FST Primary Schools Federation takes its safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. In fact safeguarding is central to the work that we do. We recognise the vital importance of robust procedures and practices which lead to a safe learning environment for every child in which they can thrive. We understand that there is a need to promote a culture where there is a shared responsibility for every aspect of safeguarding and to create an arena of safety for all our children.

Whether we are planning school visits to enrich our curriculum or inviting adults into our school, we understand that it is our primary duty to keep children safe.

All North Yorkshire schools, including Foston, Stillington and Terrington, follow the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) procedures. We will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their child/ren. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents. The school’s Child Protection Policy is available publicly through the school website, in hard copy (from the school office) or via email (please request a copy using the ‘Contact Us’ details on our website).

Through our policies and procedures, we will:

• Ensure that we employ staff who are suitable to work with children.
• Create a culture where staff know that their behaviour with children must adhere to an agreed Code of Conduct.
• Create a culture where inappropriate behaviour is challenged at every level within the federation.
• Ensure that we have procedures and policies which keep children safe while they are in our care, regardless of the activity they are engaged in.
• Ensure that we have procedures and policies which keep staff safe while they are carrying out their duties.
• Ensure that there are clear rules and boundaries for children to follow, in order that their behaviour does not impact on the safety of one another.
• Ensure that we teach children strategies that will help them deal with dangerous situations outside school.
• Ensure that FST Primary Schools Federation complies with legislative responsibilities regarding the management of hazards to health.

Our recruitment processes for all posts in school are rigorous and conform to current recommended guidance to do our utmost to ensure that only those suitable to work with children are employed. We ensure that those staff involved in recruitment have undergone the latest Safer Recruitment Training.

We have a Code of Conduct in place (known as Safer Working Practices) which sets out detailed policies and procedures for staff to follow – these have been put in place to keep everybody safe.

Child Protection Policy and School Practice Guidance

Our Child Protection Policy ensures that when a child makes a disclosure, there are appropriate procedures in place to ensure that action is taken to support the child. You can read our Child Protection Policy here, and our Child Protection Manual – School Practice Guidance here.

 Of course, safeguarding the children within our care is much wider than just policy documents. We aim to create a culture of safety at school where children feel valued, respected, and cared for in a building that is safe, well maintained, and conducive to learning. Our policy documents are shared with key stakeholders and implementation is monitored by our governing body and senior leaders in school. Our governing body have an overarching responsibility for checking that our school complies with necessary regulations. Their recommendations are implemented in full.

Behaviour In School

We know that a contributor to children’s safety is high expectations and standards of behaviour. Whilst our behaviour policy sets out how behaviours in school are managed, we teach children to uphold our school values, which contributes to everybody’s safety.

You can read the Governing Board’s Statement of Behaviour Principles here, and our Behaviour and Discipline Policy here.

Where can Parents get Support and Advice from to Keep their Children Safe? 

These sites may also be useful:

Digiduck Stories | Childnet 

NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk) 

The National Grid for Learning – Safeguarding (lgfl.net) 

Real stories | ACT Early 

 Online Safety:

 In our schools, we spend a great deal of time teaching the children how to stay safe online, specifically through our Computing and PHSE curriculums (which can be viewed on the school’s website), regular internet safety days and through the school council’s whole-school safeguarding focus activities.

Here are some useful links to help children and their carers stay safe online:

Staying safe online | Childline 

Keeping children safe online | NSPCC 

APPS

Age limits are there to protect children. Here is a useful reminder of the age restrictions of some popular platforms to help parents and carers decide how appropriate they are for a child to access and what level of supervision needs to be in place:

How do our schools support children and families who are affected by domestic abuse?