Safeguarding
We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children and young people are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure children and young people receive effective support, protection and justice.
The school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Laura Constanza (Headteacher) and in her absence, Miss Hannah Lintern (Deputy Headteacher) is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
All safeguarding staff can be contacted via the School Office on 01278 722527 or by emailing office@catottprimary.co.uk
If you have a safeguarding concern please phone 01278 722527 and ask to speak to one of our safeguarding leads.
If you have a concern that a child is in danger, please immediately contact Childrens Social Care on 0300 1232224 Report a child at risk (somerset.gov.uk) or call the Police (999).
A full version of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found on the Policies page of this website or is available on request from the School Office.
Safer Recruitment
All staff, governors and volunteers undergo enhanced DBS Disclosure check and references are taken up prior to interviewing for any new members of staff. All members of staff also complete a Childcare Disqualification Declaration.
Child Protection
All our staff are trained to support the child protection policies of the school, which are a local adaptation of the Somerset Safeguarding Children's Board policies.
Action For Children
What to do when you're worried about a child | Action For Children
Action for Children protects and supports children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives.
E-Safety
Here at Catcott Primary, we take e-safety very seriously. We work hard to promote online safety within events and direct teaching. Talking regularly with children can help keep them safe online and having this conversation helps to prepare children from an early age, so they can safely explore the internet and know who to speak to if things go wrong.
There are some excellent resources offered by the NSPCC:
Keeping children safe online | NSPCC
How to Ensure Your Children Stay Safe While Playing Online Games | NSPCC
Prevent
'Prevent' is a government strategy aimed at stopping people being drawn into terrorism. It is part of an over-arching counter-terrorism strategy called 'Contest'.
Since the 2011 Prevent Review, the UK Government defines extremism as: ‘vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs'. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces.
Radicalisation is defined by the UK Government within this context as, “the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.”
At Catcott Primary School we use the following protocol for identifying and responding to the possibility of the children and young people we work with becoming radicalised.
NSPCC Advice on leaving children home alone