Pupil safeguarding and the promotion of fundamental British values are a core business of our work at West Earlham Infant & Nursery School. Great importance is placed on identifying opportunities in the taught curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding. Our broad curriculum gives children opportunities to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that significantly impact on personal development, behaviour and welfare. It also equips every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding. Our PSHE & RHE curriculum taught through 'Circle time' cover all areas of Safeguarding. We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that subjects need to be taught at an age appropriate level, and often at a small group or 1:1 level, when a more urgent need arises.
We plan to constantly challenge children to think deeply about safeguarding matters and their own personal physical and mental wellbeing. We value childrens’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns. We give them opportunities across the curriculum to explore values, personal rights, responsibilities and equal opportunities that develop moral concepts that impact positively on safeguarding, promote British values and prevent radicalisation and extremism.
There are many opportunities throughout our learning in school to explore safeguarding issues.
Practical safeguarding opportunities are planned into the curriculum. For example:
- Road safety (including school visits, bikeability, work with police officers in the community)
- Poolside and water safety (swimming lessons (Y2) visit to Norfolk Broads and WEJS pond)
- Fire awareness (birthday candles on a cake, regular fire drills, bonfire night, visits from the local fire service)
- Visits to school from medical staff and police
- stranger danger, safety around touching and ingesting berries, toadstools, dangerous litter
- Awareness of feelings through daily check in board and use of High 5 of safe adults children can go to
- Use of NSPCC PANTS to help them understand their body belongs to them
- What to do if you are separated from your group (in relation to school visits)
- Safe use of technology, safe internet use.
We have developed an open and safe learning environment in which children express their views, seek help and help others. The promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity, for pupils and staff, helps prevent any form of direct or indirect discriminatory behaviour. Overtime, our children learn not to tolerate any prejudiced behaviour. Our behaviour policy promotes making good choices and exhibiting good learning behaviours.
Class times are time for sharing ideas, addressing concerns and promoting important values.
Assembly time and Circle times are used to promote personal safeguarding matters and explore themes. For example, we talk about anti- bullying including cyber bullying and British values including how these values are promoted in our multi – faith society.
Staff are quick to challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language in class and around school. Our school reflects the diversity of pupils’ experiences and provides pupils with a comprehensive understanding of people and communities beyond their immediate experience, including the role of women in society and different family groups including same sex couples. Throughout the curriculum there are planned opportunities to promote all forms of equality and foster greater understanding of and respect for people off all faiths (and those with no faith), races, genders, ages, disability and sexual orientations, through their words, actions and in their influence. Opportunities are created in a variety of subjects to address areas of safeguarding.
Time is taken at the beginning of every new school year to reaffirm school values, expectations and rules for living and learning. This good start to the year, with everyone clear about their roles and responsibilities, sets the tone for the rest of the year and leads to excellent safeguarding outcomes.
Parents are made aware of how to promote online safety, including use of mobile phone, with a monthly online safety newsletter
