Safeguarding
Under the Education Act 2002 (section 175 and 157), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Ridgeway Infant School Safeguarding Policy is in line with the following legislation and guidance:
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (Jul 2018)
- Children Act 1989 and 2004
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sep 2018)
- Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers (2015)
- Protection of Freedoms Act (2012)
Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer, and where possible inform them of the referral to Social Care. This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm.
Stopping Domestic Abuse Together (SDAT)
From 1st November 2018 Ridgeway Infant School will be part of the countywide SDAT initiative. SDAT is an early notification system which notifies school within 24 hours of any incidents of domestic abuse where the police have attended a household where children live. The aim of the initiative is to provide a link between a child’s home experience and their experience in school when domestic abuse is a current issue. This helps to ensure that schools can effectively support and respond to children’s needs in the education setting and promotes effective communication between police, children’s social care, education welfare and schools where there has been a domestic abuse incident.
In accordance with local information sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared effectively and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead Professionals will seek advice from Social Care when there is reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the Designated Safeguarding Lead Professionals were carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.
There are three members of staff at Ridgeway who are Designated Safeguarding Leads and one governor:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs T Dale (Headteacher)
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs K Harford-Smyth (Deputy Headteacher) and Mr R Simpson (Learning Mentor)
- Designated Governor: Mrs S. Mahal (Co-opted Governor and Vice Chair).
If you need to contact the safeguarding team at any time, including the school holidays, please email safeguarding@ridgeway.derby.sch.uk
However, if you have urgent concerns about a child who is at immediate risk of significant harm out of normal school hours or in the school holidays, please contact Children’s Social Care on 01332 641172.
A copy of our school Safeguarding Policy is available in the policies section of the website and you can also visit www.derbyscb.org.uk for more information.
Useful Documents