SAFEGUARDING, INCLUDING ONLINE SAFETY

The safety and well-being of our children at Sutton Benger School is of utmost importance to us and we will always act in the best interest of the child. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding can be defined by promoting the health, safety and welfare of all pupils. Safeguarding is the responsibility of all adults, especially those working or volunteering with children. The school aims to help protect the children in its care by working consistently and appropriately with all relevant agencies to reduce risk and promote the welfare of children. 

What is child protection?

Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm.

Safeguarding at Sutton Benger School

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Louise Pitman-Jones and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr Luke Maddison. These staff members have undertaken Advanced Safeguarding and Child Protection training by Wiltshire's Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP). All other members of school staff are regularly trained and updated in safeguarding and child protection. The Nominated Governor for Safeguarding is Mrs Joan Cocker.

All disclosures from children or concerns from adults are taken seriously, recorded and investigated thoroughly in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education - September 2021

We also work in line with other legislation & guidance:

Working Together to Safeguard Children

The Prevent Duty

Other support

More information and guidance on safeguarding, child protection, child abuse or neglect can be found on the following websites:

• NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
• https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre)
• Child Line (Call 0800 1111) Childline website
• Kidscape
• Young Minds
• UK Safer Internet Centre Hotline
• Parentzone

Safeguarding Procedures at the School

We use the NSPCC ‘PANTS Programme’, as part of our PSHE learning, to teach children how to keep themselves safe. When this is due to be taught in your child’s class, you will receive further information about this from the class teacher. We will also provide additional information/links to you so that you can find out more and can reinforce these important messages at home with your children. As with all learning, this will be taught in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner to equip our children with the information they need, without frightening them.

P – Privates are private.

A – Always remember your body belongs to you.

N – No means no.

T – Talk about secrets that upset you.

S – Speak up, someone can help.

More information about Sutton Benger's approach and procedures with regard to Safeguarding and Child Protection can be found in the documents at the bottom of this page.

Staff and Adults in the School

Staff are advised to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ as far as safeguarding is concerned. They should always act in the best interest of the child. 

The school is committed to safer recruitment practices when recruiting new employees to work for the school or when using volunteers. All adults working in the school will have undergone an enhanced DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check. DBS checks are only one element of a wider framework of safer recruitment practices the school undertakes. Ordinary visitors to the school must sign in at the school office, be made aware of the School's safeguarding procedures and be accompanied at all times when on a visit.

ENCOMPASS Partnership

The school is also part of a project that is run jointly between schools and Wiltshire Police. ENCOMPASS is the reporting to schools, by the next school day, when a child or young person has been affected by a domestic incident.

ENCOMPASS will ensure that a member of the school staff, known as a 'Key Adult', will be shared the information in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been involved in, affected or exposed to a domestic abuse incident.

Our 'Key Adults' are the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Louise Pitman-Jones and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Luke Maddison. We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we know this partnership to be extremely beneficial to all those involved.  (From February 2017)

Online Safety

At Sutton Benger Primary School, we recognise the exciting opportunities for play, learning, creativity and social interaction that the internet provides. We also work with our community to develop an awareness of the risks associated with these activities.

Communication between adults and children is at the heart of the four step TEAM approach to online safety advocated by the NSPCC:

1) Talk about staying safe online.

2) Explore the online world together.

3) Agree on what’s OK and what’s not.

4) Manage your families settings and controls. 

More information can be found at https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

If you are concerned that something has happened online which has threatened a child’s safety, you can visit the Child Exploitation and Online Protection agency’s website: https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

As you would protect your child in the real world, you will want to make sure that they are safe whatever they are doing. Like learning to cross the road, online safety skills are skills for life. If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe whilst doing so

Below you will find a few links to websites that will help you to reinforce online safety at home.

An easy-to-digest page about safe online gaming from the NSPCC.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games-helping-children-play-safe/

Up-to-date online gaming advice for parents available at Internet Matters

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/online-gaming/

Common Sense Media offers information about an ever-growing range of games, apps, websites, films and even books (including reviews and ratings by parents and children).

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Finally, if you need to report online abuse, the police have a page that guides you through all you need to know:

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

Further online safety advice

Video services such as YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram and Music.ly are some of the most popular apps and website amongst young people. You may have permitted your child access to some of these services so they can stay in contact with friends and family or because of the creative opportunities they provide.
But there can be risks. It's important that both adults and children understand the dangers involved in using video apps and broadcasting live content - and what to do to keep children safe.

The NSPCC website offers useful guidance on how to keep your child safe online when they use video.

Visit: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/video-chat-sharing-streaming/

Also, take a look at the short NSPCC Share Aware videos: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/

For those of you concerned about children accessing inappropriate YouTube content, you may wish to consider YouTube Kids:
https://kids.youtube.com/

Our School SEND leader and Pupil Premium leader is Mrs Jill Kelsey, who is in school on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

In order to help children who have special educational needs, a graduated response is adopted which encompasses an array of strategies. This approach recognises that there are a variety of special educational needs and, where necessary, brings increasing specialist expertise to support the difficulties that a child may be experiencing. Staff will make full use of all available classroom and school resources before calling upon outside resources. The full use of classroom and school resources is best described as quality first teaching, this also includes receiving support through 1:1 or small group interventions.

Some children may need more specific interventions. A plan will be put in place with outcomes, provision and expectations that are agreed between the class teacher, parent/carers and child.

In accordance with the Code of Practice, we have published our SEND Policy and SEND Information report below.

Disability Access Policy

Sutton Benger School aspires to be sensitive to the needs of every child, reducing barriers to learning and making the curriculum accessible to every student.  

Reasonable adjustments to physical and other arrangements of the school are considered where necessary, taking into account the nature of any impairment, pupil and parent views and advice from teachers and other professionals.  

Prospective parents are asked to inform the school of any disabilities or additional needs their children may have when registering.   Continuing communication between parents and staff is vital to ensure that reasonable adjustments can be considered where necessary, whether impairments were apparent when the student entered the school or developed at a later stage. 

Pupil Premium

The Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding and was introduced in April 2011, is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years.

Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, children adopted from care (introduced April 2014) and children of service personnel.  (Source DfE)

At Sutton Benger Primary, we use our funding for:

• Small group work with an experienced teacher focused on overcoming gaps in learning
• 1:1 support
• Additional teaching and learning opportunities provided through qualified teachers or trained teaching assistants
• Acquiring effective materials aimed at raising standards in mathematics and literacy.
• Accelerating the progress of moving children to at least age related expectations.
• Purchasing resources to target able children entitled to Free School Meals (FSM) to make above expected progress.

Please click on the reports below to see how we spend our Pupil Premium funding and support our learners with additional needs.

ABLE, GIFTED AND TALENTED

At Sutton Benger School we acknowledge and strive to develop the potential of every child in our school. In order to support this, we have been a member of NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education) since 2016.

We are currently using a NACE framework to evaluate and improve our provision for able, gifted and talented pupils. We define ‘able’ as children who achieve at the top end of their year group, ‘gifted’ as children who achieve at a level significantly in advance of their year group, and ‘talented’ as children who have this gifted ability in art, music, PE, sport or creative art.

The NACE framework enables us as a school to:

· Recognise academic and wider abilities and talents

· Ensure an inclusive approach to stretch and challenge

· Draw strongly on ‘pupil and parent voice’ as part of school improvement

· Place a strong focus on tackling underachievement and creating a ‘can do’ ethos that raises standards for all

· Support transition within and beyond the school

Work on this framework leads to a nationally recognised award for quality provision – the NACE Challenge Award. Over the past few years we have been developing a number of these elements and in January 2018 we received a very positive mid-assessment.

Strengths included:

· …an inviting, vibrant learning environment - pupils consistently displayed good attitudes to learning and were respectful and eager to participate in lessons

· …a very learning focused environment where pupils are encouraged to identify and celebrate attitudes to learning

· …a systematic approach to identification of able, gifted and talented pupils

· …an aspirational approach to planning which will impact on all pupils

· …talents from outside school are identified

(January 2018)

This positive assessment has helped us to celebrate the improvements we have made as a school and to look forward to further developments. 

Please find below our complaints policy

Please find below policies related to our school curriculum.

Please find below a selection of our most useful policies for parents. If you would like a copy of any other policy, please do ask at the School Office.

Our on-site catering team produce a range of freshly cooked, delicious, healthy options on a daily basis.  A salad bar, fresh bread and fruit are always available.

Meat is sourced from a local butcher and vegetable delivered fresh on a regular basis.

School lunches currently cost £2.60 per day for children in Key Stage 2 (Hope, Faith, Peace and Trinity class). Children can opt for packed lunches from home if preferred.

Since September 2014, lunch is free for all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

All lunches must be ordered through ParentPay at least 48 hours in advance and paid for if applicable.

Please find attached a copy of the draft Admission Policy for Sutton Benger CE Primary school 2023-2024.

Any comments should be sent to admin.sbenger@dbat.org.uk by 28th January 2022. 

General Admissions Information

Choosing a school which will provide the best education and personal happiness for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent has to make. We are proud to offer a calm and caring environment which will help your child settle in very quickly.  Our staff are dedicated and committed to ensuring each child is supported individually, ensuring they have the opportunity to flourish as they progress through the school. We value the parent/school partnership greatly and encourage your involvement as parents in your child’s learning.

We welcome prospective families to our school and would be delighted to show you around.

For In Year admissions please contact our school office on 01249 720407 or admin.sbenger@dbat.org.uk to arrange a visit.

Admission into our Reception Class

We operate a one-term entry policy at Sutton Benger School. Those children whose fifth birthday falls between 1 September and 31 August start in the previous September. Any child living within the Sutton Benger Parish Boundary will be allocated a place at the school, providing we are not oversubscribed. We also welcome children from outside our catchment area, and at present a number of children come from the surrounding areas. Any parent or guardian wishing for their child to come to our school should complete an application form.

During the previous summer term we invite children to join us for afternoon visits before they start in September. They spend their time getting to know their future teacher, getting accustomed to their new surroundings and meeting their new friends. As a result, we have few tearful faces on the first morning! (Although we do keep tissues handy for parents!).

A meeting for new parents is held in the Spring term and the admission procedure is explained in detail. Our team of Early Years professionals ensure that your child will transfer with ease from their pre-school setting, through a very effective induction process. Our wrap around care facilities offer support for working families in and around the area.  

Applications for our September 2021 intake will be closed on 15th January 2021 - Late Applications will be considered through Wiltshire Council's Late Application process.  

Click the Wiltshire Council link below to apply online:

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/schools-learning-admissions-online

Please find below a copy of our most recent Ofsted Inspection Report and our most recent end of Key Stage 2 results.

Please click the link below for the current DfE School Performance Tables.

https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/126486/sutton-benger-church-of-england-aided-primary-school

Following the national lockdown a return to school plan has been written encompassing areas that will support both the children's learning and social development on their return in March 2021.

Please find below a copy of the School Development Plan for 2020 - 2021

It has been written in consultation with staff and governors to address the areas for development identified in our recent Ofsted report. Please note that this is a working document and may well be amended as we progress through the next weeks and months. Initially, it forms our improvement actions and monitoring between now and the end of the academic year, but will likely form the basis of our school development plan for the next academic year. 

It is written for use by staff and governors and so occasionally there may be some language or acronyms that are not familiar to you. If you would like any part explained, please do speak with your child's class teacher, a governor or with either Mrs Pitman-Jones or Mr Maddison.

Pupil Premium

The Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding and was introduced in April 2011, is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years.

Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, children adopted from care (introduced April 2014) and children of service personnel.  (Source DfE)

At Sutton Benger Primary, we use our funding for:

• Small group work with an experienced teacher focused on overcoming gaps in learning
• 1:1 support
• Additional teaching and learning opportunities provided through qualified teachers or trained teaching assistants
• Acquiring effective materials aimed at raising standards in mathematics and literacy.
• Accelerating the progress of moving children to at least age related expectations.
• Purchasing resources to target able children entitled to Free School Meals (FSM) to make above expected progress.

Please click on the reports below to see how we spend our Pupil Premium funding and support our learners with additional needs.

PE & Sport Premium

The school is provided with money each year to improve the provision for the children within Sports and Physical Literacy.

This money allows us to provide additional PE activities for the children, new resources, training for staff and funding for access to competitive sports. The funding is used to make additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of physical education (PE), physical activity and sport we offer.

This means that the PE & Sport Premium is used to:

• develop or add to the PE, physical activity and sport activities that our school already offers
• build capacity and capability within our school to ensure that improvements made now will benefit pupils joining the school in future years

EMERGENCY CLOSURES

On occasions, it is necessary for a decision to be made by the School Governors and Headteacher to close the school at short notice, for example due to extremely severe weather conditions. We will, of course, endeavour to give parents as much notice as possible via ParentPay email and/or text message, and on this website.

It is important that the school is kept up-to-date with changes to contact details to ensure we can contact parents in an emergency (changes can be sent to the office via the contact details on this site or in person).

Parents can also listen to their local radio station as details of school closures will be broadcast. You can also check the websites below for more information

Should it be necessary to close the school at short notice, please check your child’s class page on this website for any home learning that may be set.

http://www.heart.co.uk/wiltshire/news/snow/school-closures/

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/schoolseducationandlearning/schoolsandcolleges/termsandholidays/temporaryclosureofschools.htm