Safeguarding

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to your child at school, we suggest that you arrange a safeguarding meeting with the Head Teacher or Deputy Head and the Designated Safeguarding Lead.  The Head Teacher needs to be involved as they are responsible for the pupils of the school and can advise you on how the school are keeping your child safe.  The school might have already carried out a Risk Assessment and you can ask for this to be shared with you at the meeting. 

The school’s Safeguarding Policy should follow the Department for Education Keeping Children Safe in Education.  You can read this guidance and school policy then check with the school their safeguarding protocols, in order to ensure they are being followed.

The safeguarding meeting will be to discuss the safeguarding steps and how this is being managed during the school day.  Here are some points you can consider bringing to the meeting:-

• Have the local authority been notified of the safeguarding concerns?
• What guidance is being followed specific to your child?
• Will the staff be given any safeguarding training?
• How will this safeguarding concern be monitored and reviewed?
• Who is your child’s named person they can talk to if they need to?
• How is your child safeguarded at unsupervised times, such as break times and lunchtimes?

Having reported your concerns, the school would need to take action and evaluate any immediate risk.  We would advise that you request the school puts in writing to you the steps they are going to take following the safeguarding concerns you have raised with them.  We would also suggest they confirm in writing that they are following the school’s Safeguarding policy in relation to the safeguarding concerns raised.  This policy will be on the school’s website.

The school might seek specialist advice from the local authority on what action to take.  It would be advisable to clarify the position with the school as to the steps that have been taken and who is involved from the local authority.

If you have already raised your concerns with the school and are dissatisfied with the response you can then write and involve the school governors.  You can read our information on Raising Concerns. 

You must follow the schools complaints procedure before you complain about a school

Use this service Report serious teacher misconduct - GOV.UK to report serious teacher misconduct in England if you’re:

• a member of the public
• an employer

You should follow the school’s complaints process before reporting a teacher for serious misconduct.  Your report may not be investigated unless you do.

You can read further information from Essex County Council here: Report a concern about a member of the workforce.