Safeguarding

The Designated Safeguarding lead for the school is the Headteacher, Mrs Clare Slowther.

At Alverstoke Junior School, we safeguard our pupils by:

creating a safe environment for children through robust safeguarding practices;
ensuring that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, are thoroughly checked and safe recruitment procedures are adhered to;
making sure staff are trained, know how to respond to concerns and keep-up-to-date with policy and practice;
teaching children how to stay safe;
embedding safeguarding values in our culture and ethos through positive communication and relationships;
maintaining an environment where children feel confident to approach any member of staff if they have a worry or problem.
Regularly communicating with parents regarding ways to keep children safe out of school e.g. safer travel to and from school, online safety

The headteacher has lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection and we also have Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leaders who support this role. Our safeguarding policy gives full details and can be accessed here:

Safeguarding Policy

Monitoring

We have a monitoring plan for our safeguarding procedures and we review our practice in a constant cycle. As a school we are in a position to be able to:

spot potential risks and early signs and indicators of abuse;
manage identified risks and ensure thresholds for raising concerns are minimal;
promote keeping safe to children through culture and curriculum;
use case history to shape policy and adapt our environment;
maintain a robust recording system;
build strong and effective relationships with external agencies;
target interventions and provide personalised support to children and families based on need;
implement a ‘whole school’ approach to well-being for pupils, staff and families.

We conduct an annual safeguarding audit and, alongside the Governing Body, identify our strengths and areas for development.

Internet Safety

At our school we ensure that our children are taught the basic tips of Internet Safety in every year group. We have an Online Safety Policy and Home Learning Policy that give full details of how we promote the safety of children when they work online within school and when completing school work remotely during school closure.

Staff and children also follow our ‘Acceptable Use Agreements’.

Staff ICT Acceptable Use Agreement
Children’s Acceptable Use Agreement

We work in partnership with parents by providing updates and advice on how to safeguard children when using computers and devices at home:

Internet Matters – Easy to follow guides on setting parental controls
Think U Know? – 9 tips for parentson helping you use devices with children safely at home.
NSPCC Guide to Social Networks and Apps – includes risk factors and age-restrictions
Parentzone -Another useful website with up to date information

Reporting Internet Safety Concerns

CEOP helps any child or young person under the age of 18 who is being pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind. This can be something that has taken place either online or in ‘the real world’, or both. The CEOP Safety Centre has clear information and advice on what can be reported to CEOP, the reporting process and what will happen if you do decide to make a report.

The Click CEOP button is an asset of the National Crime Agency CEOP command. The CEOP command works to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation both online and offline.

The button has been developed for children and young people and is offered as a convenient and potentially less intimidating method of reporting these sensitive types of crime, alternative to face-to-face and telephone reporting to local police forces. It provides children and young people with access to an online mechanism for reporting known or suspected child sexual exploitation or child sexual abuse directly to CEOP.

Reporting to CEOP

CEOP takes all reports seriously and children of all ages can report through the Click CEOP button. The reporting form is designed to be as accessible as possible by children, but it is highly recommend that young children seek the support of an adult they trust to help them make a report.

All reports to CEOP are treated sensitively and are read and risk assessed by a CEOP Child Protection Adviser. It is not possible to report to CEOP anonymously as CEOP have a duty to ensure the child or young person is safe. Reports made outside of office hours are viewed by the NCA Control Centre. Urgent concerns about a child’s safety are referred by the Control Centre to local police. CEOP advise any urgent reports where a child is in immediate danger should be reported to the local police force where the child is located.

If you are experiencing online bullying or something else online has worried you please speak to an adult you trust, or you can talk to Childline at any time on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk .

How we teach our children to be safe

Alverstoke Junior School Safeguarding Curriculum

Photographs and Videos

Whilst lots of parents and carers enjoy seeing photos and videos of their child’s school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.

Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school events, sports days, outcomes and other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet, including social media sites.

Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We also like to use photographs of our children on our website, newsletters and displays around the school. We will obtain parental consent before these are used.

If any parent or carer has a concern in relation to the use of photographs and videos they should contact the school office.

Alverstoke Church of England Junior School

Safeguarding

Online safety advice PDFs