- Care of our pupils
While our pupils are at school, we will endeavour to look after them to the best of our ability. It helps us enormously therefore if we are informed about any medical conditions or other circumstances which may affect their progress or happiness in school. Our pupils spend the majority of their time with their class teacher.
The teachers get to know the children really well and children should always be encouraged to go to their class teacher if help is needed with any matter.
- Keeping us informed of changes to routine
It is important to us that children feel settled and happy at school. It helps therefore if class teachers are told if changes have to be made to the routines normally expected by the children. Such changes may be a change in who is collecting the child at the end of the day, or it may be that the child is being picked up during the day for an appointment.
- Illness at school
If children are taken ill at school, we will try our best to make them comfortable. In some cases we will contact parents/carers and arrange for the child to be collected so that they can be looked after at home. We have several staff who have up to date First Aid qualifications and children who have had an accident are referred to them.
In the event of an accident or emergency, we need to be able to contact one or both parents/carers and for that reason we ask parents/carers to ensure that we have up to date telephone numbers so that are able to make contact. If we were unable to contact parents/carers in an emergency, we would act as a reasonable parent and seek immediate medical attention for the child.
- Medicines
We have a duty of care towards all our pupils. In a school environment, bugs are easily spread. So if a child is ill please do not send them to school. A school day is demanding and may make children more unwell. Children who have been sick should not return to school until 24 hours have passed since they were last sick. Children who have had diarrhoea should not return to school for 48 hours. This will prevent illnesses passing round the school and makes it more likely that children will be able to cope with a full day back at school and that they are fully recovered from the effects of the illness.
Sometimes when children return to school following illness, they are still taking medicine. Very few medicines need to be given during the day, however occasionally a child will need to receive medicine while at school. If parents/carers are unable to come to school to administer the medicine, office staff will be able to give children medicine but only after the parent/carer has completed and signed a form giving details of the medicine and the dose required. Staff will not give medicine without a completed form which is available from the office staff. medicine should be taken to the office by an adult with the signed permission form.
- Safeguarding Children
The staff and governors at St. Botolph’s are committed to protecting and safeguarding all our pupils to ensure, as far as possible that they are free from harm. Before confirmation of appointment, all staff (teaching and support), volunteers and governors who apply to work at St. Botolph’s will be subject to a rigorous recruitment process to ensure, as far as possible, their suitability to work with children. References will be taken up and they will be required to give evidence of their qualifications and details of previous experience and work history. Checks will be made by the Criminal Record Bureau. No one will be employed if it is considered that they are unsuitable to work with children.
St. Botolph’s will strive to create a safe environment for the children on roll. The curriculum will therefore be instrumental in preparing children for their future responsibilities as adults. Through the curriculum, children will be helped to understand what is and is not acceptable behaviour towards them. They will be taught about staying safe from harm and the importance of speaking to a member of staff if they have worries or concerns.
The safeguarding and welfare of all children means that there may be times when we consult with colleagues in other agencies if we are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child. This may mean that on occasion we refer our concerns to social services. Our Child Protection Policy is available on our school website or a copy available from the school office.