Safeguarding

At Styal Primary School, keeping children safe is the top priority. Safeguarding covers a range of areas:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing the impairment of children's health and development
• Ensuring children grow up with safe and effective care

Child protection is part of safeguarding and refers to school taking action to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm. School has a crucial role in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect and referring them to Children's Services.

Safety at Styal

• Sara Chignell, the school's interim headteacher, is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and deals with all issues around safeguarding. Mrs Jones and Mrs Hennessey are the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL).
• School commits to the continous development of staff with regard to safeguarding. Staff have in-school annual training and training with the Local Authority at least every three years.
• Children are supported in recognising risks in different situations including cyberbullying and on-line safety. (See school's On-line Safety Policy)
• There is a zero tolerance approach to bullying and child on child abuse (See Positive Behaviour Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy).
• School operates safe recruitment practices including appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and reference checks, verifying identity and qualifications, right to work in England checks and checking the Children's Barred List. School carries out on-line searches as part of due diligence checks on shortlisted candidates.
• Volunteers also go through rigorous checks. They must have an interview with the headteacher, have DBS check, reference check and a full induction prior to supporting in school. 
• Visitors to school must sign in formally at the main office, are not left unattended in school and wear a lanyard at all times.
• Staff, volunteers and visitors must adhere to the school's Code of Conduct.
• We support staff / volunteer / visitor confidence to report misconduct of adults.
• The Governing Body have agreed processes to allow them to monitor safeguarding in school.
• Risk assessments cover the school environment such as safety in classrooms, on the playground and playground duty  and supervision procedures. Risk Assessments also cover off-site educational visits.

Please see our safeguarding policies and other documents added to our website such as 'Keeping Children Safe in Education'.

ChECS

If there is a concern about a child, Cheshire East Consultation Service (ChECS) is the 'front door' for schools to access services, support and advice.

The general public can raise concerns by ringing ChECS on 0300 123 5012 (option 3). Callers will be directed to a Unit Co-ordinator who will direct the call to a social worker for safeguarding concerns. The worker will gather information and advise on the next steps.

The emergency out-of-hours number is 0300 123 5022.

Keeping children safe is ultimately my top priority. Ensuring the safety of our 'Styal family' is why I do my job. Safety comes before everything.

On-line Safety

If you are worried about on-line abuse or the way someone is communicating on-line, make a report to CEOP (Child Exploitation and On-line Protection) via the website:

https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

Kind regards,

Sara Chignell Interim Headteacher

Headteacher

Styal Primary School

Files to Download