Safeguarding and Attendance
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, our Safeguarding policy can be downloaded above. The government publishes safeguarding guidance to schools every year in the form of Keeping Children Safe In Education.
The procedures which we follow have been laid down by the London Safeguarding Team and we take guidance issued by the DfE (Department for Education). The school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this, for the safety of all. On rare occasions our concern about a child may mean that we have to consult other agencies. We will ensure that all concerns are discussed with parent/carers first, before any referrals are made, unless we believe that such a move may be contrary to a child’s welfare.
The Local Authority requires all schools to report any obvious or suspected cases of child abuse. Schools are encouraged to take the attitude that where there are grounds for suspicion it is better to be safe than sorry. The procedure is intended to protect children who may be at risk. This does mean that Headteachers or designated safeguarding leads risk upsetting some parents by reporting a case that, on investigation, proves unfounded. We trust that parents will appreciate the sensitive nature of our role in protecting children, and are assured that we always aim to act in the best interest of the child.
Who is responsible for Safeguarding?
No single professional can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances. This policy applies to all staff, including paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, organisations contracted to deliver services within school; one-off visitors, students or anyone working on behalf of our school. Our policy relates to all children (anyone up to their 18th birthday) with whom Chapel End Infant School and Early Years Centre works.
Worried or concerned about a young person or child?
If you are worried that a child has suffered harm, neglect or abuse or, you are worried that a child may be at risk of suffering harm you should contact Janice Chaplin (Head Teacher), Karen Wishart, Antoinette Strydom or Danousia Brown (Designated Safeguarding Leads).
Alternatively, you can contact the MASH team (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) Call 020 8436 2310 or email MASHrequests@walthamforest.gov.uk
NSPCC
If you're worried about a child, even if you're unsure, you can speak to the NSPCC about your concerns. Whether you want to report child abuse and neglect or aren't sure what to do, they are there to listen, offer advice and support and can take the next steps if a child is in danger.
It is free to contact the NSPCC and you don’t have to say who you are. Call 0808 800 5000 between the hours of 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am and 2pm at the weekends. You can contact them outside of these hours by email at help@nspcc.org.uk or Report online If you think a child is in immediate danger call 999 and ask for police assistance.
Action for Children
Supports and speaks for the UK’s most vulnerable and neglected children and young people.
Safe and happy childhoods
We protect and support children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support. We ensure their voices are heard, and campaign to bring lasting improvements to their lives. Click here for further details.
Department for Education
The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
Click here for futher details.
Attendance
Being at school
Being at school is a very important part of any young person’s life.
It enables them to learn, to make friends, to gain important knowledge and to develop a variety of skills which will prepare them for adult life. School and parents are partners in making this a success. As parents or carers it is your responsibility to make sure that your child makes the most of this opportunity by attending regularly.
Children only attend school 190 out of 365 in a year - make each day count.
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Taking the register
Schools have a legal duty to record the attendance of every pupil or record them absent or late. The register is called at the beginning of both the morning and afternoon sessions. If a pupil has to leave school for any reason during the school day, school should be informed of this prior to the day. An appointment letter or slip should be shown to the office on collecting your child.
When the whole class arrives on time and registration can take place smoothly then the day starts off so much better. Although it is better for pupils to be late than not to be in school at all, when they do arrive late they miss out on an important part of the school day. Any pupil arriving late must follow the schools late procedures signing in at the School Office. Explanation for this lateness should be provided by their parent or carer.
Absence from School
By law, schools must record absences and the reason given. You are therefore requested to contact school on every day of your child’s absence by telephoning the school office. For Willow, Nursery and Reception please call 020 8527 9192 and for Years 1 and 2 please call 020 8527 1388 before 9a.m. On their return to school you must then send a note explaining the absence. The school office should be informed in writing of absences known in advance such as dental appointments.
Holidays
Family holidays should never be taken during school terms.
Where there are extenuating circumstances, an application should be made to the Head teacher a term in advance. The Head teacher can only authorise absence in exceptional circumstances. Further information is available from the school office.
For a copy of the Schools Attendance Policy, please contact the school office.
Why is good attendance important?
Good attendance at school is vital for pupils to achieve their full education potential. Pupils with good attendance records benefit in the following ways:
- Continuity of learning which makes progress and retention easier
- Enhanced performance in examinations
- Continuity of relationships and friendships
- Good habits are formed for later life
What constitutes good attendance?
Attendance percentages are not like examination results. An attendance percentage needs to be in the high nineties before it can be considered good. Consider the following examples:
- An attendance record of 90% might seem good but is equal to one day missed per fortnight! If this continues from Year 2 to 6 a total of six month’s education will be lost.
- An attendance record of 80% might seem acceptable but is equal to one day missed per week!!
If this continues from Years 2 to 6 a total of one year’s education will be lost.
What is an unauthorised absence?
Only the school can authorise an absence. An explanation given by a parent is not, necessarily, sufficient for the school to authorise an absence. According to guidelines to schools from the Department Education,an absence may only be authorised if the absence is due to :
- Pupil illness;
- The pupil being unable to attend due to unavoidable causes;
- Religious observance where applicable.
Absences which the school is not able to authorise include:
- Looking after a relative, pet etc.;
- A shopping trip, even if this is for uniform;
- Day off for a birthday;
- Lateness after the register has closed, i.e. after 9:00 am;
- Being unable to participate in a school activity, e.g. school trip;
- Remaining at home to wait for deliveries, repair men etc;
- Meeting relatives from/taking relatives to the airport.
