We have 7 designated safeguarding leaders at Coxheath. Please ask to speak to one of us if you have any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of any pupil.

Designated Safeguarding Leaders: Mr G. Mazza, Mrs B. Evenden, Mrs E. Webber, Mrs A. Cheeseman, Mrs S. Grimley, Mr D. Flisher and Mrs R. Knight.

Our child focused approach to Safeguarding

• Coxheath Primary school recognises our statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and all those directly connected (staff, volunteers, governors, leaders, parents, families, and pupils) are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children and have an essential role to play in making this community safe and secure.
• We believe that the best interests of children always come first. All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account and all children regardless of age, sex (gender), ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity or orientation, have equal rights to protection.
• Staff working with children at Coxheath Primary school will maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. When concerned about the welfare of a child, staff will always act in the best interests of the child and if any member of our community has a safeguarding concern about any child or adult, they should act and act immediately.
• We recognise the importance of providing an ethos and environment that will help children to be safe and to feel safe. In our trust children are respected and are encouraged to talk openly. We will ensure children’s wishes and feelings are taken into account when determining what safeguarding action to take and what services to provide.
• Our core safeguarding principles are:
  • Prevention: positive, supportive, safe culture, curriculum and pastoral opportunities for children, safer recruitment procedures.
  • Protection: following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to recognise and respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns.
  • Support: for all pupils, parents and staff, and where appropriate specific interventions are required for those who may be at risk of harm.
  • Collaboration with parents and other agencies: to ensure timely, appropriate communications and actions are undertaken when safeguarding concerns arise.

Need online safety advice? 

Prevent Strategy

As part of our commitment to safeguarding and child protection, we fully support the government's Prevent Strategy, and take guidance from Teaching Approaches to help build resilience to extremism.

What is the Prevent Strategy?

The Prevent strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It:

• responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
• provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
• works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health)

Please click here for a link to the official government document.

Click here for information and advice on Child Sexual Exploitation, County Lines or Female Genital Mutilation.

 

Local Support

All members of staff in all Trust schools are made aware of local support available.

• Contact details for Area Safeguarding Adviser (Education Safeguarding Team)
• West Kent – Gemma Willson – Area Safeguarding Adviser / Joanne Barnett – Area Safeguarding Assistant/ Rachel Unsworth – Admin Support
• 03000 412284 / 07540 677200
• Gemma.willsn@kent.gov.uk / janne.barnett@kent.gov.uk

Contact details for Online Safety in the Education Safeguarding Team

• Rebecca Avery, Education Safeguarding Adviser (Online Protection):
• Ashley Assiter, e-Safety Development Officer
• 03000 415797
• esafetyofficer@kent.gov.uk (non-urgent issues only)

Contact details for the LADO

• Telephone: 03000 410888
• Email: kentchildrenslado@kent.gov.uk

Childrens Social Work Services

• Central Duty Team: 03000 411111
• Out of Hours Number: 03000 419191

Kent Police

• 101 (or 999 if there is an immediate risk of harm)

Kent Safeguarding Children Bard (KSCB)

• kscb@kent.gov.uk
• 03000 421126