Keeping Children Safe

Safeguarding is much more than responding to concerns. It is about creating a culture where children feel safe, happy and able to learn.

Every day, we work to promote children's wellbeing, protect them from harm and help them develop the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe.

Our Safeguarding Approach

Safeguarding at Ainslie Wood Primary School is about much more than responding to concerns. It is about creating a culture where every child feels safe, respected, included and able to achieve their full potential.

We believe that safeguarding is most effective when it is proactive rather than reactive. By building positive relationships, promoting children's wellbeing and working closely with families, we aim to identify concerns early and provide the right support at the right time.

Our approach is built around four key principles:

Building Positive Relationships

Children are more likely to talk about their worries when they feel known, valued and listened to. We place relationships at the centre of school life and strive to ensure that every child has trusted adults they can turn to for support.

Promoting Wellbeing and Personal Development

Safeguarding is embedded throughout our curriculum. Through our Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum, assemblies, wellbeing activities and wider curriculum, children learn how to:

• recognise healthy and respectful relationships;
• keep themselves safe, both online and offline;
• understand consent, boundaries and personal safety;
• develop resilience, confidence and emotional wellbeing;
• recognise when something doesn't feel right and know how to seek help.

These important messages are revisited throughout a child's journey at Ainslie Wood, helping children develop the knowledge and confidence to make safe and positive choices.

Working in Partnership

We recognise that parents and carers know their children best. We value strong relationships with families and work collaboratively to provide support, celebrate success and overcome challenges together. When additional support is needed, we work closely with a range of external professionals and agencies to ensure children and families receive the help they need.

Creating a Safe Environment

Children can only thrive when they feel safe. We are committed to providing a nurturing, inclusive and secure environment where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Through staff training, robust safeguarding procedures, effective policies and a strong culture of vigilance, we work together to ensure every child is protected from harm.

Safeguarding in Action

Safeguarding is reflected in everything we do, including:

• A broad and progressive RSHE curriculum
• Online safety education
• Positive behaviour and wellbeing support
• Attendance and inclusion
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Pupil voice and participation
• Early Help for families
• Partnership working with external agencies
• Ongoing safeguarding training for all staff

How we keep children safe

• Safe recruitment
• Staff training
• DSL team
• Listening to children's voices
• Attendance
• Behaviour and wellbeing
• Online safety
• Curriculum
• Early Help
• Partnership working

Links to:

• Safeguarding Policy
• Behaviour Policy
• Attendance Policy
• Online Safety Policy

Information about

• Operation Encompass
  Operation Encompass is a national safeguarding partnership between schools and the police. It ensures that, when police attend an incident of domestic abuse where a child has been present, experienced or may have been affected, the school is informed on the next school day. This enables us to provide appropriate support, care and understanding for the child while they are at school. All information is treated confidentially and shared only with staff who need to know in order to support the child.
   
• The Prevent Duty
  As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, Ainslie Wood Primary School has a legal duty under the Prevent Duty to help protect children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism. Through our curriculum, promotion of British Values and a culture of respect, inclusion and critical thinking, we help children develop the knowledge and resilience to recognise and challenge harmful influences. If we have concerns that a child may be vulnerable to radicalisation, we will follow our safeguarding procedures and work with the appropriate agencies to ensure they receive the right support.
   
• Contextual Safeguarding
  Contextual Safeguarding recognises that children's experiences outside the home can have a significant impact on their safety and wellbeing. As children grow, they may encounter risks in their friendships, local community or online. Through strong relationships, education, early intervention and partnership working, we help children understand these risks, make safe choices and know where to seek help if something doesn't feel right.