We are committed to safeguarding and meeting the needs of all our pupils. This provides some useful advice and information when working with our pupils.

What are your responsibilities as a visitor to our school?

All those who come into contact with the pupils have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children.

Supply teachers/students will be child protection trained on arrival to site before they begin work. They will be aware of possible signs and indicators of abuse and will bring their concerns immediately to a DSL or DDSL.

School age students and other volunteers will not have received child protection training and MUST NEVER be left alone with a child/children at any point; a CP trained member of staff should always be in sight/hearing of a student/volunteer.

DBS Checks

Malcolm Arnold Prep requires all adults who work in a regulated activity to be checked through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

If you are volunteering we will ask you to complete various forms and provide photo I.D. not only to verify your identity, but to provide contact details.

You are required to inform the Head immediately if you become subject to any criminal investigation.

You must also declare if you are living with someone who has committed an offence against children; Debarring by Association. Everyone in our school is asked to make this declaration as they come into contact with under 8’s.

What you should do if you are worried about a child?

Whilst working with a child, if you become worried about:

• Comments made by a child
• Marks or bruising on a child
• Changes in a child’s behaviour or demeaner
• Disclosures of any nature that may indicate risk of harm to a child
• You must report these concerns to one of these people in the listed order

Tracey Hudson - Principal DSL

Kirsty Weston  - Vice Principal DDSL

Dee Paterson - Family Support Worker DDSL

Maylie Dickerson - SENDCo DDSL

Amelia Champion- Pastoral Support DDSL

Suzanne Ballinger - DDSL

If a child makes a disclosure to you

• Listen, allow the child to talk freely.
• Reassure but DON’T promise anything.
• DO NOT promise confidentiality.
• DO NOT interrogate, do not ask them to write it down.
• Reassure them that it was right to talk.

What if a child expresses concern about a staff member?

If a child is to do this it must be reported to the Head, if it is about the Head it must be reported to the Chair of the Academy Scrutiny Committee.

Appropriate Behaviour

• As a visitor or volunteer you may well work closely with pupils. We need to have mutual trust and respect.
• You should not engage in physical contact with the children if they instigate this it should be reported to class teacher.
• Do not photograph/record the pupils and do not have you mobile phone or camera out whilst on site. Do not exchange numbers or engage on social media with any pupils.

Confidentiality

It is expected of everybody in school not to discuss anything they hear or see on site with anybody else.

Do you have a safeguarding concern?

As a parent or member of the public we all have a duty of care to ensure that we support the safeguarding of all young people and those who are deemed vulnerable. If you have a safeguarding concern during the hours of Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm, if you believe someone’s life is in immediate danger then you should call 999, otherwise you can call MASH( multi agency safeguarding hub). They can be reached on 0300 126 7000, you will be able to discuss and share you concern with them, you can remain anonymous, however, it is helpful if you are able to share who you are, which will remain confidential. This allows them to be able to filter out malicious calls. Out of these hours if you have a concern that someone’s life is in immediate danger then you must call 999, However, if you feel that you are concerned and it doesn’t quite meet the threshold of a 999 call you can contact Northampton Social Care Out of Hours on  01604- 626938.

As  a school, we are always happy to listen to your concerns and point you in the right direction, whilst we will share the information, if it is of a safeguarding concern. Should we call your concern in to MASH, it is classed as second or maybe third hand information and may not receive the priority it would if called in first hand.

If you do have any concerns or wish to discuss anything at any time please contact the school on 01604 931130 and ask to speak to  a DSL

Safeguarding Information

Please keep your Visitor Pass at all times

Staff lanyards are green. DBS checked visitors have a green lanyard with non-DBS checked visitors wearing red. All visitors wearing a red lanyard must be accompanied by a member of staff when in school.

First Aid

A list of First Aid trained staff is available in each class

Fire evacuation Procedure

If the alarm sounds, please exit immediately via the nearest fire exit (do not stop to gather any personal belongings).
Please gather at the fire assembly point in the MAA area adjacent to the building.

Toilets

Visitor toilets are located on the main corridor both downstairs and upstairs.

Mobile Phones

Please do not use your mobile phone while in school. It must never be used to photograph children. If an urgent call needs to be taken, this must be done in the reception area.

Allergies

We are a nut free school.

Local Safeguarding Authority

Northamptonshire County Council (MASH)
Telephone: 0300 126 7000

Online Safety

Provides the latest information on the sites young people like to visit, mobiles and new technology. It's separated into different age groups: 5-7years, 8-10 and 11-16 years. There is also a 'parent/carer' and 'teacher/trainer' section. It discusses what's good; what's not so good about the internet; about online risks and what you can do about them.

This site contains advice on how to use the internet and new technologies safely and responsibly as well as a range of practical resources, news and events focussing on the safe and responsible use of the internet and new technologies.

A site designed to teach younger children about some of the pitfalls of the internet in a fun-way; using cartoons, quizzes and games.

The Cybersmile Foundation is a multi-award winning anti cyberbullying non-profit making organisation that provides expert help and advice for cyberbullying victims and their families. Founded by parents of children directly affected by cyberbullying, it provides support to those that are bullied online, and changes the behaviour of the bullies themselves, through education.

This charity aims to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse, by working with children and young people aged 6 to 19, concerned parents and grandparents, teachers and carers.

ChildLine is a confidential counselling service for children and young people. They can contact ChildLine about anything - no problem is too big or too small. You can phone ChildLine on 0800 1111, send them an email, have a 1-2-1 chat or send a message to Ask Sam. You can also post messages to the ChildLine message boards or text them.

Find advice on handling social media, screen time and how to use parental controls and privacy settings to keep your children safe online. Take Vodafone’s digital family pledge and help your family set some digital house rules.

N.B Each of the mobile networks including the top 5 e.g. EE, GiffGaff, O2, Sky Mobile, Tesco and Virgin Mobile etc. have their own internet safety pages.