The school has an important role to play in the development of Child Protection programmes and strategies.
Parents/carers should be aware that all schools have an important part to play in the detection and prevention of child abuse.
Where it appears to a member of the school staff that a child may have been abused, there is a requirement to follow the Hertfordshire County Council’s Child Protection procedures. If concerns arise during school provision or home visit, the member of staff will inform the Designated Person for the school or the Headteacher, who will implement the procedures. It is the duty of the designated person to report the matter to the Social Services Department. Wherever appropriate the school will inform the parent that they will be referring.
This requirement forms part of the Local Authority’s procedure for dealing with child abuse and is not a matter for the discretion of individual Headteachers or members of the Service staff.
The Designated Senior Person at Haywood Grove is:
Catherine Smith (Headteacher)
Click here to view our Safeguarding Policies
E-Safety - ICT and the Internet
Information and communication technology (ICT) comprises a variety of systems that handle and allow the communication of electronically retrievable information. Computers are the most obvious of these but ICT also includes programmable robots, tape recorders, calculators, cameras, video cameras, digital cameras, digital microscopes, fax and TV. The children will also be taught to use Internet and E-mail. All users and pupils’ parents have to agree to abide by the school’s code of conduct for electronic communications and Internet use and a poster is displayed by all computers within the school to remind children of their agreement.
Parents and carers are reminded that although using computers to help with work and to play some games are beneficial to children, over use and compulsive use can be damaging. Children should at all times be monitored when using the internet and only use programmes and sites that are appropriate to their age and maturity.
At school we have an Acceptable Use of ICT Agreement which is signed by parents/carers and children (over the age of 8) on admission and annually thereafter.
Internet safety Resources for Children with SEND and the adults who care for them
Article Parents: Is your special needs child safe online? Internet Safety risks abound for the special needs student (2013)
Anti-Bullying Alliance SEN and Disability – Cyberbullying
NetSmartz Workshop
Online Safety for Children with LD and ADHD Article (2009)
Julia’s Cybersafety blog for parents and teachers
http://www.educationalappstore.com/blog/author/julia-bateson/
PEGI – checking game age ratings and content
http://www.pegi.info/en/index/
Digiducks Big Decision:
http://www.childnet.com/resources/digiducks-big-decision
eSafety presentation for parents:
http://www.childnet.com/resources/know-it-all-for-parents/
The Prevent Strategy
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
All schools have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This means schools have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence.
Schools can provide a safe place for children to discuss these issues so that they better understand how to protect themselves.
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
As part of our school approach to this we:
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.
At Haywood Grove we always make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.
Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board
A key objective for the HSCB is to support parents and carers to provide a safe and stable family life for children and young people. It also supports organisations that provide services to reduce the likelihood of children and young people suffering accidental injury and death, bullying and discrimination, crime and anti-social behaviour.
The Designated Senior Person, Headteacher and Governing Body are required to be familliar with these HSCB Protection Procedures. A copy should be readily available within school.
The online Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Inter-agency Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual is available on the HSCB website at: