commitment. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is our Headteacher, Mrs Marie Wilson. Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Charlie Gilmour, Deputy Headteacher & SENDCO, Mrs Sophie Kay, Assistant Headteacher and Mrs Gamble. If you are worried about the safety of a child or children, please contact the school and ask to speak to one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads. Mrs Belinda Smitheringale, our Parental Involvement Worker, can refer families for support through Early Help .
Our school is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces. Operation Encompass is the strategy for reporting to schools when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse. As a school we have ensured that three members of our staff, known as a Key Adults, have 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 very best support possible to all our pupils and we believe that being part of Operation Encompass helps us to do this. Our trained Key Adults are Mrs Wilson, Mrs Gilmour and Mrs Smitheringale.
School and Trust policies and guidance are in place to ensure that there is a consistent approach to practices throughout the school and that they are adhered to by staff, governors and volunteers. Please click here to access these policies. Adults have a tremendous impact on the safety and wellbeing of young children and with this in mind adults at Menston Primary School:
- are trained in safeguarding policies and practices which align with statutory guidance that is published in Keeping Children Safe in Education
- understand their responsibilities in terms of safeguarding children and maintain the attitude that ‘it could happen here’
- work within the agreed policies and guidance of the school
- promote a happy, caring and safe school
- actively teach safe and respectful behaviours
- create an environment of trust and are trusted adults that children can talk to
- are positive role models for children
- enjoy their work and working with children
- are conscientious and hard working
- recognise and value strengths in each other and use these to support everyone
- encourage children to think for themselves, ask questions and find answers
- challenge and support children in their learning
We deliver a robust, progressive, age appropriate, safeguarding curriculum in all year groups. Our safeguarding curriculum helps children to make informed decisions about how to keep themselves safe in the real world and online. Our safeguarding curriculum is taught through CORAM SCARF PSHE lessons and online safety lessons using Project Evolve resources.
