Safeguarding statement

At Marner Primary School our core responsibility is for the safety and well-being of the children in our care. As such we take our responsibility for safeguarding, including our statutory responsibilities, very seriously. Only if children are safe and happy are they able to fulfil their potential in their learning.

We achieve this objective by:

• Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
• Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
• Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe. Pupils are taught about safeguarding as a part of the national curriculum through PSHE, SRE and Religious Education.
• Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
• Ensuring we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
• Staff development and learning to recognise children in need of protection.

In order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, the school will act in accordance with the following guidance:

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021

Keeping Children Safe in Education - September 2021

Regulated Activity in Relation to Children

We have a number of policies in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment including our Child Protection and Online Safety policies. All our policies can be viewed in the Policies section of the school website. At Marner we take the safety of our children very seriously, both in the real world and online. You can find out more about E-Safety in the Online Safety section of our website.

What is Safeguarding and Child Protection?

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children have the best outcome.

Child protection is the protection of children identified as either suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect.

Designated Persons

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Carol Doherty

Deputy Designated Safeguarding: Sarah Bowmer Jane Scott Gall, Sam Sharpe, and Kalpona Dass (Safeguarding Admin)

Internal team further supporting safeguarding: Anne Hafford and Hoai Nguyen-Khuu (SEND/Inclusion), Ahsana Choudhury (Parent Liaison), Ruhul Ayazi, (Learning Mentor)

External Professionals further supporting safeguarding: Attendance Welfare Officer (1 day per week) and a Social Worker (1 day per week).

Governor with Responsibility for Child Protection

Local Authority Governor: Helen Witty

If you are worried about a child or young person, please contact one of the Designated Leads above on safeguarding@marner.towerhamlets.sch.uk or through the school office on 0207 987 2938.

What makes us feel safe at Marner?

Safeguarding Week

As a part of the national curriculum, the NSPCC’s Speak out. Stay safe. programme visited our school to make sure our pupils have the knowledge and understanding they need to stay safe from abuse. For more information please see the NSPCC Speak out. Stay safe. website.

Specific Safeguarding Issues

Expert and professional organisations are best placed to provide up-to-date guidance and practical support on specific safeguarding issues. For example NSPCC offers information for schools and colleges on the TES website and also on its own website www.nspcc.org.uk. Schools and colleges can also access broad government guidance on the issues listed below via the GOV.UK website.

• Children and the court system:
  • Young witness booklet for 5 to 11 year olds
  • Young witness booklet for 12 to 17 year olds
  • Get help with child arrangements
• Children missing from education
• Children with family members in prison
• Child sexual exploitation
• Child criminal exploitation: county lines
• Domestic abuse
• Homelessness
• So-called ‘honour-based’ violence:
  • Female Genital Mutilation
  • Forced Marriage
• Preventing radicalisation
• Peer on peer abuse
• Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges

Getting help

If you are worried or have concerns about a child or a young person, who you think may be abused, neglected or harmed – please contact:

Child Protection Advice Line /Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub - 9:00am to 5.00pm weekdays	Tel: 0207 364 3444/5601/5606
Children’s Social Care Emergency Out of Hours Duty Team (5.00pm onwards)	Tel: 0207 364 5006 – choose Option 3
Police Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT)	Tel: 0208 217 6484 (or use 999 if not available)

If you are concerned about an adult who works with or has direct contact with children in their place of work, either as a paid staff member or volunteer – please contact:

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) – Melanie Benzie	Tel: 020 7364 0677 Email: LADO@towerhamlets.gov.uk
NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line	0800 028 0285

Helpful links

Tower Hamlets Early Help

Early Help is the term used by agencies in Tower Hamlets to describe how we provide support to children, young people and their families, as soon as problems start to emerge. The aim is for families to get help as early as possible, so things don't get worse.

With the right support at the right time, things can actually improve. As a family member this might mean that you access Early Help support yourself or that professionals work with you and your family.

Tower Hamlets Local Offer

The Local Offer tells you what support is available for children and their families in the borough. It includes information about:

• Advice, information and support services
• Childcare
• Children’s centres
• Education
• Employment, training and volunteering
• Health
• Leisure and youth services
• Money and welfare advice
• Parent support
• Post 16 information
• Special educational needs and disabilities
• Social Care

Operation Encompass

Marner Primary School is now part of a project run jointly by the Metropolitan Police and schools called Operation Encompass. The project aims to support children who are affected by Domestic Abuse.

Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has been exposed to/involved in any domestic incident.

Operation Encompass will ensure that a Designated Safeguarding Lead uses the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been involved in/exposed to a domestic abuse incident.

Please see their website for further information.