Darrick Wood Junior School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that reflect this commitment and, individually and collectively, help to create an environment where the safety, well-being, health and happiness of all pupils is the highest priority. All of our children must come to school in the knowledge that they are safe and that they are loved.

This page provides an overview of some of the school’s policies, systems and procedures that help us to protect our pupils in school and also support them in making choices that will help to keep them safe away from school.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

The school has a dedicated Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, based on agreed national and Trust guidelines, which sets out its approach to keeping children safe.

Many of the school’s key systems and procedures, particularly those related to disclosures and allegations, are set out in the policy which also reflects the statutory requirements in the Department for Education document Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2023). The school also has a child-friendly version of the policy which is on display in every classroom. This presents our key safeguarding measures in child-friendly terms and advises children on what to do if they have a concern.

DWJS Safeguarding Team

The school's Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL) is Mr Hackin.

Mr Kilgour has also undertaken DSL training and Mrs Heath and Mrs Cox have attended Deputy DSL training. Together they constitute the school’s Safeguarding Team. All safeguarding concerns are managed and responded to by the DSL or a member of this team.

Any concerns around safeguarding children at DWJS can be emailed to the team via safeguardingdwjs@solamat.co.uk. Urgent concerns should be raised in person - please contact the school office or come into school to speak to a member of the team.

Reporting Abuse  in Education

Safeguarding children is at the heart of our ethos.  We ensure that all policies embed the guidance from Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2023) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (July 2018).

With the recent publication of historic experiences of sexual assault and abuse, the government and NSPCC are working together to ensure victims are signposted to support. The dedicated NSPCC Helpline-Report Abuse in Education-launched on 1st April 2021) and can be contacted by phone 0800 136 663, or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk

As educators, we understand how important it is that our children are empowered to speak up about things that make them feel uncomfortable or they don’t feel are right. Our Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) focuses on important issues in an age appropriate way, such as personal privacy, consent and challenging stereotypes about gender.

Our whole school approach to RSHE takes children and young people’s safety, including their safety online, very seriously and aims to equip them to lead safe, happy and healthy lives.  Parents who would like further information in this respect are encouraged to contact their child's class teacher or the school office in the first instance. Further resources to support parents with online safety can be found here.