Telephone: 01234 745200 Email: rivertree@biltt.org
Rivertree Free School is part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Company Number: 08156641
Safeguarding
Definition of Safeguarding
Keeping children safe in Education, DfE, defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as:
“Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. ‘Children’ includes every one under the age of 18.”
You can find a copy of the national guidelines here:
Safeguarding Team
Safeguarding Responsibilities
Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families, has a role to play in safeguarding. School staff and volunteers are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children, to prevent concerns from escalating.
Schools form part of the wider safeguarding system for children working with social care, the police and health services both to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
At Rivertree we are committed to safeguarding. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where all of our children are respected, safe and valued.
Every school is required to have a designated safeguarding lead or (DSL). At Rivertree Free School, this role is undertaken by Katie Davis (Designated Safeguarding Lead/Deputy Head), Michael Davis (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) and Rebecca Bancroft (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead).
The DSL has a duty and responsibility to follow the law as outlined in the school’s ‘Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy’. At times the DSL and DDSL have to undertake difficult conversations and would be negligent in their role if they did not follow up on any potential safeguarding concerns identified.
The responsibilities of our Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead are:
- Making sure all staff are aware of how to raise safeguarding concerns and of school procedures
- Ensuring staff receive regular Safeguarding training and updates
- Ensuring all staff understand and can recognise the symptoms of potential child abuse and neglect
- Referring any concerns to Children’s Social Care (Formerly Children’s Social Services) or other external agencies
- Monitoring children who are the subject of Child Protection plans (CP), Child in Need plans (CIN) and Team Around the Family plans (TAF)
- Maintaining accurate and secure child protection records
- Working closely with external agencies to support children and their families
Rivertree Free School prioritises the welfare of all our pupils and is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for pupils and staff.
Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we strive to work together with pupils, staff, parents, and wider agencies to ensure safeguarding is a priority.
Safeguarding underpins all of our policies. Foll all of our safeguarding policies please go to our Policies Page. Policies.
Below are the school policies related to Safeguarding and Child Protection.
- DBS Policy
- Behaviour Policy
- Online Safety Policy
- Whistle Blowing Policy
- Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
- Staff Code of Conduct
- Children Missing in Education Statutory Guidance
- Safer Working Practice Guidance
- Acceptable IT User Agreement
Recording our Concerns
The aim of reporting and recording is to create an accurate account of the concerns about a child, with a clear chronology and follow through notes made over time. Monitoring ensures that nothing is missed, and that the right decisions are made around finding solutions and referring on.
Rivertree Free School is part of a project that runs jointly between schools, Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire Police.
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a police and education early intervention, reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced or been exposed to any domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been experienced a domestic abuse incident.
Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school. The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved. For further information about Operation Encompass
https://www.operationencompass.org/
Early Help
Every family goes through challenging times at some point, and it is ok to ask for help. ‘Family Help’ means working with you and your family so that small problems don’t become big problems, and help you be the very best family you can be.
Family help is for everybody, for families with children and young people of any age. It is about helping as early as possible. It is about looking at what help you need as a family before you start to struggle. The earlier we can get the support, the better the outcome.
If you think you would like to access family help or for further advice, please contact the following number or take a look at the attached web-link. If you have any questions or worries please do not hesitate to come into school and speak with Mrs Katie Davis
Bedfordshire Early Help: 01234 718700
Prevent Duty
Pupils are encouraged to express and discuss their ideas, thoughts and feelings through a variety of lessons and activities and have access to a range of opportunities that promote respect and empathy for others.
As part of the Prevent duty under s.26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, we are aware of the importance of building children’s’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views.
At Rivertree Free School, we build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by providing a safe environment for debating controversial issues and helping them to understand how they can influence and participate in proactive and positive decision making.
Rivertree Free School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. As part of internet safety, we ensure suitable filters are in place to keep children away from extremist materials.
Photographs and Videos
Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers, friends and relatives at school events, productions or open events are for the enjoyments of individual families. They must not be used in a way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images or putting them on the internet including social media networking sites. This message is emphasised before concerts and events in school.
We understand in some circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way or within school by staff. If this is the case, then please inform the school and update via the schools’ photo permission form.
Online Safety
Online safety is a crucial part of children’s education in today’s digital age and is integrated into their learning at school. We also aim to support our parents and children in developing a better understanding of online issues so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media safely and securely.
Useful Guidance and Support
Below are a list of useful websites and links that offer support services both locally and nationally.