Safeguarding
Back to OverviewBishop Ramsey School is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of our students. Each student’s welfare is of paramount importance. We recognise that some children may be especially vulnerable to abuse. We recognise that children who are abused or neglected may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth and to view the world in a positive way. Whilst at school, their behaviour may be challenging. We recognise that some children who have experienced abuse may harm others. We will always take a considered and sensitive approach to enable us to support all of our students.
Any Safeguarding concerns during school hours should be reported immediately by calling 01895 639227
During out of school hours, details of your concern should be sent via email, copying ALL members of the Safeguarding Team (as listed below).
Designated Safeguarding Team at Bishop Ramsey School
Every school is required by the DfE Guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education, to designate a member of staff to the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This member of staff is supported by a team of Designated Deputy Safeguarding Leads (DDSL).
Our Safeguarding Policy can be viewed and downloaded at the bottom of this page.
| Mr A Jeffries | DDSL | |
| Mr M Britton | DDSL | |
| Ms C Priestely | DDSL | |
| Mr S Forrest | DDSL | |
|
Ms A Maycock |
DSL |
Everyone working in or for our school shares an objective to help keep children and young people safe by contributing to:
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Providing a safe environment for young people to learn and develop in our school setting.
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Identifying young people who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in our school setting.
Staff who work with children, especially those who have regular daily contact, have a duty to help protect children from abuse. They must know how to recognise possible abuse and they should be familiar with the process of recording information on the school’s Child Protection Referral Form.
At Bishop Ramsey School we work extremely hard to ensure all our students are safeguarded and that their families are supported.
We work with many agencies to provide the best possible care for our students and we train all our staff to be aware of and sensitive to child protection issues.
If you have any concerns about the welfare of a child please talk to any teacher or you can speak directly to a member of the school’s safeguarding team.
Types of Abuse
Abuse, including neglect, and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases, multiple issues will overlap.
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.
Emotional abuse may involve:
• Conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person
• Not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate
• Age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction
• Seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another
• Serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve:
• Physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing
• Non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet)
Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.
Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:
• Provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment)
• Protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger
• Ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers)
• Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
New technologies
The internet and related technologies has created new opportunities for creativity and communication. However with this have come new concerns about sexual grooming of children, cyberbullying and access to inappropriate material. Further information can be found on our Staying Safe Online page.
Useful Information
County Lines SPOT IT to STOP IT - ‘Child criminal exploitation’ (CCE) what is it? And what are the signs that a child may be at risk?'
Downloads & Useful Links
| Safeguarding Policy |