Safeguarding Children and Young People

At Ysgol Y Castell we value our children and their futures and safeguard them as our highest priority.  With this in mind we have a Child Protection Policy designed to keep our pupils as safe as possible.

As a parent or carer you have a vital role to play.  This school is a part of your community and you are so important in helping us keep pupils safe.

Staff will:

• Remember that the priority is to protect the child
• Treat the matter seriously
• Listen but do not judge
• Believe the child
• Tell the child they have done the right thing in talking to a safe adult
• Tell the child what will happen where possible
• Inform the Headteacher of all concerns immediately.

Staff will not:

• Contact the parents - this is the job of the headteacher or Social Services
• Ask lots of questions if a child has told concerning information
• Speak to anyone about whom the allegations are made (including colleagues)
• Promise to keep secrets.
• Where school staff have concerns for a child, the headteacher will usually discuss this with the parent, but in some circumstances this will not be possible and Social Services may be called instead.

The Designated Senior Person for Child Protection is the Head Teacher, Mrs Helen Nuttall.

In her absence the Designated Senior Person is Mr Gareth Hughes.

Any safeguarding concerns should be reported to either of these senior leaders.

If you have a concern regarding the senior leaders, please contact the Chair of Governors Mr Gareth Williams or Mrs Catrin O’Sullivan, Governor with responsibility for Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Further Information

Caerphilly County Borough Council hosts safeguarding information pages Keeping children and young people safe. 

The South East Wales Regional Safeguarding Board -  www.sewsc.org.uk.

It is important for all staff, volunteers, contractors and governors/management committee members to remember: -

It IS NOT the responsibility of any employee, volunteer, contractor or Governor to determine whether abuse or neglect is actually taking place.

However, IT IS the responsibility of any employee, volunteer, contractor or Governor to take the actions set out in this policy if they are concerned that abuse or neglect may be taking place.