Safeguarding is the policies and practices that schools and Governing Bodies employ to keep children safe and promote their wellbeing. This means everything from the security of the buildings, to the safe recruitment of staff and everything in between. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) defines it as:

  # Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment

  # Preventing harm to children’s health or development

  # Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care

  # Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best  outcomes

The difference between Safeguarding and Child Protection

The diagram on the left sets out what Safeguarding means in schools. As you can see, Child Protection is only one aspect of Safeguarding and is a term used to describe the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

What Are Schools Expected To Do?

Schools must comply with the current safeguarding guidance from the Department for Education, called Keeping Children Safe in Education – a copy can be found in our Policies and Documents page (please click HERE). This means, for example:

• Having a designated safeguarding lead (DSL), who is trained to support staff, contribute to assessing children and liaise with other agencies.
• Having a child protection policy, and procedures covering specific safeguarding issues – click HERE to view our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
• Ensuring that adults working in the school are safe to work with children, by carrying out background checks (through the Disclosure and Barring Service) and having someone on interview panels who is trained in ‘safer recruitment’
• Ensuring that all staff receive safeguarding and child protection training, and that this is regularly updated

What Does Safeguarding Look Like In Our School?

We have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all our children. If we have concerns about the welfare of a child we have a responsibility to take action and will always act in the best interest of the child. We also have a legal duty to work alongside other agencies with any child protection enquiries.

• We ensure that Governors, staff and volunteers fulfil statutory requirements in respect of safeguarding and promoting the welfare and well-being of all pupils.
• We support a culture of safeguarding, building resilience and a collective responsibility for the safety and well-being of others.
• We work constructively with partner agencies to ensure timely and appropriate support for vulnerable children and their families.
• We teach pupils about safeguarding issues, including how to respond to concerns, in lessons on personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.

• Any child that reports a concern will be listened to with respect and their concerns will supported and our safeguarding procedures will be followed.

• We protect information about pupils and only share it appropriately.
• We track concerns about pupils confidentially.
• We ensure that Belmont meets the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership’s standards and use safer recruitment practices as a means to deter and prevent unsafe adults from abusing positions of trust.

Key Terms

Abuse – abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check – a certificate of checks carried out on those working with children and vulnerable people. Those who work regularly with children require a more in-depth DBS check.

Safer Recruitment – recruiting staff using thorough checks on their suitability to work with children, including the right to work in the UK, and mental and physical fitness to carry out their responsibilities.