Safeguarding

At Jarvis Brook the health, safety and well-being of all of our children is of the highest priority. Families send their children to our school each day, trusting us to provide a secure environment in which their children will flourish. 

A wide range of measures are put in place to ensure your children are safeguarded effectively. 

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy 

We have a legal duty to safeguard the well-being of the children in our care at Jarvis Brook..

• • The designated adults for Child Protection are Mrs Zadeh (Headteacher), Mrs Silverman-Evans (Class Teacher) and Mrs Kelly (Business Manager). 

  • The safeguarding designated member is the Chair of Governors. 

  • There is a detailed Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy in place. This is reviewed annually. The designated adults for Child Protection have undertaken the initial designated member of staff training and subsequent refresher courses every two years. 

  • All members of staff are provided with ‘whole-school’ child protection training annually and know the signs and symptoms of concerns, know how to respond to a child who discloses abuse, and knows what to do if they are concerned about a child. 

  • All allegations of abuse or complaints about a teacher will be managed in line with the Safeguarding policy, initially by the Headteacher. Any safeguarding complaints about the Headteacher will be managed the CEO of The Tenax Schools Trust. 

Operation Encompass

• Operation Encompass is a partnership between the Police and the school. The Police advise the school of any incidents of domestic abuse involving families and children, to enable the school to support children affected by this.

Health and Safety Policy 

• • The school has a health and safety policy which outlines all the health and safety measures the school has in place and is based upon legal regulations and recommendations for schools. Our practice is regularly audited to ensure best practice is in place. 

  • Any health and safety concerns from staff or parents are reported to the Headteacher who immediately makes an initial examination of the issue/situation, assessing if there any immediate action that need to take place. If any further action(s) is/are required, this is then put in place/reported on. 

  • There are regular fire drills that practice efficient evacuation from the buildings. The school conducts an annual Fire Risk Assessment. 

  • There is a Critical Incident plan that details what will happen in the case of emergencies. 

  • Risk assessments are in place for curriculum activities and all educational visits to ensure the children's well-being in all instances. 

First Aid Policy and Practice 

• • At Jarvis Brook there are key trained members of staff who oversee First Aid. These key members of staff are always available, including at play times and lunchtimes. 

  • When a child is unwell or has had an accident in school or on the playground there is a protocol for staff to follow: 

    • • A First Aider is consulted;

      • for head injuries a bumped head sticker is issued and parents are informed at the end of the day;

      • all first aid treatment is documented and copies are kept in the school office; 

      • if there is any doubt at all about a child's well-being, a parent is contacted by a member of staff; 

• • • In the case of an emergency, the school will call for emergency treatment first before contacting parents;

      • For children with specific medical needs, a medical health care plan is produced with parents to ensure the individual needs of the child are met. 

Site Security at Jarvis Brook 

• • Jarvis Brook provides a secure site which is controlled by clear routines and procedures. The site is only as secure as the people who use it and the whole school community, including parents, are vital in maintaining this. Our children are also members of the whole school community and we encourage them to tell us about any concerns. 

  • To ensure security: 

    • Gates are locked except at the start and end of each day;

    • Parents do not use the school as a thoroughfare to access the school office or other classrooms;

    • Visitors and volunteers must only enter through the main entrance and after signing in at the office window;

    • All visitors and volunteers must wear visitor badges;

    • Children will only be allowed home with adults with parental responsibility or others with confirmed permission; 

    • Children will never be allowed to leave school alone during school hours, only if collected and signed out for by an adult;

    • The school car park is for staff only and only designated spaces can be used so that emergency vehicles can access the school grounds. 

  • We take great care to maintain a secure site around the perimeter of the school and all children are supervised at all times. In the unlikely event of a child leaving the school premises without permission, then staff have been asked never to chase after a child, but rather report immediately to the Headteacher. Then parents and police will be informed of the circumstances. 

Administering Medicines 

• • There are strict guidelines for administering medicines in school and we always need parents to complete a consent form. Ideally any medication should be prescribed in dose frequencies which enables it to be taken outside the school day. However if the dosage exceeds this, parents will need to complete a consent form. Please note: only prescribed medicines will be given in school. 

Attendance 

• • Excellent attendance is expected of all children but when children are too unwell for school parents are asked to confirm absence by telephone as soon as possible. If there is no notification before 9.30 am the school office will call parents to ascertain each child's whereabouts. 

  • The school works closely with the East Sussex Attendance Team to support the children's attendance. The Headteacher regularly monitors attendance and letters are sent to parents whose child's attendance is causing concern. If any child's attendance falls below the national expectation of 95% attendance, then a referral to East Sussex Attendance Team is made and this may lead to legal action being taken. 

Covid 19 -

The government expects:

• schools and local authorities to:

• Promote good attendance and reduce absence, including persistent absence;

• Ensure every pupil has access to full-time education to which they are entitled; and,

• Act early to address patterns of absence.

• Parents to perform their legal duty by ensuring their children of compulsory school age       who are registered at school attend regularly.

• All pupils to be punctual to their lessons.

The Local Authority has a duty to support schools to meet these expectations and to support

schools, parent/carers and learners to address patterns of absence in a timely manner.

The government is also asking schools and Local Authorities to identify pupils who are reluctant, or anxious about returning, or who are at risk of disengagement and develop plans for re-engaging them. This should include disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people, especially those who were persistently absent prior to the pandemic or who have not engaged with school regularly during the pandemic.

We will therefore be sharing information with the Local Authority regarding any pupils about whom we have attendance concerns in order to fulfil our statutory duty.

Appointments of staff and induction of newly appointed staff 

• • All staff appointed to work in school must have a criminal records search called a DBS check before they can start work. This search highlights people who have a criminal record or if previous allegations have been made against them. If any member of staff is found to have a criminal record, the appointment is reconsidered. 

  • The Headteacher sits on all appointments panels and has undertaken Safer Recruitment training.

  • New staff are inducted into safeguarding practices and are supported through understanding the policies and procedures which affect the health and safety of all of the school. 

Volunteers 

• • Parents who offer help on a school trip or on one-off instances are not required to have a full DBS check but they are expected to be fully supervised by school staff..

  • Regular volunteers are expected to have a full DBS check. 

The Curriculum 

• • The curriculum teaches children about relevant issues such as Drugs and Alcohol, Sex and Relationships, Road Safety and Stranger Danger education. Children are encouraged to explore and discuss these issues together and with their teachers. We also discuss a wide range of issues around safety and well-being on a regular basis in whole school assemblies. 

  • The curriculum is designed so that safety issues within the subject are discussed and safe practices are taught, such as using equipment properly in P.E. and Design Technology. At all times there have to be appropriate staffing levels; on external trips or visits appropriate and agreed pupil/adult ratios are maintained.

Behaviour Policy 

• Excellent behaviour is essential in any community and at Jarvis Brook we have high expectations of all children. Our policy shows our strong emphasis on positive approaches as well as clear boundaries and consequences for behaviour choices that impact on the learning, safety, or well-being of others. 

The NSPCC website has a range of tips and advice to help you keep children safe whether they’re at home, out and about or online, from talking PANTS to approaching difficult issues. With the help of their friendly dinosaur Pantosaurus, talking PANTS is a simple way to teach your child how to stay safe from abuse. Click on the link below to find out more. 

E-safety 

• Children should be encouraged to use the internet as much as possible but at all times in a safe way. 

• The Online Safety Policy outlines the appropriate use of technology in school and how we will respond to / manage any inappropriate use.

• If any adults or child suspects misuse the issue must be reported to the Headteacher without delay. 

For links to e-safety resources to support children and parents go to our E-Safety page.

Equality Policy

• At Jarvis Brook we work to ensure that everyone is treated fairly so as to: eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between groups. 

• All children are given equal access to the school and its curriculum. 

• When children have Special Educational Needs or Disability we work closely with parents to ensure they reach their full potential. 

Anti-Bullying Policy 

• At Jarvis Brook our definition of bullying is: “Behaviour by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally". 

• We do not tolerate bullying in our school community and as soon as we are aware of an issue we act promptly and effectively. We encourage our children to tell us when there is a problem so we can sort it out swiftly.  Although bullying in this school is rare the school always acts swiftly with a process of investigation, communication and action. 

Photography and videoing

• At Jarvis Brook we allow parents to photograph and video school events providing they follow certain guidelines: 

  • • Parents and family members only can take images of their child participating in school activities for family and personal use. 

      • We have agreed that no images will be shared on social media or uploaded to the internet. Any individual who does so would then forego any future photo / video opportunities,

Confidential Reporting (Whistleblowing)

• If members of staff ever have any safeguarding concerns about any people working within the school they have a professional duty to inform the Headteacher or the CEO of the Tenax Schools Trust accordingly. This can be done in writing or verbally but staff should be prepared to discuss issues in the confidence that any such matter will be dealt with sensitively and with the highest appropriate level of confidentiality.

If concerns are reported to school, we have a responsibility to ask for and follow advice from social services, the PREVENT Team and the SPOA (Single Point of Advice).