Safeguarding and Online Safety

Safeguarding

Safeguarding at Sexton’s Manor Primary School

At Sexton’s Manor, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority.

We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where all children feel secure, valued and able to learn. Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do, and we work in close partnership with families to keep children safe.

All staff are trained in safeguarding and work together to ensure a strong culture of vigilance, where concerns are identified early and acted upon. Staff receive regular safeguarding training, including annual refresher training, alongside all statutory safeguarding requirements.

The safeguarding team meet a minimum of weekly. Key themes, messages and training are shared with staff through weekly bulletins and briefing meetings.

Our Safeguarding Team

If you have a concern, our safeguarding team is here to help:

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL): Deputy Headteacher, James Murray; Headteacher, Lorraine Ratcliffe; Key stage 2 teacher, Danielle Ballam.
Safeguarding Governor: Chair of Governors, Richard Selby.

You can contact the safeguarding team via the school office:
📞 01284 754 371
✉️ office@sextonsprimary.org.uk

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please:

Speak to a member of staff as soon as possible
Contact the school office and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team
Share your concern - no concern is too small

All concerns are taken seriously and will be acted upon in line with our safeguarding procedures. Any concern shared will be treated sensitively and in the best interests of the child. The school will liaise closely with families and other agencies as required.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, you should contact:

Emergency services (999)

You can also contact:

Suffolk Children’s Services (Customer First): 0808 800 4005

Contact Customer First if you have a safeguarding concern out of school hours or in holiday time.

Support for families

We understand that families may sometimes need help, advice or support.

If you are worried about your own child or need support, please speak to us — we are here to help and can connect you with appropriate services. We can also support families through early help, working with external agencies where appropriate.

You may also find the following organisations helpful:

NSPCC – https://www.nspcc.org.uk
Childline – https://www.childline.org.uk
Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership – www.suffolksp.org.uk

We actively promote safeguarding and wellbeing through our curriculum and wider school life.

Pupils are supported to stay safe online through our curriculum and online safety teaching
Our Digital Leaders supported by our Computing Lead, help to promote safe and responsible use of technology
Key messages are shared with children during assemblies in their classrooms.

Online Safety

We teach pupils how to stay safe online and encourage parents to support this at home.

Helpful guidance can be found at:

www.thinkuknow.co.uk
www.internetmatters.org

Working together

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. By working together, we can ensure that all children at Sexton’s Manor are safe, supported and able to thrive.

For full details, please see our Safeguarding Policy and related documents below.

LADO

LADO Suffolk is the Local Authority Designated Officer service that manages and oversees allegations against adults who work or volunteer with children, and can be contacted via LADO@suffolk.gov.uk or 0300 123 2044.

Staying safe online is really important.

There are lots of ways to learn about staying safe, you will have learnt some ideas in school and you could ask your mum and dad.

Don't forget you can always ask as adult in school for help if you are worried about anything.

Here are some useful links if you would like to know more about Online Safety.

Safer Internet Day is coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. This year's Safer Internet Day is on the 7th February. Click the logo left to find out more.

BBC Stay Safe

Do you know how to stay safe online? Explore cbbc's website to find out more by clicking on the Stay Safe image right.

Safe Kids Quiz

The Online Safety Quiz is your chance to show that you know how to be a safe Internet surfer. Answer each question and when you get it right, you'll go on to the next question

Think You Know

The "Thinkuknow" website is brought to you by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre. There is a lot of information here for both children and adults.

Early Help Offer

What is Early Help?

Early Help’ means providing help for children, young people and families as soon as problems start to emerge or where it is likely that issues will impact negatively on children’s outcomes.

Early help…

Is for children of all ages and not just the very young,
Can be provided at any point of need and;
Can be very effective in supporting a child, young person and/or their family to step down from statutory services as well as preventing the escalation of issues.
Is important because there is clear evidence that it results in better outcomes for children.

Early help is a term that describes much of the everyday work of schools.

At Sexton’s Manor, we understand that from time to time family life can have its complications. There may be times when you need some extra help and support. We aim to offer you support and to let you know that at such times we have an Early Help Offer.

What support do we offer?

All staff work together to identify those families who may benefit from early help and explain how some extra help may be beneficial. We can offer advice on a range of concerns or can signpost parents to other sources of information, help and support. This may be best arranged using a Early Help Assessment (click this lWhat is an Early Help Assessment (EHA)? - Suffolk County Council for more information).

What sort of concerns might parents share with our team?

A wide range of issues such as behaviour management, financial worries and debts, domestic abuse, housing concerns, mobility difficulties, parents in prison, bereavement and loss, cyber bullying – in fact any concerns which you are worried might be having a negative impact on your child(ren).

What might we offer in response to your concerns?

We have bespoke interventions which are run to support some pupils or groups of pupils. We recognise that mental health concerns may underpin some social, emotional and behavioural issues and will help families to seek appropriate support. For attendance concerns, support through school will be offered and if required, the Educational Welfare Officer will be brought in for further help.

How might the support be managed?

There are a range of ways of delivering support. Informal pastoral support meetings with a record of conversation might be all that is required. Individual Risk Assessments can be used to support individual pupils. For pupils at risk of exclusion, Suffolk Pupils Support Frameworks could be initiated, which involve frequent meetings between school, home and pupils to work together on agreed targets. If referral to the Early Help team is requested, the school will work to draw up documents with the parents and if accepted, there will be a Team Around the Child set up to plan and action the support required through a multi-agency team.

How will safeguarding procedures be effective in supporting families?

Sexton’s Manor has three trained Designated Safeguarding Leads and has access to a wealth of expert support across the Trust. All staff are trained to identify and report safeguarding concerns. Where concerns are raised, the school will follow the reporting procedures. The team will work with families and all relevant agencies through Child in Need or Child Protection teams to reduce and remove identified risks to children. Support will be given to families by social workers and other relevant agencies including school.

How will our pupils learn to keep themselves safe?

Curriculum provision and additional work from outside agencies, including NSPCC and the police, support our children in learning how to keep themselves safe. Children are also made aware of who the trusted adults are that they can go to for help. Childline posters are displayed in school.

Who might the school refer to?

The Early Help Team
Children and Young People’s Services
The In Year Fair Access Panel
County Inclusive Support Service
Counselling services
School Nurse
Speech and Language Therapist
Educational Psychologist
Young Carers
Sendias
Local Authority Family Services team
Educational Welfare Officer

Signposting: agencies the school might suggest as a source of further support.

Citizens Advice Bureau
GPs
Occupational Therapists
Paediatricians
Children and Young People’s Services
The Early Help Team
Speech and Language Therapist
School Nurse
Young Carers
Freedom Project
Housing Associations
Food Bank
Sendias
Children’s Centre
MHST
Social Care and Early Help - Suffolk County Council's advice page with links
Suffolk's Emotional Wellbeing Gateway - Whether you are experiencing mental health issues, are worried about someone you care for, or want to know how to stay mentally well, the Gateway website is the place to go for families and professionals looking for emotional wellbeing information and advice, or to make a referral to access mental health services in Suffolk.
The Parent Hub - A single place for Suffolk parents or carers to find parenting advice and support to help their child's development.