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 practice and much of this involves the close working partnership that we have with our parents. We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding Children Policy.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parent/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare. We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism, and Operation Encompass to support children and young people exposed to domestic abuse.
Useful Contacts:
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parent/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare. We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism, and Operation Encompass to support children and young people exposed to domestic abuse.
Useful Contacts:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Woodward (01562 751788 ext 1011)
- Safeguarding Governor: Mark Hughes
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: 101 or 999
All adults who work in school have a responsibility to read and understand all safeguarding policies and act in accordance at all times.
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: 101 or 999
All adults who work in school have a responsibility to read and understand all safeguarding policies and act in accordance at all times.
What support is available?
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
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.
Links to national and local agency advisory services to support parents and carers:
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.
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.
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 December 2021 (latest edition) that focuses on online sexual harassment, TikTok and Instagram
NSPCC Keeping Children Safe Online
Internet Matters (includes age guides, cyberbullying and presentations)
Digital Parenting Magazine
#Ditto Magazine December 2021 (latest edition) that focuses on online sexual harassment, TikTok and Instagram
Information
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.
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.
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 (Ext 1002)
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.