Safeguarding
Safeguarding is EVERYONE’S Responsibility!
At Kemsley Primary Academy, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. We expect all members of the Kemsley community and visitors to share this commitment. All adults working in school are required to complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Enhanced Police Check and staff receive regular training in safeguarding the welfare of children.
Kemsley's Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Leader
Mrs S Hornsby
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leader
Miss I Homer
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leader
Mrs C Steadman
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Children includes everyone under the age of 18.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
- Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Indicators of Abuse and Neglect
Abuse: a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm.
Physical abuse: a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
Emotional abuse: the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact.
Neglect: the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.
Early Help
If families require additional support, the school can make a front door referral to the local authority to access Early Help. This service can be accessed at a time and place that suits families to help them to do well, stay safe and resolve problems at the earliest possible opportunity, before they become more serious.
Early Help means taking action to support a child, young person or their family early in the life of a problem or as soon as it emerges.
The help can be required at any stage in a child's life, whether it's from pre-birth to adulthood. It applies equally to safeguarding or complex needs that the family cannot deal with, or meet on their own.
The support requires agencies to work together to ensure a child and their family:
- receives support in a timely and responsive way, so that children are safeguarded
- educational, social and emotional needs are met
- outcomes are good.
Early Help reflects the widespread evidence base that it is better to identify and deal with problems early rather than respond when difficulties have emerged.
Pupil Voice
We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. Our aim is that children will enjoy their time as pupils at this school and therefore make the best progress possible. You can discuss concerns about your child with your child’s class teacher but if you have concerns about another child you can contact any member of our safeguarding team.
Please see attached Kemsley Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 2023-2024.
Safeguarding - Resources for Parents and Carers
General
>NSPCC – Parent Leaflets (includes mental health, online safety and PANTS are private)
www.learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/leaflets/parent-leaflets
What to do if you are worried about a child
>Barnardos – Supporting children, young people and families
Types of Abuse
>Barnardos – Support keeping children safe from harm and abuse
www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/support-for-parents-and-carers/child-abuse-and-harm
Domestic Abuse
>SATEDA – Domestic Abuse charity in Swale – support and advice
www.sateda.org/help-and-advice
Drugs and Alcohol
>Barnardos - How to speak to children about drugs and alcohol
Family support
>NSPCC – Helping children deal with divorce and separation
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/separation-and-divorce/
>Support for single parents – Information from Gingerbread
www.gingerbread.org.uk/talk-to-us/
Grief and Loss
>Young Minds – Grief and Loss: A guide for parents and carers
www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/grief-and-loss/
>Booklist – Books about grief and loss
www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/g/grief-and-loss-5-8-year-olds/
www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/g/grief-and-loss-9-12/
Mental Health
>NSPCC – Supporting a child with anxiety or depression
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/depression-anxiety-mental-health/
>Young Minds - Parents' A-Z Mental health guide
www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/
>Beacon House - Therapeutic services and trauma team resources
www.beaconhouse.org.uk/resources/
>Anna Freud – Mental health charity for children and families
www.annafreud.org/resources/family-wellbeing/
Online Safety
>NSPCC – Keeping Children Safe Online
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
>UK Safer Internet Centre – Guides and resources for parents and carers
www.saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
>CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) - What to do if you have a concern.
PANTS are Private
>NSPCC – Developed in consultation with children, parents, carers and teachers, talk PANTS is to help children understand their body belongs to them, and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried.
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/
Young Carers
>Kent Young Carers - support for Young Carers by promoting positive wellbeing through a variety of activities, workshops and respite
www.imago.community/Children-and-Young-People/Kent-Young-Carers