Safeguarding is about keeping children and young people safe from abuse or neglect. All those who come into contact with children and families in their everyday work, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

This page will be used to offer important information to parents and carers regarding issues surrounding Safeguarding & Child Protection. It also provides you information on how we safeguard your children at Great Ponton.

Alongside Great Ponton Primary School’s own policies and procedures, see below, information from other sources will be posted to give advice, facts and resources to support parents and carers to help protect their children.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE, is a form of sexual abuse which sees children/young people being manipulated or coerced into sexual activity for receiving ‘something’ such as; gifts, money, food, attention, somewhere to stay etc.

Technology is very often used to groom victims. This may occur through social networking sites and mobile phones with internet access.

CSE has gained a large amount of media attention over the last year as lots of services involved with children and young people have noticed a big rise in cases involving CSE. Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse. Information regarding CSE can be found here below.

NSPCC

Barnardo’s

Designated Safeguarding Leads

Role	Name
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)	Mr Keith Leader
Deputy DSL	Mrs Amanda McDonnell

What should I do if I am worried about a child?

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child:

1. Speak to a member of school staff immediately.
2. Ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or a Deputy DSL.
3. Share as much information as possible.
4. Do not investigate the matter yourself.
5. The school will take appropriate action in line with its safeguarding procedures.

If a child is in immediate danger

If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact:

• Lincolnshire Children's Services: 01522 782111
• Emergency Services: 999

Online Safety

At Great Ponton CE Primary School, we recognise that technology is an integral part of children's lives and provides many exciting opportunities for learning, communication, creativity and entertainment. We are committed to ensuring that all members of our school community can use technology safely, responsibly and confidently.

As children's access to the internet continues to grow through computers, tablets, mobile phones, games consoles and other connected devices, it is essential that they develop the knowledge and skills needed to stay safe online. Just as we work together to keep children safe in the real world, we must also support them to stay safe in the digital world.

At Great Ponton CE Primary School, Online Safety is a key part of our safeguarding curriculum. We aim not only to protect children from potential online risks but also to empower them to make informed decisions, develop positive digital habits and use technology responsibly.

Online Safety Education

Online Safety is taught throughout the school and is embedded within our Computing and PSHE. Each year group receives age-appropriate learning to help pupils:

• Stay safe when using the internet and digital devices.
• Protect personal information and maintain privacy online.
• Recognise cyberbullying and know how to report concerns.
• Understand the risks associated with social media, online gaming and online communication.
• Identify misinformation, scams and inappropriate content.
• Develop positive digital citizenship and respectful online behaviour.
• Know where to seek help and support if something online worries them.

Online Safety themes are revisited regularly throughout the academic year and are reinforced through assemblies, themed events and national awareness campaigns such as Safer Internet Day.

Working with Parents and Carers

Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting children to stay safe online. We aim to work closely with families by sharing guidance, resources and updates on emerging online safety issues. We encourage parents to:

• Take an active interest in their child's online activity.
• Use appropriate parental controls and privacy settings.
• Discuss online safety regularly at home.
• Encourage children to speak to a trusted adult if something online makes them feel uncomfortable, worried or unsafe.

If you have any concerns about your child's online safety, please contact the school and we will be happy to help and offer advice.

Useful Online Safety Resources

National Online Safety

• https://nationalcollege.com/online-safety

UK Safer Internet Centre

• https://saferinternet.org.uk

Childnet

• https://www.childnet.com

Internet Matters

• https://www.internetmatters.org

NSPCC Online Safety

• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety

CEOP Safety Centre

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Safety Centre provides advice and support for children, young people and parents. It also offers a reporting service for concerns relating to online abuse or exploitation.

CEOP

• https://www.ceop.police.uk

Thinkuknow

Thinkuknow, produced by CEOP, provides age-appropriate games, videos and activities to help children understand how to use technology safely and responsibly.

• Ages 5-7: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7
• Ages 8-10: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10

Reporting Online Safety Concerns

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

If you have concerns about online behaviour, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online exploitation or any aspect of a child's online safety, please contact the school immediately and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team.

Together, we can ensure that all children at Great Ponton CE Primary School enjoy the benefits of technology safely, responsibly and confidently.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

In April 2014 every school in England received new safeguarding guidelines and detailed information on identifying and responding to Female Genital Mutilation.

FGM is a procedure carried out on young girls between the ages of infancy and 15 years of age. Female Genital Mutilation is classified as a form of Child Abuse in the UK. It therefore makes the procedure of it a serious Child Protection issue.

It is illegal for anyone to perform FGM in the UK or to arrange for a child to be transported to another country for the procedure. The maximum sentence for carrying out FGM or helping it to take place is 14 years in prison.

There is lots of information and support available online for parents/carers concerned about this subject or if you know someone who is at risk:

Contact the Police if you think that a girl or young woman is in danger of FGM and is still in the UK.

Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500) if she’s already been taken abroad.

The Daughters of Eve website helps to raise awareness of this issue and sign-posts those affected by it to supportive services. See below.

Daughters of Eve

The NSPCC has detailed advice on how to spot the signs, symptoms and effects of FGM and provides support for people who are concerned about a child or who have been affected themselves. See below.

NSPCC

Domestic Abuse (Operation Encompass)

Sometimes you will hear the phrase domestic abuse, sometimes domestic violence. They mean the same thing. Domestic abuse encompasses a range of abusive behaviours which are used by an abusive partner/ex-partner or family member to maintain power and control over you. Domestic abuse is not just a disagreement. It can also affect anyone, regardless of age, social background, gender, religion, sexual preference, ethnicity.

There are many different types of abusive behaviour. It should be recognised that abuse is an ongoing pattern of behaviour, which will escalate over a period of time.

Physical violence - such as assault Psychological abuse - such as some forms of harassment Sexual abuse - such as rape or indecent assault 
Emotional abuse - harm deliberately or recklessly inflicted on another person’s emotional well being
Financial abuse - where one partner maintains control over the other’s money. 
Stalking or harassment - such as following their victim, appearing at their home or workplace, repeatedly making phone calls, sending texts and emails

The specialist support services in Lincolnshire are on the end of a phone, call them now or look on their websites for more information;

If you live in the East Lindsey Area of Lincolnshire call: East Lindsey Domestic Abuse Service on 01507 609830 www.personalisedsupport.co.uk

If you live in the Boston or South Holland area of Lincolnshire call: Boston & South Holland Domestic Abuse Service on 01205 318600 or 01205 311272 www.bostonmayflower.org.uk orwww.bostonwomensaid.org.uk

If you live in either the West Lindsey, Lincoln City, North or South Kesteven areas of Lincolnshire call: West Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Service on 01522 510014 or 01427 616219www.wldas.org.uk

Radicalisation and Extremism

PREVENT is a key strand of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST.

Its main objective is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism. It is essential to know that PREVENT operates in the NON-CRIMINAL space. This means individuals who are referred to Prevent, are supported to move away from terrorism, rather than being criminalised. This multi-agency process is called ‘Channel’.

PREVENT is a multi-agency strategy and not solely a Police initiative. It is important everyone works together to disrupt those who promote violent extremism and identify people who are vulnerable to being recruited by terrorists, so the police and other agencies can offer them support.

Tackling radicalisation relies, to a certain extent, on the vast majority of people who reject violent extremism and are determined to challenge it.

In Lincolnshire, we aim to empower all communities and to stand up to the small minority who support violent extremism.

Prevent is not about spying on people or stigmatising and criminalising individuals and communities. It is about working with communities to identify individuals who may be susceptible to being drawn toward a path of violent extremism. Our aim is to provide support to such individuals to divert them away from violent extremism before they commit any criminal acts.

For Further information or to seek support go to: 

Harm Reduction Tool

The Lincolnshire Harm Reduction Tool provides advice around reducing the risk of harm to children in a household and is aimed at parents who use drugs or alcohol. The tool can be found below.