At Cabot Primary School safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. Everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.
Cabot Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children by:
- The provision of a safe environment in which children and young people can learn.
- Fulfilling our statutory (legal) responsibilities to identify children who may be in need of extra help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.
Who to talk to in school
Should you have any safeguarding concerns you can contact any of our safeguarding leads through the school office on 0117 377 2630 or by email.
Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Mel Codling ([email protected]) (Vice Principal)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:
Felicity Llewelyn-Hodgson ([email protected]), Principal
Jade Thompson ([email protected]), Learning Mentor
Governor responsible for safeguarding:
Gemma Davis ([email protected])
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Anyone can contact the NSPCC Helpline whenever they are worried about a child by calling 0808 800 500, emailing [email protected], texting 88858 or contacting online via nspcc.org.uk/helpline. The service is free, available 24/7 and calls can be made anonymously. This service can also be used for general advice and guidance.
NSPCC – Keeping Children Safe https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/
PACE – Parents against child exploitation – https://paceuk.info/
Excalibur Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy – September 2024
Prevent Duty Statement
Cabot Primary School is fully behind the government’s Prevent Strategy and Educate Against Hate initiatives as part of our safeguarding of children.
From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools.
At Cabot Primary School we promote British Values (The Rule of Law, Democracy, Individual Liberty and Mutual Respect and Tolerance of the Beliefs of Others) and enable our pupils to challenge any extremist views.
The statutory guidance refers to the importance of Prevent awareness training to equip staff to identify pupils at risk of being drawn into terrorism and to challenge extremist ideas.
A core training programme has been developed by the Home Office for this purpose – Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent (WRAP).
Staff members at Cabot Primary School receive WRAP information sessions and annual training updates about Prevent is and how to deal with any concerns they may see inside or outside school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent groups and other causes.
From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence.
Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so 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.
These include:
- Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
- Challenging prejudices and racist comments
- Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they cannot access extremist and terrorist material, vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy.
British values include:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
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.
The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.
Extremism can take many forms, including political and religious extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.
We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Key Terms
Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Ideology – a set of beliefs
Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause
Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism. You can read our anti-radicalisation statement here.
Strategic Lead for Prevent
Felicity Llewelyn Hodgson ([email protected])- Principal
Strategic Lead for Young Carers
Felicity Llewelyn Hodgson ([email protected])- Principal
Strategic Lead for Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Felicity Llewelyn Hodgson ([email protected])- Principal