Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

Safeguarding means:

·        protecting children from abuse and maltreatment

·        preventing harm to children’s health or development

·        ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care

·        taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.

Highcliffe School is committed to providing the highest possible standards in all safeguarding issues and you can read our safeguarding policy here.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: 

Mrs S Giller (Assistant Headteacher)

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads: 

Mr M Downs (Deputy Headteacher)

Mr E Davies (Assistant Headteacher)

Miss L Swan (Assistant Headteacher)

Looked After Children Designated Teacher: Mrs S Giller

Prevent Lead: Mrs S Giller

Safeguarding Governor: Mrs Sue Evans

Child Confidentiality

Members of staff have a professional responsibility to share relevant information about the protection of students with other professional agencies. This can include Social care, Early Help services, Police and other agencies that may support your child. A member of staff must, therefore, never promise confidentiality.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Enquiries

If you have any welfare concerns concerning a child or young person’s safety during the school closure period please contact MASH (BCP Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub). (For children who reside in Hampshire, please see the Hampshire contact details at the bottom of this section)

You should contact the service :

·        If you are worried a child or young person is at risk of, or is being, harmed.

·        If you know of a child whose health and development may be significantly impaired without the support of multi-agency provision

CONTACT:  During office hours (Monday to Thursday 8.30-5.15: Friday 8.30-4.45.)

·        Telephone 01202 123334

·        Email: MASH@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

·        Visit Bournemouth & Poole Local Safeguarding Children Board

Safeguarding and Child Protection Enquiries during school closures

The Children’s Social Care Out of Hours service is the emergency response service for any child who is in crisis, needs urgent help or is at serious risk of significant harm.

Hours of operation are 5pm to 9am from Monday to Friday, all day Saturdays and Sundays and all bank holidays.

 IN AN EMERGENCY PLEASE CALL 999

• Telephone: 01202 738 256
• Email: ChildrensOOHS@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

For concerns related to a child who lives in the Hampshire area:

· phone 0300 555 1384 during office hours 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm on Friday

· phone 0300 555 1373 at all other times to contact the Out of Hours service

If you would like any further advice or require support during school out of hours, please see the information in the Family Support section of the school website.

PREVENT Statement

At Highcliffe School we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. PREVENT is the name given to a national strategy which aims to stop people from becoming involved with violent extremists or supporting terrorism. The Prevent duty is carried out under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which legally requires us to take steps to prevent students being drawn into terrorism. We take this duty seriously and carry out the four main actions, being risk assessment, working in partnership, staff training and IT Policies. If we assess a student as a risk, we will refer them to the Channel Partnership, which focuses on providing support at an early stage.

In terms of internet safety, we ensure suitable filters (including key word and phrase monitoring) are in place to keep students away from extremist materials. 

We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping people safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of students in our care.

If you have concerns about pupils travelling to a conflict zone seek Home Office guidance and refer to MASH team if still concerned. Numbers for BCP and Hampshire MASH are available in the safeguarding section of the school website. 

Report any concerns to the MASH (number above) or call the Anti Terror Hotline on 0800789321 for an immediate response.

Below are links for further guidance and information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance/revised-prevent-duty-guidance-for-england-and-wales

https://educateagainsthate.com/

https://educateagainsthate.com/parents/

https://parentinfo.org/article/preventing-far-right-extremism-a-guide-for-parents

Highcliffe School's Safeguarding Policy

To access KCSIE in other languages please follow this link: Posters & Leaflets - Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership (pdscp.co.uk)