Safeguarding encompasses the actions and procedures we adopt to promote the welfare of our pupils and protect them from harm. We firmly believe that safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility; each individual who interacts with children and their families plays a vital role.
Whether you’re a parent, neighbour, or family friend, you might notice something about a child that worries you. You could be the only one to spot it, or be aware of a detail that others have missed. It’s important you know what to do. You can find more information on the NSPCC website.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/listen-up-speak-up/
Or you contact their Helpline to speak to one of their counsellors. Call them on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk
Our culture promotes an attitude of “it could happen here,” encouraging staff to raise concerns regarding any risk to a child, ensuring a vigilant and proactive approach to safeguarding. We employ a robust safeguarding framework, which includes the prompt reporting of any cause for concern to the School Safeguarding Team, initially communicated verbally and subsequently documented in accordance with school policy. All staff members receive comprehensive child protection training upon joining, with refresher sessions provided throughout the year. We are committed to maintaining open communication with parents, sharing relevant concerns as early as possible—whether they pertain to a child's emotional state, persistent lateness, or disclosures made by the child.
Keeping Children Safe Online
In today’s digital age, ensuring the safety of our children online is of paramount importance. At Loxwood, we are committed to supporting our pupils in navigating the internet responsibly, fostering their understanding of safe practices both within the school environment and beyond.
We provide comprehensive guidance to our pupils on how to showcase their digital literacy while adherently protecting themselves from potential online threats. We firmly believe in the importance of age-appropriate content, and as such, all games and DVDs utilised within the school premises are rated as Universal (U). For additional resources — including clips from PG-rated films in Key Stage 2 — parental permission is always sought prior to use.
In accordance with legal guidelines, we also enforce strict policies regarding social media. Children within primary school age are not permitted to use platforms such as Facebook during school hours. We encourage our parent and carer community to refrain from mentioning the school, staff, or other pupils on any social media sites, as well as from sharing photographs from school events.
Further advice for parents about keeping pupils safe online, see links below.
Advice on Bullying
At Loxwood, we are committed to fostering an environment where children feel safe, calm, and happy, enabling them to effectively self-regulate their emotions. Our therapeutic approach to managing behaviour is rooted in the belief that children learn best under these conditions. We value pro-social behaviour and ensure that all staff work collaboratively to support this ethos.
Our anti-bullying policy is underpinned by the principles of Therapeutic Thinking, which is endorsed by West Sussex County Council. Integral to this policy is our dedicated behaviour curriculum, where children are taught to differentiate between valued and detrimental behaviours. This curriculum emphasises understanding the repetitive nature of bullying, distinguishing between difficult and dangerous behaviour.
As a TELLING school, we encourage a culture of openness whereby any individual aware of bullying is expected to report it to the staff. Bullying in any form is entirely unacceptable within our school community and will not be tolerated. We take all reported incidents seriously, ensuring that responses are prompt and effective, in line with our anti-bullying policy.
We recognise that parents play a crucial role in this dialogue. If you have concerns regarding your child, whether related to bullying or being bullied, we urge you to contact their class teacher to facilitate timely and appropriate intervention. For further clarity, please refer to the flowchart provided. Together, we can uphold a positive and safe learning environment for all our students.
Here at Loxwood, we take any allegations of bullying very seriously. We teach our children about bullying through our Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Emotional (PSHCE) Curriulum, our Relationships and Health Education (RHE) Curriculum and assemblies.
