Safeguarding

Safeguarding Statement

All the governors and staff at Garsington strive to keep children safe by:

• providing a safe environment for them to learn

• identifying children who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure that they are kept safe both at home and in the education setting

• preventing unsuitable people from working with the children

• promoting safe practice and to challenge any poor or unsafe practice

• identifying instances where there are grounds for concern about a child’s welfare and initiate or take appropriate action to keep them safe

• contributing to effective partnership working between all those involved in providing services for our children.

All staff follow the Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance published regularly by the DfE. The latest version can be found in the safeguarding section of our policies and procedures.

Raising Concerns

Safeguarding is everyone's business so do report any worries or concerns you have.

If you have any concerns about the welfare or safety of a child please contact the school's Designated Safeguarding & Child Protection Lead, Zara d'Archambaud (the Headteacher) or Kim Bews, Inclusion Manager. You can also contact Sarah Brush our Safeguarding Governor. The number to call for all contacts is 01865 361263.

Or call Oxfordshire County Council Central MASH Team 0345 050 7666.

The LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) is Jo Lloyd 01865 810603.

For more detailed information, advice and resources please visit the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board website.

http://www.oscb.org.uk/

Sexual Violence & Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment can include:

  • Sexual comments, such as: telling sexual stories, making lewd comments, making sexual remarks about clothes and appearance and calling someone sexualized names.

  • Sexual “jokes” or taunting.

  • physical behaviour, such as: deliberately brushing against someone, interfering with someone’s clothes and pictures, photos or drawings of a sexual nature.

  • online sexual harassment -non-consensual sharing of sexual images and videos, sexualised online bullying, unwanted comments and messages, including, on social media.

  • up skirting.

Every staff member at Garsington should:

  • be clear that sexual violence and sexual harassment is not acceptable, will never be tolerated and is not an inevitable part of growing up.

  • not tolerate or dismiss sexual violence or sexual harassment as “banter”, “part of growing up”, “just having a laugh” or “boys being boys”.

  • Challenge behaviours (potentially criminal in nature), such as grabbing bottoms, breasts and genitalia. Dismissing or tolerating such behaviours risks normalising them.

Childline

Childline are available for all young people, 'whatever you are going through'. Click here to find out how to contact them.

Prevent

Prevent is part of the Government's counter terrorism strategy and schools now have a responsibility to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Visit our Prevent page to find out more.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

The latest version of our policy, which must be reviewed and updated at least every 12 months, and other school policies linked to Safeguarding can be found in the safeguarding section of our policies and procedures page.

Safeguarding Training

All teaching and support school staff have up-to-date Generalist Safeguarding Training. Our Safeguarding Trainer is Zara d'Archambaud (Headteacher). Staff also complete Prevent training every 2 years.

Health & Safety

Marion Piacenza, School Business Manager, is the Health & Safety Lead. She works alongside the Senior Leadership Team and the Headteacher to ensure children have a safe environment in which to learn. If you have a H&S concern please contact her or the Health & Safety Governor, Richard Holden.