St Godric's

St Godric’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  This means that we have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place. All staff (including supply staff, volunteers and governors) must ensure that they are aware of these procedures. Parents and carers are welcome to read the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.  Please visit our policies section for other related policies.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

Our designated safeguarding persons are:

• Mrs Emma Bridon Head Teacher
• Mrs Sarah Walton Deputy Head Teacher
• Mrs Rachel McNally Assistant Head Teacher

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the Designated Persons as soon as possible the same day. Do NOT conduct your own investigation.

If your concerns relate to the actions or behaviour of a member of staff (which could suggest that s/he is unsuitable to work with children) then you should report this to one of the Designated Persons in confidence, who will refer the matter to the Headteacher (or the Chair of Governors if the concern relates to the Headteacher) who will consider what action to take.

Child Protection Statement

Our school recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils.  We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.  We will be alert to the signs of abuse and maltreatment and will follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.  The procedures contained in this policy apply to all staff and governors and are consistent with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Core principles

This policy is one of a series in the school’s integrated safeguarding portfolio.  Our core safeguarding principles are as follows.

• The school’s responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children is of paramount importance.
• Safer children make more successful learners.
• Representatives of the whole school community of pupils, parents, staff and governors will be involved in policy development and review.
• Policies will be reviewed annually, unless an incident or new legislation or guidance suggest the need for an interim review.

The statement and core principles demonstrate the school’s understanding that, to carry out its role effectively, it must:

• Give priority to the welfare of the child
• Understand the importance of respect
• Recognise the relationship between safety and learning
• Value the opinions and contributions of the whole school community
• Ensure staff are appropriately trained
• Develop and maintain effective procedures
• Comply with the prevailing legislation and consider prevailing guidance

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is an initiative which Northumbria Police is running in partnership with schools throughout the force area.

After initial trials in Gateshead and South Tyneside, it is now in operation throughout all of the Local Authority areas covered by Northumbria Police.

What is Operation Encompass?

The project aims to safeguard and support children and young people who are involved in or affected by incidents involving domestic abuse.

Witnessing domestic abuse is really distressing for a young person, who can often see the abuse, hear it from another room, see a parent’s injuries or distress afterwards or be physically hurt trying to stop the abuse.

Following such an incident, children will often arrive at school upset and unprepared. Operation Encompass aims to ensure that appropriate school staff are made aware early enough to support children in the best way possible.

How does it work?

Following a domestic abuse incident being reported into Northumbria Police, specialist police officers will make contact with Children’s Social Care who will then communicate relevant and necessary information to nominated school staff. This ensures the school is aware as soon as possible so support can be provided and children can feel safe and listened to.

Each school has a member of staff (key adult) who has been fully trained to liaise with the police and social services, so are able ensure the right support is made available to the child following the disclosure of a domestic abuse incident.

Each morning a specialist officer will review all violent or abusive incidents that would indicate domestic abuse. Where there are incidents involving children living at home aged between 4 and 16 years old, the school that the child or young person attends will be contacted and information will be passed to the key adult in the school. The staff in contact with those pupils will then be in an informed position to support them in a way that is right for that child.

Our commitment

Northumbria Police is committed to working in partnership, to safeguard and protect children, and to providing the best possible care and support.

Further information

If you’re a parent, school or partner you can also find out more information through accessing the following website.

If you feel that you are in danger then you should telephone and talk to the police using 999.