At Ropsley Church of England Primary School, the safety, wellbeing and dignity of every child is our highest priority. Safeguarding is at the heart of all that we do, underpinning our ethos as a caring, inclusive Christian community where every individual is valued as precious in the eyes of God.

We are committed to creating a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in which children can learn, grow and flourish. We listen carefully to children, take concerns seriously and act promptly when worries are raised. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we work closely with families, staff, governors and external agencies to keep children safe.

This page outlines our safeguarding responsibilities, key contacts and sources of support.

Concerned about a child?

If you are worried that a child may be at risk of abuse, neglect or harm, please do not ignore your concern.

During school hours, you can contact the school and ask to speak to one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads.

School office: 01476 585379

If you believe a child is at risk of significant harm, you should contact Lincolnshire Children’s Services Customer Service Centre:

Children’s Services: 01522 782111
Out of hours: 01522 782333

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Ropsley Church of England Primary School is: Mrs Ann Cook

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Mrs Rebecca Spencer

Our safeguarding team is responsible for responding to concerns, supporting children and families, liaising with external agencies and ensuring that safeguarding procedures are followed across the school.

Our Safeguarding Governor is: Mr Gary Reeves

The Safeguarding Governor supports and challenges school leaders to ensure that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding means protecting children from harm and promoting their welfare. This includes:

• protecting children from abuse and neglect
• ensuring children grow up in safe and caring circumstances
• taking action to enable all children to have the best possible outcomes
• supporting children’s health, wellbeing and development
• teaching children how to keep themselves safe, including online

Safeguarding includes many areas of risk, such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, child-on-child abuse, domestic abuse, exploitation, online harm, harmful sexual behaviour, radicalisation, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, mental health concerns and children missing from education.

Reporting a concern about abuse or neglect

If you are concerned that a child is being abused, neglected or harmed, you can contact school and ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

You can also contact Lincolnshire Children’s Services directly on:

01522 782111

This number will take you to the Safeguarding Children Customer Service Centre.

For concerns outside normal working hours, contact:

01522 782333

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation

Child sexual exploitation, often referred to as CSE, is a form of child sexual abuse. It happens when a child or young person is manipulated, pressured or coerced into sexual activity. This may be in exchange for things such as gifts, money, food, attention, friendship, status, protection or somewhere to stay.

Technology is often used to groom, control or exploit children. This can happen through social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, mobile phones and other online spaces.

Child criminal exploitation can happen when children are manipulated, pressured or coerced into criminal activity. This may include carrying drugs or money, theft, violence, or being drawn into county lines activity.

Children who are being exploited may not always recognise that they are victims. They may appear to be making choices, but exploitation involves an imbalance of power and control.

Useful sources of information and support include:

NSPCC
Barnardo’s
CEOP Education
Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

Online safety

The internet is an important part of children’s lives and offers many positive opportunities for learning, communication and creativity. Children use technology from an early age, both at school and at home, including through tablets, phones, computers, games consoles and smart devices.

Alongside these opportunities, children also need support to understand online risks and to develop the skills to keep themselves safe. These risks can include inappropriate content, online bullying, grooming, scams, pressure to share images, gaming risks, misinformation and harmful online behaviour.

At Ropsley Church of England Primary School, online safety is taught through our curriculum and revisited regularly. We help children to understand how to use technology positively, responsibly and respectfully. We also provide information and support for parents and carers so that online safety messages are reinforced at home.

If you have any concerns about online safety, please contact school. We will be happy to offer advice and support.

Useful online safety links include:

CEOP Safety Centre — for advice and reporting online abuse or grooming
UK Safer Internet Centre — information and guidance for families
Internet Matters — practical advice for parents and carers
NSPCC Online Safety — support for keeping children safe online

Helping children to speak out

We encourage all children to talk to a trusted adult if they are worried about anything, either in school, at home, online or in the community.

Children are taught that they can speak to any adult in school. The adults with special responsibility for keeping children safe are Mrs Cook and Mrs Spencer.

We want every child to know:

• they will be listened to
• their worries will be taken seriously
• adults will help them
• they are never alone

Working together

Safeguarding works best when schools, families and professionals work together. If you have a concern, however small it may seem, please share it. Early help and timely support can make a significant difference to a child and their family.

Talking to your child about online safety

Talking regularly to children about online safety is one of the best ways to help them use the internet positively and responsibly. These conversations do not need to be frightening or complicated. They can be part of everyday family life, just like talking about road safety or friendships.

Helpful questions to ask include:

• What games, apps or websites do you enjoy using?
• Who do you talk to online?
• What would you do if someone made you feel uncomfortable?
• Do you know how to block or report someone?
• Who could you talk to if something worried you?

The CEOP Education website has age-appropriate activities, videos and advice for children, young people, parents and carers. Please choose resources that are suitable for your child’s age and stage of development.

Useful resources include:

CEOP Education / Thinkuknow
CEOP resources for 4–7 year olds
CEOP resources for 8–10 year olds
Childnet
UK Safer Internet Centre
Internet Matters

Female Genital Mutilation, known as FGM

Female Genital Mutilation, known as FGM, is a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls. It involves procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

FGM is illegal in the UK. It is also illegal to take a girl abroad for FGM or to help someone arrange this. FGM can have serious physical, emotional and psychological consequences, both immediately and later in life.

FGM is a child protection concern. If school staff are worried that a child may be at risk of FGM, or may have already experienced FGM, they must follow safeguarding procedures.

If you believe a girl is at immediate risk of FGM, contact the police on 999.

If you are worried that a child may be at risk, but there is no immediate danger, you can contact:

Lincolnshire Children’s Services: 01522 782111
Police non-emergency number: 101
NSPCC FGM Helpline: 0800 028 3550

If a British national is at risk abroad and urgent help is needed, contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, known as the FCDO.

Useful sources of information and support include:

GOV.UK — Female Genital Mutilation: help and advice
NSPCC — FGM advice and support
FORWARD UK

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexuality or circumstances. It can happen within intimate relationships or families, and it is never the fault of the person experiencing it.

Domestic abuse is not just physical violence. It can include a pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviour.

Domestic abuse may include:

• physical abuse
• emotional or psychological abuse
• sexual abuse
• financial or economic abuse
• coercive control
• stalking or harassment
• online or technology-assisted abuse
• threats, intimidation or isolation

Children can be deeply affected by domestic abuse, even if they do not see the abuse directly. Living in a home where domestic abuse happens can have a significant impact on a child’s safety, wellbeing, emotional development and learning.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.

For non-emergency police support, call 101.

Specialist support is available in Lincolnshire through:

Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service: 01522 510041
EDAN Lincs — End Domestic Abuse Now
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

If you are worried about the impact of domestic abuse on a child, you can also contact Lincolnshire Children’s Services on 01522 782111.

Radicalisation and extremism

Prevent is part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. Its aim is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Prevent is about safeguarding. It is designed to identify people who may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism or extremist ideas and to offer support before any crime is committed.

The support process linked to Prevent is called Channel. Channel is a voluntary, confidential, multi-agency programme that provides early help for people who may be at risk of radicalisation.

Concerns may include changes in behaviour, isolation, expressing extremist views, accessing concerning online material, or being influenced by others who promote hatred or violence.

At Ropsley Church of England Primary School, we promote British values, respect, tolerance and positive relationships. We teach children to think critically, ask questions, respect difference and know how to seek help if something worries them.

If you are concerned that someone may be at risk of radicalisation, you can speak to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.

You can also seek advice through:

Lincolnshire Police Prevent Team
ACT Early
Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

If there is an immediate risk of harm, call 999.