Duties and Responsibilities under Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures

Foreland Fields School is a community and all those directly connected (staff, governors, parents, families and pupils) have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure. Foreland Fields School recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children with their best interests at the centre of our work. 

Foreland Fields School recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

Our school core safeguarding principles are:

  • That schools are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children.
  • It is a whole school responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as its paramount concern.
  • All children regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection.
  • All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account. 
  • All staff understand safe professional practice and adhere to our code of conduct and other associated policies.
  • All staff have a responsibility to recognise vulnerability in children and act on any concern in accordance with this guidance.

There are four main elements to our safeguarding policy:

  • Prevention (e.g. positive, supportive, safe school culture, curriculum and pastoral opportunities for children, safer recruitment procedures);
  • Protection (by following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns);
  • Support (for all pupils, parents and staff, and where appropriate specific intervention for those who may be at risk of harm);
  • Working with parents and other agencies (to ensure appropriate communications and actions are undertaken). 

The school has developed policies related to Safeguarding and Child Protection which can be viewed in the ‘Safeguarding Policies’ section. 

All policies can also be requested from the main office, free of charge. School policies and guidance documents have been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and the following guidance:

 

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018