Safeguarding and Child Protection
At Nelson Infant School, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
We are committed to keeping our children happy, healthy and safe. Please follow the links below to access the key documents that support the safeguarding work we do. You can read through our Safeguarding Policy below, and/or click the download button to download a copy to your desktop. You will also find our staff and visitor codes of conduct, our new and updated anti-racism policy and the latest KCSIE. If you would like to discuss any aspect of policy or practice, please telephone the school to arrange a time to chat with any of our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs):
- Anna Catlin – Headteacher – Lead DSL
- Lara Harrey – Deputy Headteacher - DSL
- Carly Green - Administrator - DSL
Our named Safeguarding Governor is Katie Lawson: 
Training
All staff, employed at Nelson Infant School, undertake accredited Safeguarding Training annually and as per statutory procedure, all employees also complete Prevent Training every two years. In addition to this, as part of their CPD, all staff complete other relevant training, relating to safeguarding and child protection, at regular intervals throughout the year, including online safety. The table below outlines the main safeguarding certifications held by our Safeguarding Team. Our interim SENDco (Kate Ringwood) is also a trained DSL.
|
Staff Member |
Safeguarding Level 1 |
Safeguarding Level 2 |
Safeguarding Level 3 |
Prevent |
Safer Recruitment |
|
Anna Catlin
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Lara Harrey
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Carly Green
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
We all have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and at our school we take this responsibility seriously.
If you have any concerns about a child or young person in our school, you must share this information immediately with our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or one of the alternate post holders (details above).
Do not think that your worry is insignificant if it is about hygiene, appearance or behaviour – we would rather you told us as we would rather know about something that appears small than miss a worrying situation.
If you think the matter is very serious and may be related to child protection, for example, physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect, you must find one of the designated professionals detailed below and provide them with a written record of your concern.
If you are unable to locate them ask a member of the school office staff to find them and to ask them to speak with you immediately about a confidential and urgent matter.
Any allegation concerning a member of staff, a child’s foster carer or a volunteer should be reported immediately to the Headteacher. If an allegation is made about the Headteacher, you should pass this information to the Chair of the Governing Body. Alternatively, you can contact the Local Authority Duty Desk on 01603 307797.
Keeping children safe while schools are closed
A parent’s guide to keeping children safe when they are not in school
Even when schools are closed, our children’s safety and wellbeing remains our top priority. If you are concerned in any way that a child or young person is at risk of harm please do act upon it.
There will, however, always be a member of the senior leadership team available. They are all trained DSLs (Designated Safeguarding Leads). Your main options are:
- Telephone Nelson Infant School on 01603 620344 and ask to speak to a DSL
- Email office@nelson.norfolk.sch.uk with your message marked URGENT Confidential FOA DSL. Please request a call back from a DSL.
Alternatively you can seek support from Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council by contacting CADS (Children’s Advice and Duty Service) on 0344 800 8020. CADS is a team of experienced social workers, police and health professionals ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable adults in the community. If you consider the incident to be an emergency then call 999.
Lastly you can access information and resources from Norfolk County Council’s Safeguarding Children Partnership via the following link:
Key Documents
Staff Safeguarding Updates
At Nelson Infant School, all staff are committed to Safeguarding the children, updates, information, and new legislation is shared with all staff on a weekly basis.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023) below is the most recent version of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance for schools and colleges. It is compulsary that all staff (including all other adults that work with children) read Part 1: Safeguarding Information for All Staff.
PREVENT STRATEGY
What is the Prevent strategy?
- Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
- The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.
How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?
- From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
- This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from any other harm.
- Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues, at an appropriate level so they better understand how to protect themselves.
What does this mean in practice at NELSON INFANT School?
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy. These include:
- Having a strong Aims and Ethos which pervades our school.
- Focusing on core values.
- Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity.
- Challenging prejudices and racist comments.
- Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity.
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy.
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.
Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?
The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect. This is what we will focus on at Nelson Infant School.
The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.
Is extremism really a risk in our area?
Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and misogynistic extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.
We will endeavour to give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Further information
Contact the school - If you have any questions or concerns about the Prevent Strategy and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
See our policies - You will find more details about radicalisation in our safeguarding policy, available on our website.
External sources - The following sources may also be useful for further information:
Key Terms
Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values.
Ideology – a set of beliefs
Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause
Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism