Safeguarding

Keeping children safe is always our first priority.

We follow the latest guidance from the Department of Education and the Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership. We work closely with external organisations, such as Dorset and BCP social care teams, Dorset Police and the NHS, to protect all our children.

By working together, we can continue to ensure the Priory School remains a caring and safe school; a place where all children flourish.

Safeguarding in Our School

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Keeping children safe is at the heart of all our school policies and procedures.

Our policies are regularly updated as national guidance changes and we continually reinforce and revisit safeguarding messages with all staff, governors and visitors. At least annually, staff receive refresher safeguarding training and key policies are read and understood termly. Further information is available in the Keeping Children Safe in Education leaflet, which is also available in other languages here.

Key policies and documents related to the school's approach to safeguarding can be found on the school policies page.

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in Our School:

Sarah Richardson (Headteacher)

Operation Encompass Key Adult; Prevent Lead; Personal Development

Matt McLean (Assistant Headteacher)

Online Safety Champion

Sarah Russell (SENCo)

Special Educational Needs Coordinator; Designated Teacher for Looked After Children; Pupil Premium Champion

Jenna Field (Year 6 Teacher)

Pastoral Care; Attendance Lead; Mental Health Lead

Sharing a Concern

If you’re concerned that a child or young person is in immediate danger or risk of harm, call the Police on 999.

If you are worried about a child, you can contact BCP Children's Service First Response Hub. Contact information and times are available on the First Response Hub website.

You can also speak to someone in school about any concerns which you have. Please contact the school office and they will arrange the appropriate meeting. One of our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) will see you or speak to you as a matter of priority, in private. The information you share will be dealt with in the strictest confidence, but we cannot agree to keep any information a secret as we may need to inform social care for advice or support. The safety of the child is our primary concern.

If you are in any doubt about making a referral or sharing anything, you can always contact us or the First Response Team, and we will advise you as to what should happen next.

Operation Encompass (Domestic Abuse)

Our school is part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information about Domestic Abuse incidents with our school prior to the start of the next school day when they have been called to a domestic incident.

Operation Encompass will ensure that a trained member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, liaises with the police to use information that has been shared, in confidence, to provide support for children, and their families, who have experienced a domestic abuse incident.

The designated Key Adults at the Priory School are Mrs Richardson, Mr McLean and Miss Field.

There is information and support about domestic abuse available from the NHS and BCP Council.

Online Safety

The internet is a wonderful resource for children to explore, create and connect with others. It opens up a whole wealth of possibilities for discovery, but it can also have its pitfalls; it is important to foster independence and exploration whilst keeping children safe.

We take seriously our responsibility for the safety of all pupils and staff. Staff are given training and are aware of the school’s policies and procedures in relation to online safety.

We teach children strategies to ensure they are able to be safe and confident users of digital technology, primarily through our Computing and PSHE curriculum programmes. SWGfL's 'Project Evolve' programme provides the basis for this, encouraging pupils to develop in eight areas: Self-Image and Identity; Online Relationships; Online Reputation; Online Bullying; Managing Online Information; Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle; Privacy and Security; and Copyright and Ownership.

Prevent

Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on certain bodies (including primary schools), in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” in the exercise of their functions. This guidance is issued under section 29 of the Act.

If you believe someone is at risk of radicalisation, you can help them obtain support and prevent them becoming involved in terrorism by raising your concerns with one of our DSLs who can make a referral to the safeguarding referral unit of the police (sru@dorset.pnn.police.uk; 01202 222229). The school's Prevent Lead is Sarah Richardson, Headteacher.

For discussions about appropriate referrals, you can also talk to the SafeSchools and Communities Team (ssct@dorset.pnn.police.uk; 01202 222844).

You can also take direct action:

Report any concerns to the BCP First Response Team, or for immediate response call the Anti Terror hotline on 0800 789 321.
Report concerns to Dorset Police.
If you have concerns about pupils travelling to a conflict zone seek Home Office guidance and refer to First Response if still concerned.