All members of staff undertake annual safeguarding training.  Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and our mantra is, ‘It could happen here’. 

Purpose 

Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College recognises that protecting and safeguarding children and young people is a shared responsibility and depends upon effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise.  Individual children and young people, especially some of the most vulnerable children and those at greatest risk of social exclusion, will need coordinated help from health, education and children’s social care services.  The voluntary sector and other agencies also have an important role in protecting and safeguarding children. 

The school has a responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people they come into contact with.  The need for guidelines and procedures is important to ensure that this is done with understanding and clarity.  The school follows the guidelines provided by The East Riding Safeguarding Children Board. 

What the law says 

Children’s Act 1989, section 27 and 47, and the Children’s Act 2004 both state that it is the duty of schools to act “to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need”. 

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as: 

• protecting children from maltreatment 

• preventing impairment of children’s health or development 

• ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care 

• undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully 

Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare.   

This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm. Areas of harm are defined under the following headings: 

• physical abuse 

• emotional abuse 

• sexual abuse and  

• neglect 

Where there are concerns about the welfare of any child or young person all staff/volunteers have a duty to share those concerns with the designated child protection co-ordinator. As a parent or visitor to the school any concerns you have should be communicated directly to the Safeguarding Team. 

What to do if you feel a young person is at risk 

Contact the school and ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team. 

Child Protection concerns during the school holidays 

If you have any Child Protection concerns during the school holiday periods or outside of our usual hours, it is crucial to contact the local authority immediately.  For those of you in the East Riding area, you can reach the 'Early Help and Safeguarding Hub' (SaPH) at 01482 395500 during office hours or 01482 241273 after hours. 

Statutory Documents and School Policy: 

To read Keeping Children Safe in Education, please click here. 

To read our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, please click here.