Information

Safeguarding Statement

“Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility”

Children have a right to be cared for and protected, protecting them is everyone’s responsibility. At St Cecilia’s Catholic Infant & Nursery we have a duty of care to ensure that all users of the school are kept safe from harm. We are committed to provide a secure and supportive environment in which children can develop and grow into mature and responsible people. Safeguarding children is an essential part of our holistic approach to ensure that children are protected from abuse and neglect and that every child reaches their full potential.

The school’s staff, volunteers, visitors and service providers have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as a shared responsibility with parents and other carers. To support this statement, the school may signpost to services that are specialised to promote opportunity, prevent problems, act early and act effectively if and when concerns arise.

Please see our policies page.

Inclusion Team

Mrs E. van de Waal: Headteacher

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ms M. Campbell

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs J. Walsh

Liverpool Safeguarding Children Partnership Levels of Need: Please click here to view

What you can do

Parents and carers play a role in safeguarding children in their community. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, you should report them to someone who you trust will listen. Parents should speak to the safeguarding lead if they have any concerns about a child or staff member.

If you think a child or young person may be in immediate danger, call 999.

Otherwise contact Careline on 0151 233 3700

Attendance

As you are aware, attendance and punctuality is linked to children’s learning and progress.

As such it is vitally important that if your child is absent from school for any reason you MUST INFORM THE SCHOOL OFFICE as to the reason why- before school starts at 8:45AM. Alternately you could message the class teacher via Tapestry or Dojo –again before 8:45 AM.

If the school is not informed, then your child’s name is recorded in the first response book at registration and office staff have to spend time contacting parents/carers to follow up absences. These calls often have to be repeated through the day which is not an efficient use of time. If we fail to make contact regarding absence then a Senior Leader will become involved and a home visit will be made. Ultimately the Education Welfare Officer will take over and the situation will escalate.

We have also noticed that some children are arriving late to school on a regular basis. This is also recorded on our new electronic system and is visible to the Local Authority and Education Welfare Officers. If you are having trouble in the mornings, then please speak to your class teacher and we may be able to offer support. Lateness means your child misses the settling in time to chat to their friends and valuable learning time. They can also be “out of sorts” for the day as their day has started in a rush. Parents/carers also miss the contact time with the teacher and a calm handover.

If there are any difficulties with attendance/ punctuality then please contact us.

Domestic Abuse

Police guidance on the ‘999 silent solution’ call:

The 999 call system allows all 999 callers to access support if they are unable to speak during the call. It is important that either a noise is made or that 55 is pressed. For example, if you can only make noise, such as tapping the handset, coughing, crying or even talking to the offender, then these actions will alert the attention of the BT operator.

For support:

In an emergency always, ring 999. Using a silent 999 call followed by 55 (or tapping/coughing into the phone) will enable police to respond.

National Domestic Abuse 24 hour Support Helpline: 0808 2000 247

RESPECT National Helpline, perpetrators (9am to 5pm): 0808 802 4040

Support directories:

https://ehd.liverpool.gov.uk/kb5/liverpool/fsd/results.page?qt=domestic+abuse&term=&sorttype=relevance&sr=20

https://www.victimcaremerseyside.org/home/who-can-help.aspx

http://respect.uk.net/contact-us/

Or ring:

Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services 0151 263 7474

Merseyside Domestic Violence Service 0780 272 2703

South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services 0151 494 2222

Ruby Project 0771 428 9180

Savera UK (honour based abuse & harmful practice specialist) 0800 107 0726

Worst Kept Secret Helpline (Merseyside) 0800 028 3398

Support for children:

Young Persons Advisory Service (YPAS) 0151 707 1025

NSPCC

Support for men:

Men’s Advice Line (Freephone) 0808 801 0327

NSPCC

Worried about a child?

If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact our helpline to speak to one of our counsellors. Call us on 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk or fill in our online form.

CHILD EXPLOITATION

Find out information from the Liverpool Safeguarding Children’s Partnership about what this means and how to report concerns