Safeguarding

Our school is committed to ensuring the welfare of every child:

We have a culture where our children know they will be heard; we listen to and thoroughly investigate any allegation or disclosure from a child.
All staff have regularly updated Child Protection and safeguarding training.
All our adults know it is their responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils
We foster a culture of openness and support and have in place a Whistleblowing Policy to ensure there are clear procedures in place for dealing with allegations against staff which are in line with our Local Safeguarding Children Board’s procedures

Rufford's Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Mrs E Tilley - Head Teacher

Our Deputy Safeguarding Leads (Deputy DSLs) are:

Mr P Crosthwaite - Assistant Head Teacher for Teaching and Learning

Ms L Faux - Assistant Head Teacher for Inclusion SENCo)

Ms M Gallahan - Pastoral Manager

Mrs L Plant - HLTA and Pastoral Mentor

Ms P Laight - Headteacher's PA and Attendance Officer

Ms A Ciasullo - Rufford Base Leader

Our Safeguarding Team attend termly update meetings and regular training in all aspects of Safeguarding, including Prevent, Domestic Abuse, Neglect and Early Help and where applicable Safer Recruitment.

Every other member of staff in school including teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, site team, Governors and the office staff have Level 1 Safeguarding Training as a minimum, with many team members having furthered their training in other aspects of safeguarding children.

SAFEGUARDING AT RUFFORD – it’s everyone’s responsibility.

Here is a link to our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy:

SAFEGUARDING POLICY 2024-2025

This is written with reference to the Department for Education's Working Together to Safeguard Children document and the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education document. Here are links to those documents:

Working_together_to_safeguard_children

Keeping Children Safe in Education

What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused

If any parents, families or visitors have concerns about the welfare or safety of any children from Rufford Primary School, please contact any of our Safeguarding leaders without delay.

You can also contact the children’s services referral and advice service on 0300 555 0050 during office hours (9am – 5pm) or the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 555 8574 (out of hours). If you feel a child is in danger, you must call 999.

Here is the link for Dudley's Safeguarding website:

Dudley Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (Front Door)

Cause for Concern

Our first priority is of course your child’s welfare and school is required to take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its pupils. There may be occasions when we have reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse. We will ensure that our concerns about a child are discussed with his/her parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. In this case, school is obliged to follow the Child Protection procedures and inform the Social Services of the concern.

Our Early Help Offer

Rufford Primary School works to provide Early Help to those children and families in the school community with emerging needs, which may not be appropriate for Social Services intervention. Early Help means providing support to our children and families as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life.

We understand just how complicated family life can be. From time to time, there may be situations where you need some extra help and support. If things are not right at home, please come and talk to us.

We can help in many ways.

Here is the link to Dudley's Early Help Offer:

https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/care-and-health/children-and-family-care/early-help-for-children-and-families/

Useful Websites

Support for Parents

Relationships Education (RSE)

Childnet International - parent/carer Toolkit

Childline- coping with anxiety, stress & panic

Anti-bullying - https://www.ditchthelabel.org/bullying-support-hub/

Keeping your child safe - NSPCC Talking about difficult topics Talking about drugs and alcohol

NSPCC - keeping your child safe online

NSPCC - Preventing self -harm