Safeguarding, Online Safety Support, Well-being & Mental Health support (including Early Help)
Working Together to Safeguard Children
Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children
Safeguarding is a term which encompasses child protection and relates to actions taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and is defined in the statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 (see policies below) as:-
- protecting children from maltreatment,
- preventing impairment of children’s health and development,
- ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
We believe that our school should provide a caring, positive, stimulating and safe environment which promotes the welfare and social, physical and moral development of the individual child. The health, safety and well-being of all our pupils is of paramount importance to everyone who works in St Mary's and all children have the right to protection from harm, regardless of age, gender, race, culture or disability.
Having safeguards in place within our school not only protects and promotes the welfare of children but also it enhances the confidence of governors, staff, volunteers and parents/carers. These safeguards include our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy as well as procedures for dealing with issues of concern or abuse.
Our safeguarding procedures are also reflected in other school policies. Please use the link on this page to take you to our policies page.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.
We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) are:
- Mrs Bernie Davies (Executive Headteacher) DSL
- Mrs Kimberley Jones (Deputy Headteacher) DDSL
- Mrs Diane Compton- Davies DDSL
- Rev. Mark Johnson (Governor Safeguarding Lead )
St Mary's Signposting for Well-being and Mental Health Support
At St Mary's we take the well-being and mental health of our children very seriously.
In school, the children are regularly reminded that they can talk to any member of staff if they have a worry or concern about themselves or another pupil.
We have an open door policy and Mrs Ross will always be happy to ensure a time is made for families to come in and discuss any worries.
We have regular School Nurse drop-ins. Please contact the office for details of the next session.
Classrooms have a worry box that is regularly checked by teacher.
Children and families can also see Mrs Rawlings, our SENDco who is in school every Wednesday.
If we cannot help you directly, we will try to sign post you to an agency who can.
A new website has been launched to support the mental health of children in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Designed in collaboration with mental health professionals from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and young people, the site acts as a one stop shop for children, young people, families and professionals who are seeking advice and support about mental health. The site provides helpful information such as practical tips to support children and young people’s mental health, self-help resources, and information on local CAMHS NHS services. Please see the link below.
EARLY HELP FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Early Help is a pathway to supporting you and your child as they grow up when you or they may need further support or guidance. Providing early help to our pupils and families at Holmer C E Academy means we can improve outcomes for children, families, and communities, providing support as soon as a problem emerges. There are many ways in which we can help as outlined in this offer of early help. In order to support in the right way, we work with you to identify: what are you worried about, what is working well and what needs to happen. The information you share with us we will help us to easily identify what other agencies and professionals we may use to be able to support you and your child appropriately. Early Help can support children and their families who may be struggling with:
- Routines and family rules
- Children who are caring for a family member
- Children who may not want to go to school for different reasons
- Children in the family who have special educational needs (SEND)
- Children or parents / carers misusing drugs or alcohol
- Children at risk of becoming involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour
- Children at risk of being tricked, forced, or made to work in the criminal world
- Children who may need support because they may live in a home and see adult mental health problems.
- Children who have parents who argue a lot (and sometimes might hurt each other) whether the parents live together or apart.
- Children at risk of being groomed to join groups which support illegal views
- A privately fostered child (a child from another family living within your family home)
Early help relies upon local groups and people in the community and sometimes we work together to help children, young people, and their families. The Herefordshire Early Help Directory below shows all the services that are available to children and families.
For all safeguarding policies please see the link below.