The Redstart Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of our pupils and expects all adults working in school, staff and volunteers, to share this commitment. For detailed information please see our Child Protection Policy (see link below).
Sometimes we may need to share information and work with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We ensure that concerns are discussed with parents/carers first unless there is reason to believe that this would be contrary to a child’s welfare.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Rebecca Collins.
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) Mrs Joanne Margetts, Mrs Tara Duke, Mrs Kerri Norman and Mrs Caroline Miller (EYFS).
The Academy Councillor lead for safeguarding is Nikki Tilley
If you have a concern about a child, you may consult the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or deputy who will be able to look into the matter and decide if action is required to ensure the child’s safety and well being. Either can be contacted by phone 01460 67457 or email safeguarding@rps.clf.uk
If you believe a child may be at immediate risk of harm, you may make a referral to Somerset Children’s Social Care on 0300 123 2224.
Statutory guidance from the Department for Eduction in its 2024 document – Keeping Children Safe in Education – and the updated Government guidance to inter-agency working – Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 – set out what schools must do to comply with the law.
Our Safeguarding policy has been written in response to the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 guidance. Our policy is reviewed annually, however we are continually reviewing our procedures in light of any new guidance and local issues that arise.
We have written an addendum to our safeguarding policy to cover this period of lockdown and home and remote learning.
As a school, we take an active role in our local safeguarding network in line with the contextual safeguarding recommendations of KCSIE 2024.
In school, we maintain a vigilant culture to build up as broad a picture as possible of factors affecting our children both at school and outside of school. We work closely with other professionals directly, or signpost support, so that we can meet the needs of our children and, where necessary, the family.
By being vigilant and working with other professionals, we are able to target support through identification of any local social conditions that may affect children’s welfare and ultimately provide the support needed.
We are committed to ensuring that all students get the support they need to have a positive school experience, are happy in school and can achieve their fullest potential.
We know that for some students, factors outside of school can have a big impact on this, particularly if there is someone in their family who is ill, disabled, or has a mental health problem or an addiction.
Research indicates that in every class there could be as many as 2 pupils who are helping to support someone because of one of these factors; we call these students young carers.
Students can be young carers for lots of different reasons:
• They might be providing physical support to a parent with a physical illness such as fibromyalgia or ME, including cooking, fetching things or helping with things like putting shoes on or doing the shopping.
• They might be helping a parent with a disability who needs support with more personal tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, or changing dressings.
• Or it could be more emotional support – like being there if their autistic sibling is upset, taking responsibility for young siblings whilst parents attend health appointments, or checking that a parent with depression/anxiety is ok.
Some young carers might be doing lots of caring, others just a small amount but are impacted by the situation at home. This can be anything, for example worrying about the person with the health condition or needing to do more things for themselves compared to other students.
There is lots of support available for young carers and their families should they ever need it – both inside and outside of school. You can find out more information about support available by visiting the Somerset Carers website https://somersetcarers.org/who-can-help-you/somerset-young-carers/
If you believe that any of the above applies to your child, and that they may be a young carer, please contact safeguarding@rps.clf.uk. Even if you feel that your child or family are currently managing well and do not require support, it is helpful for us to be aware and to keep them on our radar as a potential young carer.
