Safeguarding
At Blacko Primary School, we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.
We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children and adults feel respected and valued.
We maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned and promote a culture of openness where children and adults are able to talk and are listened to.
For a copy of our school Safeguarding policy, please see our School Policy page.
Our school Designated Safegurading Lead is: Mrs Kate Richards krichards@blacko.penninetrust.org
Our school Governor for Safeguarding is: Mrs Hilary Wilson bursar@blacko.penninetrust.org
Operation Encompass
Blacko Primary School is participating in the Operation Encompass partnership scheme, between local schools, academies, colleges, community health agencies, and Lancashire Police.
Operation Encompass was set up to provide early reporting to schools etc., about any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school hours to which a young person attending our school has been exposed, and which might then have an impact on their schooling the following day. This information will be shared throughout the year, including school holidays and the weekends.
Operation Encompass was first introduced in Plymouth in February 2011, and has proved very effective in providing appropriate and timely support to young people affected by domestic abuse. This initiative has been implemented across the whole of the Lancashire Police area. If you would like some more information about it, you can view it online at www.operationencompass.org.
Information will only be shared with the school by the police where it is identified that a young person was present, witnessed or was involved in a domestic abuse incident.
At Blacko, nominated members of staff, known as an Encompass Key Adults, have been trained to liaise with the police. These Key Adults are the school Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and the Deputy DSL. They will be able to use information that has been shared with them, in confidence, to ensure that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children or their families. The Key Adults will keep this information confidential, and will only share it on a need to know basis, for instance, to teaching staff for the child or young person. It will not be shared it with other school students.
We are keen to offer the best support possible for our pupils and a recent review of Operation Encompass showed that it is beneficial and supportive for all those involved.
E-Safety
Here are some helpful links on E-Safety:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/article-internet-use-and-safety