Oxenhope CE Primary School
Safeguarding across the curriculum
Pupil safeguarding and the promotion of fundamental British values are a core business of our work at Oxenhope C of E Primary. Great importance is placed on identifying opportunities in the taught curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding. Our broad curriculum gives pupils opportunities to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that significantly impact on personal development, behaviour and welfare and equips every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding. Our PSHE curriculum covers all areas of Safeguarding through each of the strands to a different degree, however some go into more detail. We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age-appropriate level, or at a small group or 1:1 level where a more urgent need arises.
We plan to constantly challenge children to think deeply about safeguarding matters and their own personal physical and mental wellbeing. We value pupils’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas, and concerns. We give them opportunities across the curriculum to explore values, personal rights, responsibilities, and equal opportunities that develop moral concepts that impact positively on safeguarding, promote British values, and prevent radicalisation and extremism.
There are many opportunities throughout our Learning in school to explore safeguarding issues.
Practical safeguarding opportunities are planned into the curriculum. For example:
We have developed an open and safe learning environment in which pupils express their views, seek help and help others, they make use of our feelings boxes to share concerns with staff. The promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity, for pupils and staff, helps prevent any form of direct or indirect discriminatory behaviour. Our children learn to not tolerate any prejudiced behaviour. Our behaviour policy promotes making good choices and exhibiting good learning behaviours.
Class times are time for sharing ideas, addressing concerns, and promoting important values.
Collective Worship time and circle times are used to promote personal safeguarding matters and explore themes. For example, we talk about anti- bullying including cyber bullying and British values including how these values are promoted in our multi – faith society.
Staff and children are quick to challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language in lessons and around school. Our school reflects the diversity of pupils’ experiences and provides pupils with a comprehensive understanding of people and communities beyond their immediate experience including the role of women in society and different family groups including same sex couples. Throughout the curriculum there are planned opportunities to promote all forms of equality and foster greater understanding of and respect for people off all faiths (and those with no faith), races, genders, ages, disability and sexual orientations, through their words, actions and in their influence. Opportunities are created in a variety of subjects to address areas of safeguarding, for example, themes are highlighted through novels in English lessons.
Time is taken at the beginning of every new school year to reaffirm school values, expectations, and rules for living and learning at Oxenhope C of E Primary. This good start to the year, with everyone clear about their roles and responsibilities, sets the tone for the rest of the year, and leads to excellent safeguarding outcomes.
Parents in every phase of school are invited to an online safety workshop at the start of the year.
Please see our overview of safeguarding opportunities in our curriculum below.