Maharishi School
Safeguarding your child at maharishi school
knowledge is structured in consciousness
IN THIS SECTION
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding means:
› Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
› Preventing harm to children’s health or development
› Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
› Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
Schools play an essential role in protecting children from abuse. Staff have close, regular contact with children and young people. They’re in a strong position to:
› Identify child protection concerns early
› Provide help and support
› Help children understand how to stay safe from abuse
› Refer a child to relevant agencies
At Maharishi School it is our view that everyone has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity.
We do this by establishing, implementing and following good safeguarding policies and procedures including safe recruitment.
We ensure that all staff and volunteers are aware of and follow Maharishi School’s safeguarding policies and procedures
We ensure that all staff and volunteers receive child protection training.
MAHARISHI SCHOOL SAFEGUARDING POLICY
| Designated Safeguarding Leads | ||
|---|---|---|
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Lisa Edwards
Parental Engagment & E-Safety Lead |
‘Parental Engagement’ is included in our list of DSL roles because research shows that parents being engaged with their children’s learning in the form of ‘at home good parenting’ has a significant positive effect on children’s achievement and adjustment. Children are more likely to be vulnerable or ‘at risk’ of harm in cases where parents find it more difficult to engage with their child’s school. Therefore we are committed to:
– regular, meaningful and two-way communication between school and home. – support for parents to assist their child’s learning. – the promotion of ‘good parenting’ and supporting our families by directing them to appropriate organisations. – engaging parents in decisions that affect their children, for example through online surveys. – strengthening community collaboration in order to enhance student’s learning, strengthen families and improve our school. Within the E-Safety role I am responsible for ensuring that the children’s e-safety is all of our priority within our school. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, we make sure our approach is child-centred. As we are all aware, the use of the internet has become fully integrated into the lives, and often the education, of young people. In response to this, schools are now expected to produce official guidelines promoting the safe and responsible use of the internet and digital devices amongst its pupils and staff. I am responsible for ensuring that we are all aware of our school’s e-safety policy and procedures. We also have a child friendly e-safety policy which is shared with the children and signed by them. |
 |
Laura Gaskell
Child Sexual Exploitation Lead |
My role as a Designated Safeguarding Lead involves Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). CSE is often a hidden crime, as the victims don’t usually realise that they are being used/abused; quite often they believe that they are in a loving relationship with their abuser, which makes it difficult for them to receive help. Schools are in an ideal position to notice any signs of potential abuse of young people. We are constantly on the look-out for changes in behaviour, such as: absences, anxiety, changes in eating habits as well as pupils’ overall demeanour. These changes can be indicators of many things, including CSE. |
 |
Audrey O’Neill
Prevent Lead
|
As DSL responsible for Prevent, I make sure that the school has a system in place which ensures that all staff in the school are trained to recognise these issues (via the Channel programme) and that they know how to report any concerns. I would then liaise with the West Lancashire Prevent team who will pursue the matter if needed. |
 |
Lisa Walters
Early Help, Family Support & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) |
Early intervention involves identifying children and families that may be at risk of running into difficulties and may need help from different external agencies in order to provide timely and effective support. Adverse childhood experiences are stressful or traumatic events, including abuse and neglect. They may also include household dysfunction such as witnessing domestic violence or growing up with family members who have substance use disorders. My role is to identify pupils and families who may have experienced some of these events and provide them with the support that they need. |
 |
Ellen Freel
Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead |
I am the school’s Senior Mental Health Lead and my role is focused on pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. I lead on the whole school approach to mental health using a coordinated and evidence-informed approach. My aim is to support improved emotional health and wellbeing in children and young people, leading to a greater readiness to learn. |
Our Responsibilities
The school environment must be a safe place for children. And schools must ensure that adults, who work in the school, including volunteers, don’t pose a risk to children. We have:
› A Safeguarding policy
› Safeguarding procedures
› Designated leads for child protection – both on the board of trustees and in the senior management team.
› Safe recruitment processes
The school environment must be a safe place for children. And schools must ensure that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, don’t pose a risk to children.
Should you have a safeguarding concern please call the school or email enquiries@maharishischool.com as your first point of contact.
Helpful Links for Parents
Young People’s Rights on Social Media
The Children’s Commissioner for England and Tes (Times Educational Supplement) have produced simplified terms and conditions for Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook to help parents and carers support their children to manage their rights and privacy online.
http://www.esafety-adviser.
This website has lots of information and guidance but also the option to sign up for a free e-safety magazine, aimed at parents and schools.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Guide to internet safety and safe surfing for young people
http://parentinfo.org/
Expert information to help children and young people stay safe online. This website has lots of interesting articles ranging from ‘Helping your child cope with media coverage on traumatic events’ to ‘Fitness apps – a cause for concern?’.
http://email.nspcc.org.uk/q/
NSPCC on Parental controls ‘Innocent searches online can sometimes lead to not so innocent results’.