safeguarding and child protection
General Information
Wingate Community Nursery School is committed to promoting the welfare and the safeguarding of all children.
At Wingate Nursery School, we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that we all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn. We all have the responsibility to make this happen. We expect all staff, parents, students and volunteers to share this commitment. We recognise that whatever their age, gender, culture, disability, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity, they have the right to be protected from harm. The school follows Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership guidelines and has a whole school policy for Child Protection and Safeguarding.
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We will ensure that:
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The welfare of the child remains paramount.
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All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.
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All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
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All staff, students and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to the Designated Leads for Safeguarding: Becky Wood & Nichola Hesslewood
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Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:
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Staff and visitors, ensuring they are vetted, informed and trained
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children’s behaviour, promoting safer and happier behaviours and lifestyle
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parents and carers, promoting links and supporting families
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premises, keeping them safe, pleasant and fit for purpose
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curriculum, providing positive, life affirming learning experiences
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outside school, ensuring safer activities and environments outside school
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Members of staff responsible
We are all responsible for ensuring that each child remains safe, however the Designated Lead for Safeguarding is Becky Wood and the Deputy Designated Lead for Safeguarding is Nichola Hesslewood.
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Safer Recruitment
Our school follows strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children are vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. On-going checks and ‘whistle blowing’ are in line with the current policy. Those responsible for recruiting staff are suitably trained in Safer Recruitment and familiar with policy and procedures. Ongoing checks and “whistle-blowing” are in line with current policy.
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Staff Training
All staff are trained in child protection issues to ensure they are knowledgeable and well equipped to appropriately recognise and respond to children who may be at risk of harm, or at least vulnerable. All staff, students and volunteers are directed to read the document ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ September 2021.
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Staff are trained in child protection issues and they are aware of the procedures to follow.
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Staff are encouraged to be vigilant in order to maintain the safety of our children.
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All Staff, Students, Volunteers and Governors are directed to the document ‘KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION September 2022’
All staff have an up-to-date understanding about safeguarding children and are confident to implement the policy and procedure appropriately, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
They are able to respond to;
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significant changes in children’s behaviour
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a deterioration in their well-being
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unexplained marks or bruising that may indicate possible abuse
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signs of neglect
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comments children make that give cause for concern
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Collecting your child from nursery
Please make sure that an adult always brings and collects your child– this must be someone over the age of 18. If a different adult is collecting your child, please inform a member of staff as we do not allow children to leave nursery with adults who we do not know. You will be asked to provide a security password as part of the admission pack. Any different adult collecting your child will be asked for this password.
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Links with other Agencies
Because our first concern must be the well-being of the child, there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact parents and carers. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures.
We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include Health Practitioners, Educational Psychologist, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Support, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs.
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Information Sharing
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:
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emergency contact numbers
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information about parental responsibility and who has legal contact
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special dietary requirements or food allergies
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special health needs or medical conditions
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any care or court orders in place
Taking confidentiality very seriously, any information we hold is only shared on a ‘need to know’ basis.
It is the parents/carers responsibility to keep the school informed of any changes to these details.
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Reporting Concerns or Complaints
Further to the above procedures, we have in place a concerns and complaints policy. This enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is of concern.
Concerns should be raised in the following order.
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To the Key Person. Then, if there is no resolution;
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To the Headteacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
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To the Chair of Governors. Then, if there is no resolution;
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To the Local Authority.
Contact details to express your concern/complaint are available from the school office.
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Review of Policy and Practice
In order to ensure best practice is maintained, our polices are reviewed regularly to incorporate the latest statutory guidance. If you would like more information on safeguarding, please contact the school for all our policies or view our policies section on our website.
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What to do if you are concerned for the safety of a child (out of school hours)
Child abuse can have major long-term effects on all aspects of a child’s health and well-being. Children and young people are dependent on others for their survival and have a right to be protected and to have someone who will act on their behalf.
If you have a concern about a child or young person or are having difficulties in your own family, First Contact is the service to call. First Contact brings together staff from Children’s Services with partners such as Durham Constabulary and Health practitioners.
Call First Contact on 03000 26 79 79 More information is available on their website
Remember that if you suspect a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm then phone the Police on 999.
NSPCC can also take a referral, by telephone or online.
By telephone:
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Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm and 9am – 6pm at the weekend.
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Telephone 0808 800 5000
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