Introduction

At Borrowdale School, the safety and well-being of our pupils are our top priorities. Our school is not just a place for learning; it's a place where children can thrive in a secure and nurturing environment. On this page you will find information about our safeguarding procedures and the measures we take to ensure the safety of our pupils.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

At Borrowdale School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and protected. Our dedicated staff and governing body work tirelessly to create a culture of safeguarding where the welfare of our pupils is paramount.

At our school, all staff members receive regular training on safeguarding and child protection issues to ensure they can identify and respond to concerns. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mr Smits, who oversees all safeguarding matters.

Our Safeguarding Procedures

We follow rigorous safeguarding procedures to ensure the well-being of our pupils:

1. Safe Environment: We maintain a safe and secure environment within the school premises, including thorough risk assessments and safety checks.

2. Staff Training: All staff members receive regular training on safeguarding and child protection issues to ensure they can identify and respond to concerns.

3. Robust Policies: We have clear and up-to-date safeguarding policies in place, which are reviewed annually. These policies cover areas such as child protection, online safety, and staff conduct.

4. Reporting and Recording: We have a clear procedure for reporting and recording safeguarding concerns, ensuring that all incidents are properly documented and investigated promptly.

5. Educate pupils: We proactively educate all pupils age-appropriately to give them the skills to understand, recognise and deal with situations that may cause them harm. (using KidSafe UK)

6. Partnership with Parents: We believe in open and honest communication with parents and guardians. We encourage parents to share any concerns they may have and work together to address them.

7. External Support: We work closely with external agencies, such as social services and healthcare professionals, to provide additional support and resources when necessary.

Online Safety

In today's digital age, online safety is of paramount importance. We educate our pupils about responsible internet use and have filters and monitoring systems in place to protect them from harmful content.

Anti-Bullying Initiative

We have a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying. Our school community is committed to creating a caring and inclusive environment where every child feels safe and respected.

Reporting Concerns

If you have any concerns about the safety or well-being of a child at Borrowdale School, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Smits. You can reach us at 017687 77686.

Remember, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and together, we can ensure that every child at Borrowdale School grows and thrives in a secure and nurturing environment.

If you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Our commitment to safeguarding remains unwavering, and we look forward to working together with parents and the community to keep our children safe and happy.

KidSafe

KidSafe UK is a registered charity (1105179) established in Cumbria. The purpose of the programme is to build children’s confidence, self esteem and equip them with skills to keep themselves safe from various forms of abuse without using this term. At Borrowdale School our we deliver the programme with age appropriate messages taught through songs, games, puppetry and group discussions.

Each session includes a scenario involving KS in a situation that gives him 'yukky feelings'. Children then work together with the trained teachers to come up with possible solutions or advice to help KS.

After each session children will take home a letter outlining what they have done in that day’s session.

Once the children have completed the five sessions they are presented with a certificate. After three months the children will have a sixth session to re-cap the main points from all five sessions.

The programme consists of 5 separate sessions:

Session One:

• Keeping Safe
• Trust
• Feelings (good/bad)

Session Two:

• Bullying (what it means and how to stop it)
• Using your voice (to say ‘NO’ in uncomfortable situations)
• Identify Trusted grown-ups

Session Three:

• Keeping safe online
• Age ratings (games, DVDs & TV)

Session Four:

• Keeping your private places safe
• Rules for keeping yourself safe
• Keeping secrets (what are good/bad secrets)

Session Five:

• What to do when parents/carers argue and/or split up