Safeguarding

Safeguarding children - Information for Parents

At Ashby Hastings, we believe it is of the utmost importance to have excellent systems for protecting children and safeguarding their welfare, throughout all the activities which the school undertakes. This means that staff and volunteers must be alert to possible concerns about every pupil, and to report these in a proper fashion. We have a safeguarding and child protection policy: parents may request a copy of this and it is available via our Policies and Procedures page.

It is important for parents to be aware that:

Staff and volunteers in the school have a duty to report concerns about a child, whether this means the child may be in need of additional support or help of some kind or whether it is thought that a child may have been abused or be at risk of abuse.

There are four categories of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, neglect.

In some cases, the school is obliged to refer children to children's social care staff, for children to be assessed for their needs or if an investigation into possible child abuse is required. In many cases there will already have been discussions between school staff and the parents of the child, and the situation and concerns will not be a surprise to the parents. However, parents may not be told that the school has referred their child to children's social care if it is thought that this might put the child at risk.

Children's social care tries to carry out its enquiries in a sensitive fashion. It has to gather information and generally it can be open with parents about the steps being taken.

If you think your child may have been abused you can contact the children's social care office or the Local Authority's Allegations Manager, Safeguarding unit direct. If you think the abuse may have happened in school, contact the Headteacher or the Designated Senior Person for Child Protection, who is Mrs Mckeown. If you think your child has been hurt, arrange to visit your doctor. Comfort and reassure your child.

If school staff need to express concerns about a child or refer a child to children's social care, it is understood that this can cause distress or anger for the child's parents. It is important that all parties – parents and school staff - try to discuss these matters as calmly and sensibly as possible.

For parents' enquiries please contact Mrs Mckeown

E-Safety

 We have a Trust E-Safety policy, click this link to the SLT Policies page and search under Statutory and Other Trust Policies.

Our approach to e-safety is at the forefront of keeping our pupils safe in the 21st century. Regular lessons, assemblies and annual e-safety presentations to parents are designed to educate our pupils in being 'internet-safe'

The link below provides some great advice for parents in helping their child remain safe on the internet;

 e-safety information for parents

PREVENT - radicalisation and extremism

 At Ashby Hastings, we have produced a risk assessment relating to possible extremism and radicalisation of pupils, based upon the PREVENT strategy to tackle such issues. We will ensure our pupils learn about tolerance and respect for all cultures and religions through our PSHE, SMRC and RE work. We believe the risk of extremism within Ashby is low but we will ensure that all staff are fully aware of their duty to report any possible extremism or radicalisation concenrs they may have.

 PREVENT information for parents

 PREVENT Risk Assessment for Ashby Hastings