Franche Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We pride ourselves on our safeguarding culture and practice, and much of this involves the close working partnership that we have with our parents. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding Children Policy.
As part of our safeguarding culture our team aim to:
- Provide help and support as soon as a problem emerges.
- Protect children from maltreatment - inside or outside of the family home.
- Prevent impairment of physical or mental health.
- Act by sharing information or concerns to enable children to have the best outcomes.
Useful Contacts:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead: Paula Woodward (01562 751788 ext 1011)
- Safeguarding Governor: Mark Hughes
Safeguarding Action Squad (S.A.S.)
This fabulous group of children have been nominated to be part of the SAS for 2024 to 2025. They have lots of exciting plans to build on the hard work that took place last year to gain pupil voice from across school and to work on projects to help keep children understand how to keep safe in school, out of school and online. Watch this space for updates across the year.
If you have concerns that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm you should contact:
Family Front Door: 01905 822666
Family Front Door: 01905 768020 (out of hours team)
If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm you should contact:
The Police: 999
Family Front Door: 01905 822666
Family Front Door: 01905 768020 (out of hours team)
If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm you should contact:
The Police: 999
If you are worried about a child, you can make a referral to Children's Services via the NSPCC.
Early Help
Early Help is an important part of supporting our children and their families as soon as a problem emerges, with the aim to stop problems escalating. Franche Community Primary School offers extensive Early Help which is tailored to support individual needs. Sometimes families needs a little bit more help that goes beyond what school can offer. At these times, we work in partnership with the family and external Early Help agencies to bring about the best outcomes for children and families.
Early Help is an important part of supporting our children and their families as soon as a problem emerges, with the aim to stop problems escalating. Franche Community Primary School offers extensive Early Help which is tailored to support individual needs. Sometimes families needs a little bit more help that goes beyond what school can offer. At these times, we work in partnership with the family and external Early Help agencies to bring about the best outcomes for children and families.
Please visit the Parent and Carers tab above, and then navigate to the Supporting Families and Wellbeing page for lots more information including termly newsletters full of advice and signposting to support in our community.
Links to local and national agency advisory services to support parents and carers:
Contact numbers for support:
West Mercia Women's Aid (Kidderminster):
0800 980 3331
National Domestic Abuse Helpline:
0808 2000 247
The Men's Advice Line:
0808 801 0327
The Mix (under 25s):
0808 808 4994
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline:
0800 999 5428
Samaritans (24/7 service):
116 123
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a national police and education intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse. The police share information with our setting about all police attended domestic abuse incidents. The information is confidential and allows the Designated Safeguarding Lead to support young people to ensure practical and emotional wellbeing needs are met.
PCSO's (Police Community Support Officers)
Franche work closely with our local PCSOs, Kate and Nicky, to provide children with an understanding of how to keep themselves safe in school and the wider community. At Franche we are lucky that the PCSO's have an office on our school site and therefore the children have good relationships, have an increased sense of safety and understand the value in the support they offer school.
Franche work closely with our local PCSOs, Kate and Nicky, to provide children with an understanding of how to keep themselves safe in school and the wider community. At Franche we are lucky that the PCSO's have an office on our school site and therefore the children have good relationships, have an increased sense of safety and understand the value in the support they offer school.
Kate Easthope
PCSO
Email: kate.easthope@westmercia.police.uk
Mobile: 07773 046202
Nichola Thomas
PCSO
Email: nichola.thomas@westmercia.police.uk
Mobile: 0777 3044701
Online Safety
Online Safety is a crucial part of safeguarding children. Alongside the school curriculum, it is important that parent/carers talk to their children about how to keep themselves safe and know what websites and/or social media children are using.
Online Safety is a crucial part of safeguarding children. Alongside the school curriculum, it is important that parent/carers talk to their children about how to keep themselves safe and know what websites and/or social media children are using.
Filtering & Monitoring
Franche Community Primary School will do all we reasonably can to limit children’s exposure to any risks from the school’s IT system. As part of this process, governing bodies will ensure the school has appropriate filters and monitoring systems in place. At Franche we use a system called Securus which is monitored weekly.
Further reading to support families keep their children safe online:
NSPCC Keeping Children Safe Online
Internet Matters (includes age guides, cyberbullying and presentations)
Digital Parenting Magazine
#Ditto Magazine
NSPCC Keeping Children Safe Online
Internet Matters (includes age guides, cyberbullying and presentations)
Digital Parenting Magazine
#Ditto Magazine
Attendance
School education lays vital foundations in a child’s life. Research proves the link between regular school attendance and educational progress and attainment. At Franche Community Primary School we work in partnership with parents/carers to make pupils’ school experience positive and to ensure every child reaches their full potential.
Parent/Carers have a duty to ensure that their child of compulsory school age receives a full-time education. At Franche our aspiration is for children to attend school 100% of the time; however, the national average is 96%. Therefore, we strive for every child to attend school 96% and above.
School education lays vital foundations in a child’s life. Research proves the link between regular school attendance and educational progress and attainment. At Franche Community Primary School we work in partnership with parents/carers to make pupils’ school experience positive and to ensure every child reaches their full potential.
Parent/Carers have a duty to ensure that their child of compulsory school age receives a full-time education. At Franche our aspiration is for children to attend school 100% of the time; however, the national average is 96%. Therefore, we strive for every child to attend school 96% and above.
Attendance Officer: Mrs Ellis
Email: attendance@francheprimary.worcs.sch.uk
Designated Senior Lead for Attendance: Paula Woodward
Email: safeguarding@francheprimary.worcs.sch.uk
Contact: 01562 751788
Elective Home Education
Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children, who are of compulsory school age, receive a full time education which is suitable to their age, aptitude, ability and to any special educational needs that they might have. In England, parents can fulfill this duty by sending children to school or electing to home educate them and therefore taking responsibility for the educational arrangements. Deciding to educate children at home is a tremendous investment in time and energy and there are many considerations to be made.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children, who are of compulsory school age, receive a full time education which is suitable to their age, aptitude, ability and to any special educational needs that they might have. In England, parents can fulfill this duty by sending children to school or electing to home educate them and therefore taking responsibility for the educational arrangements. Deciding to educate children at home is a tremendous investment in time and energy and there are many considerations to be made.
Fostering
A new campaign from Worcestershire County Council is hailing Fostering as 'The Best Job In The World'. The best part about fostering is knowing that you are making a positive difference to a child or young person’s life. You will be helping them to build a better future, by providing care and support at a time when they need it most.
Private Fostering
A new campaign from Worcestershire County Council is hailing Fostering as 'The Best Job In The World'. The best part about fostering is knowing that you are making a positive difference to a child or young person’s life. You will be helping them to build a better future, by providing care and support at a time when they need it most.
Private Fostering
- Arranged privately without the support of the Local Authority. A fostered child is a child under 16 (or 18 if disabled) who is being cared for, for 28 days or more, by an adult who is not their close relative.
- It is usually a cousin or great aunt, a friend of the family, or someone who has agreed to take care of the child by private arrangement without involving the council; close relative is defined as step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts (whether of full blood, half blood or by marriage).
- The parent is still legally responsible for their child.
- The Local Authority must be informed by the parent or the foster carer if a child is being privately fostered. School have a duty of care to inform the Local Authority if a private fostering arrangement comes to their attention.
- Children’s Services have a legal duty to ensure children in this situation are safe and well.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone - doing nothing is not an option!
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Paula Woodward (Ext 1011)
Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Dixon
Franche Primary School: 01562 751788
Family Front Door: 01905 822666
Family Front Door: 01905 768020 (out of hours)
If a child is at immediate risk of harm, call the police.