Safeguarding in the Curriculum

Great importance is placed on identifying opportunities in the taught curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding.

Our broad curriculum gives pupils opportunities to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding, and skills that significantly impact personal development, behaviour, and welfare, and equips every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding.

Our PSHE curriculum covers all areas of Safeguarding through each of the strands to a different degree, however, some go into more detail. We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age-appropriate level, or at a small group or 1:1 level where a more urgent need arises. We also examined closely how Protected Characteristics and learnt about from EYFS through to Year 6 within our curriculum.

We plan to constantly challenge children to think deeply about safeguarding matters and their own personal physical and mental wellbeing. We value pupils’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas, and concerns.

We give pupils’ opportunities across the curriculum to explore values, personal rights, responsibilities, and equal opportunities that develop moral concepts that impact positively on safeguarding, promote British Values and prevent radicalisation and extremism. There are many opportunities throughout our learning in school to explore safeguarding issues.

Practical safeguarding opportunities are planned into the curriculum. For example:

• Road and rail safety (including out of school visits, bike-ability, work with police officers in the community);
• First Aid Training for Year 5 and Year 6;
• Poolside and water safety through swimming lessons;
• Visits to school from medical staff
• Visitors from charities (such as Emmaus Trust, Blythswood Appeal, NSPCC…);
• DART (Drugs, Alcohol Resistant Training… formerly DARE);
• Online safety within Computing lessons too;
• Safe use of technology including password security and privacy settings;
• What to do if you are separated from your group (in relation to school visit briefing with children);

We have developed an open and safe learning environment in which pupils express their views, seek help, and help others. The promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity, for pupils and staff, helps prevent any form of direct or indirect discriminatory behaviour.

Our children learn to not tolerate any prejudiced behaviour. Our behaviour policy promotes making good choices and exhibiting good learning behaviours. Class times are a time for sharing ideas, addressing concerns, and promoting important values.

Collective Worship & R-Time sessions are also used to promote personal safeguarding matters and explore themes. For example, we talk about anti-bullying including cyber bullying and British Values including how these values are promoted in our multi–faith society. Staff and children are quick to challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language in lessons and around the school. Our school reflects the diversity of pupils’ experiences and provides pupils with a comprehensive understanding of people and communities beyond their immediate experience including the role of women in society and different family groups including same-sex couples.

Throughout the curriculum, there are planned opportunities to promote all forms of equality and foster greater understanding of and respect for people of all faiths (and those with no faith), races, genders, ages, disabilities, and sexual orientations, through their words, actions and in their influence. Opportunities are created in a variety of subjects to address areas of safeguarding, for example, themes are highlighted through novels in Literacy lessons.

Time is taken at the beginning of every new school year to reaffirm school values, expectations, and principles of being part of Claypole. This good start to the year, with everyone clear about their roles and responsibilities, sets the tone for the rest of the year and leads to excellent safeguarding outcomes.

Domestic Violence

PLEASE REMEMBER that Domestic Abuse isn't always physical violence - this can be mental abuse, neglect, invasion of personal space such as checking mobile phones or controlling aspects of home life such as money.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse and would like to speak confidentially with Mr Wells or Mrs Kurvink, please contact school on 01636 626 268...or just call in.

We know that children can be significantly physically or emotionally hurt by directly witnessing, or indirectly hearing, incidents of domestic abuse. The Domestic Violence and Abuse School Notification System has been designed to provide confidential notification to schools of any alleged domestic abuse incidents which occur within a child’s household, as these incidents are likely to have an impact on the child while they are in school. Notifying the school will ensure that a member of the Safeguarding Team (Martyn Wells or Lynn Kurvink) can make provision to support children, or their families, when they have been involved in or witnessed an alleged domestic violence or abuse incident.

We are keen to offer the best support possible to our pupils and families and continue to develop a designated support area for victims of domestic abuse on our school website.  

If there are any incidences of domestic abuse involving any of our families, the school is informed and we contact those involved to let them know we are aware of the situation and that we are there for help and support if needed. 

You may also find these websites useful:

https://www.behind-closed-doors.org.uk/

https://www.safelives.org.uk

https://www.refuge.org.uk