SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION

At Honeybourne Primary Academy, we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice. Child protection forms part of the school’s safeguarding responsibilities.

We are proud of our school. As a team of highly professional colleagues we will do everything in our power to ensure our school aims are met and as a result your child’s experience of school will be enriching, enjoyable and fulfilling. In order to best achieve this, we want to work in a genuine partnership with parents.

We follow procedures set out by the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB), our PSHE (Personal, Social & Health Education) curriculum; our e-safety curriculum, pastoral support and adopt the guidance issued by the Department for Education (DfE).

School Safeguarding Team

Our school has a number of members of staff who are responsible for safeguarding:

• Mrs Rachel Evans-Cook- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) 
• Mr Dominic Davis – Headteacher and Deputy Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Mrs Katherine Edwards - Class Teacher and Deputy Dafeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Mrs Emma Cowley - School Business Manager (DDSL)
• Mrs Kate Drew – Nursery Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Safeguarding Procedures and Cause for Concern

Our first priority is a child’s welfare and as such, we recognise the need to provide a safe environment and to take reasonable action to ensure the safety of all our children.  The school, through its curriculum, promotes safeguarding by teaching how to stay safe, how to protect themselves and how to take responsibility for their own and others’ safety.

However, there may be occasions when we have reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment or other forms of abuse and are therefore at risk of harm.  We will always discuss these concerns with his/her parents or carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.  In these cases, school is obliged to follow the Child Protection procedures detailed in the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy below and will inform Children's Services of the concern.

If you are concerned about a child’s safety or well-being, or would like to know more about Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures at Honeybourne Primary Academy, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Evans-Cook, Mr Davis or Mrs Drew on 01386 830462.

If you would like further information about keeping your child safe, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has lots of advice and guidance.   

Keeping children safe | NSPCC

Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) for local procedures 

Safeguarding children | Worcestershire County Council

Operation Encompass is a Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse.

Home : Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools before the start of the next  school day when a child or young person has been involved or exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous evening. The information is given in strict confidence to a school’s Key Adult to enable support to be given dependent on the needs and wishes of the child. 

Early Helpperation Encompass is a Trauma Informed and Trauma Sensitive charity. We acknowledge and understand the impact of Domestic Abuse as an Adverse Childhood Experience. Operation Encompass mitigates against the damaged caused by exposure to Domestic Abuse and other ACE’s

Early Help

At Honeybourne Primary Academy and Nursery we recognise the challenges that families face in bringing up children. There may be times when you need extra help and support. If this is the case, please come and talk to us. There are many ways our school can help and support you and your family as outlined in this offer of early help.

We can help to plan specific support for families by following the Early Help Pathway, meaning we can carry out a whole family early help assessment where extra support is identified.  We will work with you as a family to work together to set and achieve positive outcomes in a family plan

Providing early help to our pupils and families at Honeybourne Primary Academy and Nursery means we are more effective in promoting support as soon as we can. Early help in schools means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life, from the foundation years through to teenage years and beyond. For more information please refer to our Early Help Offer.

Useful Documents

Below are some relevant policy documents for your reference: