Child Protection and Safeguarding

What is Safeguarding?

The school ensures children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, on and off line, to develop positive and healthy relationships and how to avoid situations where they might be at risk including by being exploited.

The school has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances, the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by Children’s Social Care or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the best interests of the child.

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.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.

(NSPCC)

Our Safeguarding Team

 All staff, including temporary staff and volunteers are subject to stringent background checks including clearance with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure their suitability for working with children.

Our safeguarding team is made up of the following staff:

Jenny Slinger Headteacher Designated Safeguarding Lead		Katy Williams Deputy Headteacher Deputy DSL		Clare Bolton Assistant Headteacher Deputy DSL		Catherine O'Connell Assistant Headteacher Deputy DSL
Laura Newby Inclusion Leader Deputy DSL		Alex Cross EYFS Phase Leader Deputy DSL		Lisa White Year 1 & 2 Phase Leader Deputy DSL		Hollie Kidger Year 3 & 4 Phase Leader Deputy DSL
Laura Pegg Year 5 & 6 Phase Leader Deputy DSL		Michelle Forbes Family Support Worker Deputy DSL		Fiona Walpole-Bourne Lunchtime and Wraparound Care Manager Deputy DSL

 You can contact any of our Safeguarding Team on 0116 2857716

If you have an immediate concern and feel that a child is at risk of significant harm or danger please contact the police. You can also contact Leicester City Council Children's Social Care and Early Help who will be able to offer further advice and guidance. They can be contacted on (0116) 4541004.