Safeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Should you have immediate concerns for the welfare or safety of a child, you must contact the police and/or Children Social Care on 0300 123 6720
Protecting Your Children...
Highfield Priory fully recognises the contribution we can make to protect children from harm and to support and promote the welfare of all children.
The school has a duty at all times to consider the best interests of the pupil, and to take action to keep all pupils safe.
Safeguarding Leads
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Morrice.
We have a team of dedicated safeguarding leads at the school, who have all completed up-to-date training on Child Protection. Members of our safeguarding team can be contacted by phoning the school number: 01772 709624.
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
- Mrs Cottom
- Mr Duke
- Mrs Elstone
- Mrs Hughes
- Mrs Marskell
- Mrs Mulla
- Miss Ryan
Our governor responsible for safeguarding is Judy Nairn.
Safeguarding Documents
We have a range of safeguarding policies that set out how we keep children safe and support their welfare in all aspects of school life. Our policies are reviewed regularly to make sure they meet the latest guidance and best practice.
Read Our Policies
Safeguarding
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. The school adopts a ‘whole school’ approach to safeguarding, ensuring safeguarding and child protection are at the forefront and underpin all relevant aspects of process and policy development.
Safer Recruitment
The school is committed to safer recruitment processes to create a culture that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children in the school whilst deterring and preventing people who are unsuitable to work with children from applying, securing employment or volunteering within the school.
Whistleblowing
The Governing Body are committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity and accountability. In line with that commitment we expect employees, and others that we deal with, who have serious concerns about any aspect of the school’s work to come forward and voice those concerns. It is recognised that most cases will have to proceed on a confidential basis.
Internet Safety
IT and online resources are used increasingly across the curriculum. We believe it is essential for e-safety guidance to be given to pupils on a regular and meaningful basis. We continually look for new opportunities to promote e-safety and regularly monitor and assess our pupils’ understanding of it.
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse. Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved.
Early Help
At Highfield Priory, we believe that identifying and addressing concerns early can make a significant difference to a child’s wellbeing, development and success.
Early Help is about providing support as soon as a need emerges, before difficulties escalate. We offer a range of support within school, including our weekly ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ sessions, where pupils take part in age-appropriate discussions and activities that promote emotional wellbeing and resilience. Our Mental Health Lead, Mrs Jones, is available to listen and provide support when needed, and pupils can access our dedicated Wellbeing Room, which offers a calm, nurturing environment with comfortable seating, sensory resources and fidget tools. Every classroom also has a Pupil Voice Box, enabling children to share worries, concerns or requests for support in a way that feels comfortable to them. Where appropriate, we work closely with families and external agencies to ensure that children receive the right support at the right time.
Internet Safety
It is the duty of Highfield Priory to ensure that every pupil in its care is safe; and the same principles apply to the digital world as apply to the real world.
IT and online communications provide unrivalled opportunities for enhanced learning in addition to traditional methods, but also pose greater and more subtle risks to young people. Our pupils are therefore taught how to stay safe in the online environment and how to mitigate risks, including but not limited to the risk of identity theft, bullying, harassment, grooming, stalking, abuse and radicalisation. New technologies are continually enhancing communication, the sharing of information, learning, social interaction and leisure activities.
Read More
At Highfield Priory, we understand the responsibility to educate our pupils on e-safety issues; teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking skills necessary to enable them to remain both safe and within the law when using the internet and related technologies in and beyond the classroom. We also understand the importance of involving pupils in discussions about e-safety and listening to their fears and anxieties as well as their thoughts and ideas.
Inappropriate Content
Despite the many benefits of the internet, children may occasionally encounter content that is upsetting, frightening or unsuitable for their age. We encourage pupils to leave the content immediately and speak to a trusted adult, reassuring them that they will always be supported if something they see online causes them concern.
Cyberbullying
Bullying can take place online through social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms and group chats. Through our PSHEE and ICT lessons as well as dedicated assemblies, we promote respectful online behaviour and help pupils understand how to recognise, report and respond appropriately to cyberbullying. We encourage all children to speak to a trusted adult if they experience or witness unkind behaviour online.
Online Gaming
Online gaming provides many opportunities for children to communicate, collaborate and have fun. As part of our online safety curriculum, we teach pupils how to use privacy settings appropriately, avoid communicating with people they do not know, protect their personal information, report inappropriate behaviour and maintain a healthy balance between gaming and other activities.
Online Grooming
Children can be approached online through games, social media, messaging apps and live streaming platforms by people pretending to be someone they are not. At Highfield Priory, we educate our pupils to recognise the warning signs of online grooming, understand the importance of protecting their personal information and know how to seek support from a trusted adult if they ever feel worried, uncomfortable or unsafe.
Sextortion
Sextortion is an online crime where a person uses threats, manipulation or deception to pressure someone into sharing intimate images or personal information. As part of our online safety education, we encourage children to protect their privacy online and to seek help from a trusted adult immediately if they encounter anything that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Critical Thinking Online: Misinformation, Scams and Phishing
Developing critical thinking skills is an essential part of staying safe online. At Highfield Priory, we encourage our pupils to question the information they encounter, recognising that not everything online is accurate, reliable or genuine. Children are taught how to identify fake news, misleading information, online scams, suspicious messages, fake competitions and attempts to obtain personal information. We encourage pupils to think carefully before clicking links, downloading files or sharing information online, and to seek information from trusted sources before believing or sharing content.
Healthy Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing
Technology plays an important role in children’s learning and daily lives. We encourage pupils to develop healthy digital habits by maintaining a balanced lifestyle that includes time for physical activity, sleep, family life and interests away from screens, while recognising when excessive screen time may affect their wellbeing.
Privacy and Personal Information
Understanding how to protect personal information is a key aspect of online safety. At Highfield, we teach our pupils what information should remain private, the importance of creating strong passwords, making use of privacy settings and understanding how additional security measures can help keep their online accounts secure.
AI and Emerging Technologies
As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly common part of everyday life, we help pupils understand how to use AI safely and responsibly. Children are encouraged to think critically about AI-generated information, recognising that it may not always be accurate, and are reminded never to share personal information when using AI tools or online services.
Respectful Online Behaviour
We encourage all Highfield Priory pupils to be respectful, responsible and considerate whenever they are communicating online. Children are reminded that the same expectations for behaviour apply in the digital world as they do in school and that the choices they make online contribute to their digital reputation.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We recognise that promoting online safety is most effective when schools and families work together. We encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their child’s online activity, make use of parental controls where appropriate, know which apps, games and websites their child is accessing and maintain open conversations so that children feel confident seeking help if they have any concerns.
Safety Posters
