Safeguarding
Our pupils are continually taught and encouraged to live healthy lifestyles and adopt safe practices. Our safeguarding policies and practices help to ensure that they are safe, happy and healthy.
School policies are in place to ensure that there is a consistent approach to practices throughout the school and that they are followed by staff, governors and volunteers.
Adults have a tremendous impact on young children and with this in mind adults at Kerr Mackie Primary School
- are good role models for children
- enjoy their work and working with children
- are conscientious and hard-working
- welcome to support visitors to school
- recognize and value strengths in each other and use these to support everyone
- work within the agreed policies of the school
- promote a happy, caring and safe school
- encourage children to think for themselves, ask questions and find answers
- create an environment of trust whereby children are trusted to work seriously
- challenge and support children in their learning.
There are many policies in place to safeguard our children, including:
Child Protection
This is a sensitive area in which all staff receive regular training. Kerr Mackie Primary School and other services for children and families all work together to support the needs of children. There are four designated officers for child protection in school and there is also a named governor for child protection. The child protection policy can be viewed here – Child Protection Policy The Leeds model policy has been adopted, by the headteacher and governing body of Kerr Mackie. The policy is reviewed annually in line with any changes that may have been made to the model policy by the safeguarding team. This is to ensure the integration of current issues and good practice. We also follow other statutory guidance, for example, “Keeping Children Safe in Education”, which provides us with a framework for our work on Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment.
Attendance
Children’s attendance at school is monitored on a daily basis and notable absences or patterns of absences are followed up by the Learning Support Mentor and in more serious cases the Attendance Strategy Team. A copy of our attendance policy can be found by clicking on the link to our school policies at the foot of this page.
Behaviour
High standards of behaviour are expected in our school. Our Positive Behaviour Policy sets out how we promote good behaviour and deal with any problems. Click here to view a copy of our current policy – Positive Behaviour Policy Our children are often reminded about our school rules and they know that we have them in order for everyone to be happy and keep safe.
Health and Safety
Everyone at Kerr Mackie Primary knows they have a responsibility to ensure children and adults are able to work in a healthy and safe environment. We have many first-aiders amongst our staff and they deal with illnesses and accidents should they occur.
Curriculum
Through the planned curriculum, we ensure that the issues of healthy eating, physical exercise and safety are taught. This aspect is enhanced by themed weeks and many visitors to school who talk to the children about issues such as road safety, safe people and drugs awareness.
E-Safety
The aim of this guidance is to inform all staff of best practice around e-safety and draw attention to existing local and national guidance on this subject so that we can maintain the safest possible learning and working environments for children and staff alike. The document has been created in line with national and local guidance.
Acceptable Use of ICT
This policy states what is acceptable in terms of use of hardware, use of the internet and publishing content. It is intended for all ICT users at Kerr Mackie Primary: staff, children, governors etc. Acceptable use of ICT is defined as activities that provide children with appropriate learning experiences or that allow adults to enhance their own professional development.
Safer recruitment and selection
This aspect is taken very seriously. Relevant staff have received appropriate training in safer recruitment process. Governors and the school ensure that all staff new to the school and volunteers who work in school on a regular basis undertake a DBS check and full references are acquired before the person takes up post.
Complaints
If parents have any complaints, we will listen to your concerns and will follow up any issues. The school is committed to working closely with parents / carers for the benefit of the children and no problem is too small. There is a clear procedure in place; the headteacher will always be happy to meet with you and help resolve any issues and if you continue to feel an issue has not been resolved then you could contact our Governing Body.
The policies mentioned above can be found and downloaded from our Policies page.
