At Keep Hatch Primary School the health, safety and well-being of every child is our top priority. We expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguarding our pupils.
We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. All school staff are trained in safeguarding children, and children are made aware of the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns. Staff are trained to look out for signs that a child might be at risk of harm and are required to report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Our full Child Protection Policy provides full details of the procedures put in place to ensure the safety of every child. On rare occasions our concern about a child may mean that we have to consult other agencies. We will ensure that concerns are discussed with parent/carers first, before any referrals are made, unless we believe that such a move may be contrary to a child’s welfare.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs S Cartwright.
The Deputy Safeguarding Lead is Mrs C Appleby.
Additional Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Caird and Miss Smith.
If you require any further information, please do read our Child Protection Policy which can be found in the Policies section of this website or contact Mrs Frewin via the school office at admin@keephatch.wokingham.sch.uk
If you ever have a safeguarding concern about any member of the school community outside of school hours, please call the Wokingham Referral and Assessment Team on 0118 908 8002. A member of the team will speak to you about your concern or you will be directed to the out of hours service on their answerphone.
Safeguarding Curriculum:
Pupil safeguarding and the promotion of fundamental British values are a core focus of our work at Keep Hatch Primary. Great importance is placed on identifying opportunities in the taught curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding. Our broad curriculum gives pupils opportunities to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that significantly impact on personal development, behaviour and welfare and equips every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding. Our PSHE curriculum covers all areas of Safeguarding through each of the strands to a different degree, however some go into more detail. We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age appropriate level, or at a small group or 1:1 level where a more urgent need arises.
We plan to constantly challenge children to think deeply about safeguarding matters and their own personal physical and mental wellbeing. We value pupils’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns. We give them opportunities across the curriculum to explore values, personal rights, responsibilities and equal opportunities that develop moral concepts that impact positively on safeguarding, promote British values and prevent radicalisation and extremism.
There are many opportunities throughout our learning in school to explore safeguarding issues.
Practical safeguarding opportunities are planned into the curriculum. For example:
- Road safety (including out of school visits, bikeability, work with police officers in the community)
- Poolside and water safety through swimming lessons
- Fire awareness (including visits from the local fire service)
- Work from local voluntary sector services particularly around safe transition to Secondary school
- Online safety quizzes and training
- What to do if you are separated from your group (in relation to school visits)
- Safe use of technology including password security and privacy settings
We have developed an open and safe learning environment in which pupils express their views, seek help and help others,
The promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity, for pupils and staff, helps prevent any form of direct or indirect discriminatory behaviour. Our children learn to not tolerate any prejudiced behaviour. Our behaviour policy promotes making good choices and exhibiting good learning behaviours.
Class times are time for sharing ideas, addressing concerns and promoting important values.
Assembly time, circle times and PSHE lessons are used to promote personal safeguarding matters and explore themes. For example, we talk about anti- bullying including cyber bullying and British values including how these values are promoted in our multi–faith society.
Staff and children are quick to challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language in lessons and around school. Our school reflects the diversity of pupils’ experiences and provides pupils with a comprehensive understanding of people and communities beyond their immediate experience including the role of women in society and different family groups including same sex couples. Throughout the curriculum there are planned opportunities to promote all forms of equality and foster greater understanding of and respect for people off all faiths (and those with no faith), races, genders, ages, disability and sexual orientations, through their words, actions and in their influence. Opportunities are created in a variety of subjects to address areas of safeguarding, for example, themes are highlighted through novels in English lessons.
Time is taken at the beginning of every new school year to reaffirm school values, expectations and rules for living and learning at Keep Hatch Primary. This good start to the year, with everyone clear about their roles and responsibilities, sets the tone for the rest of the year and leads to excellent safeguarding outcomes.
Please see our overview of safeguarding opportunities within our curriculum below by clicking on the link:
Keep Hatch Safeguarding Curriculum Overview