Safeguarding in Forest School

Safeguarding Children

Everyone at Newchurch Primary has a responsibility in relation to child protection.  (see school safeguarding policy)

We are committed to :

  • Taking all reasonable measures to safeguard and promote the welfare of each child in our care.
  • The practice of safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children and young people.
  • Protecting each pupil from any form of abuse, whether from an adult or another pupil.

Our Aims:

  • To raise awareness of individual responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse
  • To provide a systematic means of monitoring, recording and reporting of concerns and case
  • To provide guidance on recognising and dealing with suspected child abuse
  • To provide a framework for inter-agency communication and effective liaison
  • To ensure that any deficiencies or weaknesses in the child protection arrangements are remedied  without delay
  • To ensure that safe recruitment procedures are operated
  • To design and operate procedures which promote this policy and which, so far as possible, ensure that teachers and others who are innocent are not prejudiced by false allegations
  • To contribute to the operation of appropriate health and safety procedures
  • To have regard to and be consistent with relevant statutory and regulatory requirements and guidance.

In addition, adults working within Forest School need to appreciate that when children feel comfortable and content, when their instinct to trust and risk take is encouraged, they may be moved to disclose information which they might have otherwise kept to themselves.  Any volunteer, or member of staff, who finds that a child is telling them something that concerns them should follow the specified course of action set out below in the simple steps:

  • Listen to the pupil but ask NO leading questions.  Allow the child to lead discussion but do not press for details.
  • Keep clam and offer reassurance.  Accept what the child says without challenge.
  • Make NO promises.  You cannot 'keep a secret'.  You should make it understood that there are limits to confidentiality at the start of the disclosure.
  • Any concerns should be immediately communicated to Head Teacher- Mrs Jayne Narraway  or to the DSL's - ( John Duckett and Rachel Sizer) , as soon as possible and follow the school procedures.
  • Keep an accurate , written record of the conversation, including the date, time, the place the conversation occurred in  and the essence of what was said and done by whom and in whose presence. Keep the record secure and complete on a pink form and hand it in to the DSL.  (remember to write in pen)