At Oakham CofE Primary School we are committed to safer recruitment, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people, and to equal opportunities. We expect all staff, governors, parents, carers and volunteers to share this commitment.

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people regardless of age, ability, race, culture, religion, sexuality or class. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and careers has a role to play in safeguarding children.

Whether you are worried about your own child or another child, this page will give you all the information you need to be able to find and understand what we mean by safeguarding and how we ensure we have the systems and processes in place to keep children safe.

Protecting children is everyone's responsibility.

Our Five Guiding Principles for Safeguarding are:

1. Nothing is more important than keeping children safe.

2. Everyone has a part to play.

3. Everyone must be vigilant.

4. Everyone has an absolute duty to report concerns and ensure they are acted upon.

5. Concerns must be reported immediately.

Who Do I Speak To?

If you wish to discuss the welfare of a child at our school, please contact one of our safeguarding leads:

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs A Barr – Deputy Headteacher.

• Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) are Mr S Cox –  Headteacher and Miss K Smith – SENDCo.

All three members of staff can be contacted via the school office (Oakhamoffice@rltschools.com or 01572 722404).  You can leave a message and contact details and we will return your message.

Other Support Agencies

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child you can also contact the Children's Duty Team of the Local Authority directly. If you know the postal address of the child you should contact the local authority in which they live.

• For Rutland County Council Safeguarding Team call 01572 758 407 or click on the link - Report a concern about a child or young person | Rutland County Council

• NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

• The Police on 999 (If you believe a child is in immediate danger).

• The Police on 101 (For a concern that is not an emergency).

What is Child Protection and Safeguarding?

​​​When we talk about safeguarding, we mean things which promote children's welfare and reduce the risk of them suffering harm. Our policies on our buildings, routines, curriculum planning, behaviour and attendance, to name but a few, are all designed to:

• Protect children from maltreatment.

• Prevent impairment of children's health or development.

• Ensure children grow up with safe and effective care.

• Allow us to take action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is part of this definition and refers to activities undertaken to prevent children suffering, or being likely to suffer, significant harm.

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a national scheme that operates jointly. between schools and all police forces. Children who live in homes where there is domestic abuse, or who experience domestic abuse in their own teenage relationships, can be negatively impacted by this experience. Children who experience domestic abuse are recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.

We have ensured that our DSL, also known as the Key Adult, has been trained about Operation Encompass procedures. This allows us to use information that has been confidentially shared with us by the police, to understand how a child may be impacted by domestic abuse and to then offer support to the child/ren in our care. This information means that we can understand a child's behaviour and support that child in whatever way they may need or want.

Operation Encompass means that our school will be told, prior to the start of the next school day, when police have attended an incident of domestic abuse where there is a child or young person who attends our school who is related to any of those involved in the incident. We are keen to offer the very best support possible to all our children and we believe that being part of Operation Encompass helps us to do this.

Private Fostering

Have you agreed to have someone else's child stay with you? Are you a parent who has asked someone to take in your child? Do you think this arrangement may go on for 28 days or more, even with occasional breaks?

If the answer to these questions is 'yes' you may have made a private fostering arrangement. This applies to all young people aged under 16 and all disabled young people aged under 18. It applies to all children living in the UK no matter what country they come from - even if they plan to return home one day. It is NOT private fostering if a child goes to stay with a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a brother or sister or a step-parent. It is NOT private fostering if the child is just going to be away for a one-off period of a few days or even a week or two.

If you have made a private fostering arrangement, you must do the following:

• If you are the parent or carer then you must tell Children's Services six weeks before the child moves in.

• If the child is already living with the carer or about to arrive then let them know immediately

• If you are in any doubt whether or not what you are doing is private fostering, call for advice.

If you work with young people and families and become aware of a private fostering arrangement you should advise the parent or carer to inform Children's Services and you should pass on their details.

Filtering, Monitoring and Online Safety

Keeping Children Safe Online

At Oakham Church of England Primary School, safeguarding is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils can access technology safely whilst developing the knowledge and skills they need to become responsible digital citizens.

The use of technology forms an important part of learning across the curriculum. We recognise, however, that online activity also presents potential risks. Robust filtering and monitoring systems are therefore in place to help protect children whilst using school devices and networks. 

We further strengthen our online safety provision through our partnership with Cyberwise. Through pupil workshops, educational videos, staff and parent information sessions, and the work of our Online Safety Ambassadors, we continually promote safe, responsible and informed use of technology across our whole school community, ensuring that online safety is embedded in both school and home learning

Filtering and Monitoring

The school uses The Ark as our managed IT support provider.

Our internet filtering and monitoring system is provided through Securly, which helps us to:

• block access to inappropriate, harmful or illegal online content;

• monitor online activity on school devices and networks;

• identify potential safeguarding concerns, including indicators of risk or harm;

• alert designated safeguarding staff where appropriate;

• support pupils in accessing age-appropriate educational resources safely.

Filtering and monitoring arrangements are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain effective and meet the needs of our pupils. The school's leadership team and governing body receive appropriate assurance that these systems are operating effectively, in line with statutory guidance.

Staff Responsibilities

All staff receive regular safeguarding and online safety training, including guidance on:

• recognising online safeguarding risks;

• responding appropriately to filtering and monitoring alerts;

• reporting concerns promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL);

• promoting safe and responsible use of technology.

Filtering and monitoring systems support, but do not replace, the professional vigilance of school staff.

Teaching Online Safety

Online safety is taught throughout the curriculum and is embedded within our PSHE and Computing programmes.

Pupils learn how to:

• stay safe when using the internet;

• protect their personal information;

• communicate respectfully online;

• identify scams, misinformation and inappropriate content;

• report anything that makes them feel worried or unsafe;

• develop healthy and balanced relationships with technology.

Online safety education is delivered in an age-appropriate way and is reinforced through assemblies, classroom learning and national awareness events such as Safer Internet Day.

Working with Parents and Carers

We believe that keeping children safe online is a shared responsibility between school and home. We encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their child's online activity and provide guidance and information throughout the year to support safe internet use at home.

What is Prevent?

The Prevent Duty is one part of the Government's wider counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. Its aim is to safeguard children and young people by identifying those who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and ensuring that appropriate support is available.

Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support extremist ideologies or terrorism. Schools have an important role in recognising vulnerabilities and acting early where concerns arise.

How We Meet Our Prevent Duty

At Oakham Church of England Primary School we:

• create a safe, inclusive and respectful environment where pupils feel valued and able to express their views appropriately;

• promote the school's values of respect, kindness, tolerance and inclusion;

• teach pupils how to recognise and respond to online risks, misinformation and extremist content through our PSHE, Computing and wider curriculum;

• encourage critical thinking, resilience and respectful discussion;

• provide staff with regular safeguarding and Prevent training so they understand the signs of vulnerability to radicalisation and know how to respond to concerns;

• have robust safeguarding procedures for reporting, recording and responding to concerns;

• ensure appropriate filtering and monitoring systems are in place to help keep pupils safe when using technology.

Staff Training

All staff receive regular safeguarding training, including Prevent awareness training, as part of their induction and ongoing professional development. Staff understand that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and know how to report any concerns to the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Working with Other Agencies

Where concerns arise, the school will work closely with parents, children's services, the police and other relevant agencies to ensure that children receive appropriate support. Referrals will be made in line with local safeguarding procedures where necessary.

Promoting British Values

Through our curriculum and wider school life, we actively promote the fundamental British values of:

• democracy;

• the rule of law;

• individual liberty;

• mutual respect; and

• tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

By promoting these values, we help pupils develop respect for others, appreciate diversity and build the knowledge and confidence to participate positively in modern British society.