Safeguarding

Designated Child Protection Staff

• Andrew Watson – Head of School & Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Sara El Oakley – Trust Associate Principal & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Dawn Chaplin – School Administrator & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Louise Gash Link Governor – Safeguarding
• Rachel Mackay – SENDCo
  
• Paul McGrath – School Wellbeing Worker

The School Wellbeing Service is an early intervention service that supports Skelton Primary and other schools in York, to ensure that the emotional and mental health needs of children and young people are met.

Our Wellbeing Worker at Skelton is Mr Paul McGrath, who is in school every Monday to support the needs of pupils across all year groups. Further details about the service are available at:
www.yor-ok.org.uk/sws.htm

Safeguarding

At Skelton Primary School, we are committed to safeguarding, and promoting the welfare and well-being of all of our pupils, their families and adults within school. We recognise that some children in our care may be especially vulnerable. We always take a considered and sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our pupils and families.

Everyone working in our school has a responsibility to help keep children safe by providing a safe environment for them to learn in. Our role is to identify children who are suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure that they are kept safe both at home and in school.

Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on Our Policies page.

Sexual Violence, Harassment and abuse in Educational Settings

The school is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of all students. We achieve this through putting in place robust systems and procedures to manage any concerns reported. We respond immediately to any concerns raised and ensure that these are dealt with appropriately, sensitively and in a timely manner. Students can report concerns by speaking to Mr Watson or their class teacher. Parents and carers can contact our safeguarding team.

The NSPCC have set up a dedicated, confidential, helpline available to current or past victims of sexual violence or harassment, as well as parents, carers or professions with concerns.
The dedicated NSPCC helpline number is: 0800 136 663

Keeping our children safe

Link: Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024

Guidance for parents

Online Safety Information

Online Safety

CEOP

York Front Door Service

Children’s Front Door:  Tel: 01904 551900

Call the Front Door if:

• you know of a child who may become vulnerable without additional help and support
• you are worried a child or young person is at risk of, or is being, hurt or abused
• you want to know about services available to support children and families

What is the Children’s Front Door
The Children’s Front Door provides professionals and members of the public with advice, information and support about services for children and young people who are vulnerable and at risk. The service aims to help practitioners to deliver the right help to the right children and young people at the right time and support practitioners to work in an integrated way with children, young people and their families.

The Underwear Rule
Simple conversations really can help keep your child safe, and that’s what we will help you do. We want to help parents and carers talk to their children about staying safe. The Underwear Rule is just one way that – together – we can prevent child abuse.

We teach our pupils the NSPCC’s Underwear Rule using the ‘PANTS’ acrostic.

PANTS stands for:

• Privates are private
• Always remember your body belongs to you
• No means no
• Talk about secrets that upset you
• Speak up, someone can help

National Help Lines and Websites

CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) 0870 000 3344
The UK’s national police centre for protecting young people and children from sexual abuse.
http://www.ceop.gov.uk/

Childline (24 hours): 0800 1111
Free and confidential helpline for children & young adults in the UK.
http://www.childline.org.uk

Childnet  020 7639 6967
A non-profit organisation working with others to help make the Internet a safe place for children.
http://www.childnet.com

Contact-A-Family 020 7608 8700  Helpline 0808 808 3555
Support for families of children with disabilities.
http://www.cafamily.org.uk

Cry-sis  08451 228 669  Help line open 9am-10pm 7 days a week.
Help for parents/carers with persistently crying and/or sleepless babies.
http://www.cry-sis.org.uk

Family Rights Group  020  7923 2628 Main Office. Helpline 0808 801 0366
Support with child protection procedures.
10.00am – 3.30pm Mon-Fri
http://www.frg.org.uk/index.asp

Kidscape  020 7730 3300  Helpline 08451 205 204, or ring Childline 0800 1111
Deals with bullying, stranger danger, threats of abuse.
http://www.kidscape.org.uk

Lucy Faithfull Foundation  01527 591922
A child protection charity specialising in working with people perpetrating and affected by child sexual abuse.
http://lucyfaithfull.org/about-us.aspx

NCH Action for Children  020 7704 7000
Supports and speaks out for the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK.
http://www.nchafc.org.uk

NSPCC Child Protection Line  0808 800 500
Acts in cases of neglect and abuse of children.
help@nspcc.org.uk

NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood)  0800 085 3330
For adult survivors of incest and abuse.
http://www.napac.org.uk

Respond  020 7383 0700. Helpline 0808 808 0700
Sexual abuse and people with learning disabilities.
http://www.respond.org.uk

SafeKids.com
Online safety tools for families.
SafeKids.com

Think You Know
Online educational resources for children and young people provided by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Women’s Aid  0117 944 4411   Freephone 24 hr helpline 0808 2000 247
Emergency accommodation for abused women and children.

Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales

What is the Prevent strategy?

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent groups and other causes.

How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or any form of abuse. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

What does this mean in practice?

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy. These include:

• Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
• Challenging prejudices and racist comments
• Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
• Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British Values such as democracy

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Prevent relate to British values?

Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy. British values include:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty and mutual respect
• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?

The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect. The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.

Is extremism really a risk in our area?

Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and misogynistic extremism. Every school has a duty to have systems to protect children from radicalisation and extremism no matter their location. We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.

Please click here to view the HM Government Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales. This is the guidance for specified authorities in England and Wales on the duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.

KEY TERMS

Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Ideology – a set of beliefs

Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause

Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism