“Safeguarding…Everybody…Everyday”
Dear Parents and Carers,
As Highfield’s new Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), I want to warmly welcome you with our first Safeguarding Newsletter of this academic year. This termly newsletter will keep you up to date on safeguarding matters, provide helpful advice for families, and share the work we are doing in school.
At Highfield Priory School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s about ensuring all our children are safe, happy and able to thrive. We believe in every pupil’s right to participate in all school activities in an enjoyable and safe environment where they are protected from harm. This is the responsibility of every adult employed by or invited to deliver services at Highfield Priory School. Our aim is for all pupils to reach their potential academically, socially and personally through learning and playing in a safe and secure environment.
Mrs Morrice, DSL
What Safeguarding Means
Safeguarding is not just about child protection – it is a preventative approach. We aim to:
· Protect children from harm
· Support their mental and physical wellbeing
· Help them develop in a safe and positive environment
Our full Safeguarding policy can be found on the school website:
https://www.highfieldpriory.co.uk/
How you can help…
Each app your child uses will have an age rating and it can be useful to know what these are. Many have a minimum age of 13 years, but you should check the age rating of individual apps to make sure – see our list below.
You know your child best, and you might decide that they need to be a little bit older before they can use certain apps.
Remind your children that they can talk to you, their teacher, or any trusted adult if they feel worried.
Share any concerns with us, even if they seem small – it’s always better to share your concerns at the earliest opportunity.
Safeguarding in Action at School
All staff have completed Safeguarding Training during our September Inset day and new staff have also completed their First Aid Training.
Children were reminded in Assembly about who they can talk to if and when they are worried, and how to use the Pupil Voice Box in each classroom to share their feelings with their teachers. They were also reminded about the wellbeing room and talking to Mrs Jones if they feel worried or anxious.
Meet the Safeguarding Team
If you ever have a concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing, please contact us directly via the school office: (0)1772 709 624 or by email at:
schooloffice@highfieldpriory.co.uk
What is the role of the DSL at Highfield Priory School?
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) has a crucial role in taking lead responsibility for child protection issues in school. DSLs must be senior members of the school’s leadership team, and at Highfield we have several Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) forming a team with Mrs Morrice. A DSL/DDSL will always be available during school hours for staff and parents to discuss any safeguarding concerns.
This Term’s Focus: Online Safety
Children are growing up in a digital world and while technology can offer many benefits, it can also bring risks. Here are three top tips for keeping your child safe online:
1. Talk regularly – ask you child what games and apps they use and keep those conversations open.
2. Set boundaries – use parental controls and agree time limits for screen use.
3. Stay involved – encourage your child to use devices in shared spaces at home.
Helpful Resources:
https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/professionals/guidance/thinkuknow-parents-and-carers/
https://blog.nationalcollege.com/news/author/national-online-safety
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Our responsibility to keep children safe in school includes their travels to and from school. Please could I remind all parents and carers to ensure their child is seated in the correct car seat/booster and with the seatbelts worn. This is a legal requirement, and as a school, should we witness any breaches, we would be obligated to record the incident and pass on relevant details to the police. While this is not a step we wish to take, it is our responsibility to ensure children’s safety is never compromised.
Useful Contacts
Together, we will ensure that every child at Highfield Priory feels safe, supported, and able to aim high. Thank you for being such an important part of our safeguarding partnership.
Warm regards
Mrs A Morrice
