If Parents and Carers have any safeguarding concerns please contact one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) during term time between 8:00 and 4:00, by calling the main school office (01843 597695). Outside of these times, if you are concerned a child is at risk, please contact Integrated Children's Services on 03000 41 11 11(office hours) or 03000 419191 (out of office hours). If a child is in danger, you should call 999.

Outside of term times, DSLs can be contacted by email - addresses listed below.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):Camilla Claxton, SENCo (senco@uptonjunior.com) / Darci Arthur, Head of School (headofschool@uptonjunior.com)

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:  Ross Kettle, Assistant Head / Gemma Scarr, Assistant Head / Angie Turner, Learning Mentor / Zoe Danson, Learning Mentor

Nominated Upton Governor responsible for Child Protection: Robin Curtis

Viking Academy Trust Lead Governor: Joanna Brand

Viking Academy Trust DSL: Kate Law (Director of Education) - DOE@vikingacademytrust.com

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

Safeguarding means:

• Protecting children from maltreatment

• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development

• Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

• Taking action to ensure that all children have the best outcomes

Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility

Everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe. No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances and, if children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.

Mandatory Reporting of FGM - Procedural information 

From 31 October 2015 it is mandatory for teachers, health and social workers to report to the police if they find, or are told, someone under 18 has undergone FGM. Please click here to obtain more information on the correct procedure to follow. 

Keeping Children Safe in Education - September 2024

Please click here to access the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. The guidance above affirms (page 6) that 'all staff members should be aware of systems within their school or college which support safeguarding and these should be explained to them as part of staff induction. This should include:

• The child protection policy

• The Whistle-blowing policy

• The Behaviour policy

• Anti-Bullying policy

• Acceptable Use policy

• Actions for children missing in education

• The staff behaviour policy (sometimes called a Code of Conduct); and 

• The role of the designated safeguarding lead 

It is imperative that all staff (including volunteers) read this guidance (Have to read at least Part 1) and provide consent that they have done so (a register exists to determine this) Schools must have regard to the guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This document contains information on what schools should do and sets out the legal duties with which schools must comply. 

The Prevent Duty 

As part of Chilton's ongoing safeguarding and child protection duties we are fully behind the government's Prevent Strategy.

From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools.

Chilton is committed to safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of all our children and families. We build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British Values and enabling our pupils to challenge extremist views.  Click here to access Educate Against Hate website.

Please click here to access departmental advice for schools on the Prevent Duty (DFE). Alternatively you can also refer to Keeping Children Safe in Education above for further information as well as our Child Protection Policy.

Referrals to Children's Social Care (Front Door Service)

Central Duty Team - 03000 41 11 11

Out of Hours -  03000 41 91 91

social.services@kent.gov.uk

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

If you have concerns about a member of staff and need to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) you can do so using the following contact number 03000 41 08 88.  The LADO may also be contacted by using the following email address kentchildrenslado@kent.gov.uk.