Safeguarding
At Valley Invicta Primary School at East Borough, we are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and expect all staff, Governors and volunteers to share this commitment. We have a number of polices and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment. Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies where there are concerns about a child's welfare.
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) are:
- Mrs Lydia Vincett (Head of School and DSL)
- Mrs Meg Covey (Deputy Headteacher and Deputy DSL)
- Mrs Sally Seymour (Assistant Headteacher, Year 6 teacher and Deputy DSL)
- Mrs Stephanie Clarke (Family Liaison Officer and Deputy DSL)
- Mrs Vickie Gocmen (SENCO and Deputy DSL)
- Mrs Charlotte McClymont (Year 2 teacher and Online Safety Deputy DSL)
- Mrs Gemma Heckels (Foundation Teacher and EYFS Deputy DSL)
- Mrs Charlotte McGivern (Governor responsible for Safeguarding)
You can see our safeguarding poster here.
The DSLs receive regular update training from Kent County Council and all staff at East Borough receive safeguarding training each year led by our team of DSLs. The training covers topics such as signs and symptoms of abuse, how to record and report incidents, how to help pupils stay safe online, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Prevent (radicalisation and extremism), gang culture and Child Sexual Exploitation(CSE).
If you have any concerns about the welfare of a child at our school, please contact the school office in confidence and ask to speak to any of our DSLs.
Telephone: 01622 754633
office@eastborough.viat.org.uk
If you are concerned about the safety of a child outside of school hours, there are several ways you can report your concerns. If you are aware of a situation that places any children at immediate risk of harm, please call the police on 999.
Kent Children’s Social Services can be contacted on 03000 41 11 11 or social.services@kent.gov.uk if you would like advice on what action to take.
Alternatively, you can make a referral via the social services website https://kccchildrens.kent.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/home
Finally, the NSPCC helpline are available for advice on 0808 800 5000.
There is also Safeguarding Guidance for the Christmas Period.
Read our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy here.
Read our Child-Friendly Safeguarding Policy here.
You can read the Keeping Children Safe in Education document here.
NSPCC's Speak Out, Stay Safe Programme
In term 2 the children took part in the NSPCC’s "Speak out. Stay safe" programme. Unfortunately, the NSPCC couldn’t visit our school so instead they provided virtual assemblies for both key stages to help our pupils have the knowledge and understanding they need to stay safe from abuse. This is a nationwide programme for every primary-school-aged child in the UK and Channel Islands. They use their friendly mascot Buddy to help children to feel empowered – knowing how they can speak out and stay safe.
If you would like any more information about the NSPCC's "Speak out. Stay safe" programme, including frequently asked questions, you can find it on the NSPCC website nspcc.org.uk/schools
The NSPCC’s work in schools will help encourage conversations about staying safe – and they have a number of child-friendly materials to help you carry on the conversation afterwards. That includes ‘The Underwear Rule’, a simple way for parents and carers to help keep children safe from sexual abuse – without using scary words or even mentioning sex.
The guide uses the rules of PANTS to teach children that their body belongs to them and them alone. You can find out more and download the free resources at nspcc.org.uk/pants
If you’d like to know more about the NSPCC’s work, or take a look at the wide range of information and advice which is available for parents and carers, please visit their website https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/
Safeguarding Update - Term 5 2024
Click here to read the Safeguarding Update for Term 5.