Safeguarding

 

Kents Hill Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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, neglect, exploitation and radicalisation and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice. We recognise that our school is part of a wider safeguarding system and work closely with the MK Together Safeguarding Children Partnership and other agencies to promote the welfare of children. Where there are concerns, we have a duty to refer to the appropriate agency; contributing to the assessment of a child’s needs, and towards on-going action to meet those needs.

We maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ and will consider the wishes of, and at all times, what is in the best interests of each child. We understand that children can be abused by adults or by other children. We are committed to creating a culture of safety that minimises the opportunity for any form of abuse (including all forms of peer on peer abuse) through training, education and robust response procedures.

Welfare of the child is paramount.  All pupils, regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

Safeguarding

…is the action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm and it is everybody’s responsibility.

Everyone who comes into contact with Children and families has a role to play.

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023

Working Together to  Safeguard Children 2023

Child Protection

…is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is   undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer significant harm.

When and what might I be concerned about?

Abuse, neglect, physical, emotional harm, exploitation and radicalisation can happen to any child, boy or girl, of any race, culture, ethnicity or sexuality. Many children are unable to disclose what is happening to them and rely on us to interpret their behaviour and spot signs of abuse. You may observe physical signs, notice changes in the child’s behaviour or presentation, pick up signs of emotional distress or have a child disclose a harmful experience to you.

A pupil may:

  • have a bruise, burn or injury that seems suspicious
  • show signs of pain or discomfort
  • be unnaturally passive or withdrawn
  • be unpredictable and challenging
  • seem anxious, fearful or distressed
  • provide an unlikely explanation for their injury or their behaviour

Harm to a child can be caused by:

  • A parent/carer
  • A family member/friend
  • Another child
  • A stranger
  • A member of staff / volunteer

For further information on the different types of abuse and key indicators, please refer to our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy, and related documents listed below:

 

Safeguarding at Kents Hill Park School

At Kents Hill Park School there is a team of Designated Safeguarding Leads, overseen by Miss Emma Harris (Assistant Headteacher), the Deputy DSL is Mr James Pilgrim (Headteacher).  The school uses a secure safeguarding program to record and monitor all safeguarding concerns, which is reviewed regularly by the team. The safeguarding team meets every fortnight to review and discuss ongoing concerns and look at how we can support pupils. Please do not hesitate to contact us for ANY concern that you may have.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for ANY concern that you may have.

safeguarding@kentshillpark.school

eharris@kentshillpark.school

jpilgrim@kentshillpark.school

 

The information you have may not be enough on its own for a Child Protection referral to the MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub), however it will help your Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) to make a decision about risk of harm to the child and how to move forward to protect and support that pupil.

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please contact the Milton Keynes Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH):

Multi-Agency Referral Hub (MASH)          

Daily: 01908 253169/70

Out of Hours: 01908 265545

MASH Milton Keynes

 

What should I do if the alleged abuser is a member of staff or a Volunteer? (Whistle Blowing)

If your concern is about a staff member or volunteer, you should report this to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Headteacher immediately. The Headteacher will inform the LADO according to policy.

LADO: 01908 254300

If you are not happy with the outcome of a concern you have raised, please let this be known to the Chair of Governors – Mr Gary Taylor