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 abuse and maltreatment,
- Preventing harm to children’s health or development,
- Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care,
- Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
Maharishi School and Safeguarding
Schools play an essential role in protecting children from abuse. Staff have close, regular contact with children and young people.
They’re in a strong position to:
- Identify child protection concerns early,
- Provide help and support,
- Help children understand how to stay safe from abuse,
- Refer a child to relevant agencies.
At Maharishi School it is our view that everyone has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity.
- We do this by establishing, implementing and following good safeguarding policies and procedures including safe recruitment.
- We ensure that all staff and volunteers are aware of and follow Maharishi School’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
- We ensure that all staff and volunteers receive child protection training.
Helpful Links for Parents
The Children’s Commissioner for England and Tes (Times Educational Supplement) have produced simplified terms and conditions for Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook to help parents and carers support their children to manage their rights and privacy online.
- eSafety Adviser - This website has lots of information and guidance but also the option to sign up for a free e-safety magazine, aimed at parents and schools.
- ThinkuKnow - Guide to internet safety and safe surfing for young people.
- Parent Zone - Expert information to help children and young people stay safe online. This website has lots of interesting articles ranging from ‘Helping your child cope with media coverage on traumatic events’ to ‘Fitness apps – a cause for concern?’
- NSPCC | Online Safety Parental Controls - NSPCC on Parental controls ‘Innocent searches online can sometimes lead to not so innocent results’.