Safeguarding
Welcome to the Safeguarding/Child Protection page for St Mark’s Primary School
This page will be used to offer important information to parents/carers regarding issues surrounding Safeguarding & Child Protection.
Alongside St Mark’s Primary School’s own policies and procedures, information from other sources will be posted to give advice, facts and resources to support parents/carers to help protect their children.
Safeguarding/Child Protection Lead
The Safeguarding/Child Protection Lead for St Mark’s Primary School is Ania Kennedy.
The Deputy Safeguarding/Child Protection Lead for St Mark’s Primary School is Danielle Archer.
Operation Encompass
St Mark's is taking part in the Operation Encompass project. This is a project that runs jointly between schools and the Metropolitan Police.
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE, is a form of sexual abuse which sees children/young people being manipulated or coerced into sexual activity for receiving ‘something’ such as: gifts, money, food, attention, somewhere to stay etc.
Technology is very often used to groom victims. This may occur through social networking sites and mobile phones with internet access.
CSE has gained a large amount of media attention over the last year as lots of services involved with children and young people have noticed a big rise in cases involving CSE.
Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse. Information regarding CSE can be found by clicking links below.
NSPCC - Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) information
Barnardo's - Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) information
PACE (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation) is a national charity that works with parents and carers whose children are sexually exploited. PACE offers one-to-one telephone support, national and local meet-ups with other affected parents and information on how parents can work in partnership with school, police and social care:
Online Safety
Click here to go to our Online Safety page
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
In April 2014 every school in England received new safeguarding guidelines and detailed information on identifying and responding to Female Genital Mutilation.
FGM is a procedure carried out on young girls, usually between the ages of infancy and 15 years of age.
Female Genital Mutilation is classified as a form of Child Abuse in the UK. It therefore makes the procedure of it a serious Child Protection issue.
It is illegal for anyone to perform FGM in the UK or to arrange for a child to be transported to another country for the procedure. The maximum sentence for carrying out FGM or helping it to take place is 14 years in prison.
There is lots of information and support available online for parents/carers concerned about this subject or if you know someone who is at risk:
Contact the Police if you think that a girl or young woman is in danger of FGM and is still in the UK.
Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500) if she’s already been taken abroad.
The Daughters of Eve website helps to raise awareness of this issue and sign-posts those affected by it to supportive services:
The NSPCC has detailed advice on how to spot the signs, symptoms and effects of FGM and provides support for people who are concerned about a child or who have been affected themselves:
The NSPCC offers a free and anonymous FGM 24 hour helpline. Call; 0800 028 3550 or emailfgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
Reporting a Concern of Abuse or Neglect
If you have concerns that a child you know is at risk of serious harm through Abuse or Neglect it is important that you report your worries to the correct agency.
The link below will direct you to Merton Safeguarding Children’s Board (MSCB).
You can also report you concerns to the NSPCC who will offer you support and advice if you are feeling worried about a child’s safety:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/
Radicalisation
St Mark’s Primary School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. Every member of staff recognises that safeguarding against radicalisation and extremism is no different to safeguarding against any other vulnerability in today’s society.
As part of our safeguarding ethos we encourage pupils to respect the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. At our school we are committed to contributing to community cohesion and reducing the likelihood that our children may become radicalised.
More information and advice can be found by following the link below:
If you have concerns over a child being radicalised, please call the police on 101 or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. Remember, in an emergency, always dial 999.
If you are worried about a child being radicalised, please click link below for guidance and support
Physical Chastisement
There are many different views about physical chastisement, but it is widely accepted that hurting children is not the best way to teach them right from wrong – nor are methods that involve humiliating or threatening children, shouting at them, or destroying their confidence. Physically chastising a child in a way which leaves visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts, now constitutes the criminal offence of actual bodily harm. This can carry a sentence of five years in prison.