Safeguarding at Coton

At Coton, safeguarding sits at the heart of everything we do and underpins our PEACE values, vision, ethos, and whole-school culture.

Our highest priority is to ensure that every child is protected from harm. This includes safeguarding them from bullying, discrimination, harassment, and any form of abuse. It is essential that all children feel safe, secure, and supported at all times.

Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone at Coton. All staff recognise their duty to place the welfare of children first and understand the wider context of abuse and neglect. They receive regular training and updates, including areas such as domestic abuse, mental health, and Prevent. As a result, staff are confident in identifying concerns, taking appropriate action, and following correct reporting procedures. They also understand how to raise concerns about adults, including reporting low-level concerns or making allegations where necessary.

 

Our DSL’s

Mrs Burton – Headteacher and DSL
Mr Melville – Deputy Headteacher and DSL
Mrs Jones – Assistant Headteacher / SENDCO and DSL

At Coton in the Elms Primary School, the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL’s) play a central role in ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority across all aspects of Coton school life. They all take a lead role in promoting a strong safeguarding culture, where children feel safe, listened to, and supported.

Our DSL’s have all received up to date training in their roles and ensure that Coton is the safest environment that it can be with a team of staff who put safeguarding first and foremost in everything that they do.

 

Early Help Offer at Coton

Every family has its ups and downs. Being a parent is hard work and there are no instructions. Sometimes, you or your children may need extra support. This may be before your children are born, when they are very young, or throughout their school years. There is nothing to be ashamed of in asking for help. Early Help helps you recognise what’s going well for you, where you may benefit from extra help, and who is the best person to work with you and your family to make this happen. This may be through an Early Help Assessment (EHA).

Early help is a way of getting extra support when your family needs it, but getting it as soon as difficulties start, rather than waiting until things get worse. It’s for children and young people of any age. Help can come from all kinds of services and organisations who work together to support your family. You might be using some of these services already, but we want to make sure they are providing the right support for you and your family’s needs.

The school works very closely with Compass Changing Lives. Referrals can be made to this service in order to provide professional support to children and families. You can find out more here: Compass Changing Lives – Compass (compass-uk.org) There is also a link to download the Compass App.

You will be fully involved in an Early Help Assessment and we will listen to you. It may be that we just talk to you and point you to the support you want. If it’s a bit more complicated, we’ll need to ask you for information that we write down or type. This is so we can get the right information and share it (if you agree) with people who need to know, so we can better understand your circumstances and match up services that would support you. You’ll get a plan showing what you want to achieve and the support you need.

 

Teaching our Children to stay safe

The NSPCC ‘Underwear Rule’ for younger children

Teach your child the Underwear Rule and help protect them from abuse. It’s a simple way that parents can help keep children safe from sexual abuse – without using scary words or even mentioning sex.

Talk PANTS and you have got it covered

• Privates are private
• Always remember your body belongs to you
• No means no
• Talk about secrets that upset you
• Speak up, someone can help

The NSPCC have launched a PANTS song and animation to help protect children from sexual abuse. It is aimed at children aged 4-8 years old and features dinosaurs explaining how to stay safe from abuse, led by our new friendly character, Pantosaurus.

 

Online Safety

At Coton in the Elms Primary School, We know that the internet is our future world and helps everyone to connect, communicate and be creative in a number of different ways, on a range of devices. Using the internet in a safe way is a vital part of safeguarding and is embedded within our whole-school culture. We recognise that children are growing up in an increasingly digital world, and it is essential that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to stay safe online.

How you can help your child to stay safe online:

Help your child stay safe online

Share aware – from the NSPCC and O2 – for younger children – promotes safety when online or using apps and games.

Get Safe Online has resources to help children and young people of different ages. As a parent or carer you need to stay switched-on to children’s online safety.

 

Talk to your child

Talking to your child is the best way to help keep them safe. But with things changing all the time, it can be hard to keep up to date. You can always call Derbyshire’s Safeguarding Partnership online safety helpline on 0808 8005 002 to get advice on anything from the latest social networks to parental controls.
For more information on online safety, please follow the link below.

Online safety – Coton in the Elms

 

Other Useful links

 

Domestic abuse (TAB)

Children, young people and families who are affected by domestic abuse or violence can get support, including refuge accommodation, by contacting Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Helpline. It’s available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and is a single point of contact to get the help you need.

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse or know someone who is, telephone: 08000 198 668 and you’ll get help from someone close by.

If it’s an emergency, telephone: 999.

You can also email the Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Helpline giving a number you can be contacted safely at derbyshiredahelpline@theelmfoundation.org.uk

If you’re deaf or hearing impaired, or unable to phone, text the Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Helpline text: 07534 617252. Emergency SMS – text: 999.

For the National Domestic Violence 24-hour help line telephone: 0808 2000 247.

 

Silent Solution

If you telephone: 999 from a mobile but it is not safe for you to speak, Silent Solution is a system the police use to assess and respond to your call. Telephone: 999 and if it’s not safe to respond to the BT operator when they ask what service you want, stay connected. If the operator hears any suspicious noise you’ll be transferred to the police.

If nothing is heard you may be asked to press 55 – this will connect you to a police call handler. Listen carefully to their questions and instructions so that they can assess your situation and arrange for assistance. This system means that the police can respond to genuine emergencies when people are in danger and accidental or hoax 999 calls do not distract them.

Accidental 999 calls from a landline are less likely, so if you telephone: 999 from a landline but are unable to speak you will be connected without being asked to enter 55.

Mental health – Make tab for this link Telephone support for Derbyshire people experiencing anxiety or distress

Bereavement Derbyshire Bereavement Hub – Counselling, Support and Networks

Sexual Abuse SV2 – Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence – Home

Child on Child Abuse Bullying, abuse, safety and the law | Childline

Staying safe over summer Summer holidays | Childline

Financial difficulty Help with Finances – Derbyshire Local Offer

Derbyshire healthy eating Home – Live Life Better Derbyshire

Self-harm and suicide prevention Self harm and suicide prevention » Joined Up Care Derbyshire

Eating Disorders Where to go for support when you have an eating disorder

Referrals for Neurodiversity in Derbyshire Neurodevelopmental pathway (ASD/ADHD) :: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust