Safeguarding
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at St. Lawrence Church of England Primary School. We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child is valued, respected and supported to thrive. The welfare of our pupils is our highest priority, and we recognise that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
We work closely with families, external agencies and the wider community to ensure children receive the right help at the right time. Through a strong safeguarding culture, robust procedures and a curriculum that teaches children how to keep themselves safe, including online, we strive to protect all pupils from harm and promote their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
All staff, governors and volunteers share a collective responsibility to safeguard children and to ensure that every child feels safe, heard and supported.
Staff, governors and volunteers require an enhanced DBS disclosure. Every member of staff receives annual training on Safeguarding and Child Protection policies and procedures and additional training on aspects such as online safety, PREVENT (the Government's approach to stopping radicalisation) and other current issues. Regular training throughout the year helps staff stay in touch with changes, concerns and new developments. In addition, we promote an ethos where children and adults feel confident about sharing their concerns about their own safety or the well-being of others.
KEY PEOPLE
Designated Safeguarding Lead & Headteacher
Richard Crook
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead & Pastoral Lead
Helen Lonsdale
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Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead & Deputy Headteacher
Harriet Pilling
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead & Online Safety Lead
James Davis
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Safeguarding Governor
David Oludotun-Fasanya
OPERATION ENCOMPASS
St. Lawrence Church of England Primary School is part of Operation Encompass. The Operation Encompass Lead is Richard Crook.
Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which ensures that a child or young person's school or college is informed, prior to the start of the next school day, that there has been a domestic abuse, vulnerable child or missing incident to which the child or young person has been exposed, and which might then have an impact on them in school or college the following day.
PREVENT
Prevent is the title for a procedure across England which aims to prevent radicalisation.
Please report radicalisation if you:
- Become aware of an individual you feel is vulnerable to radicalisation
- Suspect someone is being radicalised or encouraged to support terrorism
- Are experiencing pressure from others about this
There are various support channels for terrorism threats:
Call 999 in an emergency if you need police assistance.
For advice on preventing radicalisation or reporting concerns in Lancashire please email: concern@lancashire.pnn.police.uk
Prevent team: 01772 413398
Police non-emergency number 101
Anti-terrorism hotline 0800 789 321
More information can be found on the LANCASHIRE CONSTABULARY WEBSITE
COUNTER TERRORISM POLICING SAFEGUARDING WEBSITE is aimed at family and friends to encourage them to share concerns that a friend or loved one might be vulnerable to radicalisation. The website aims to help increase Prevent referrals from family and friends into the police by increasing awareness, trust and understanding of the police’s safeguarding role.
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
There are three main elements to our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy:
PREVENTION
Creating a positive school atmosphere, teaching and pastoral support to pupils where children have opportunities to have a voice and that their wishes and feelings are listened to and taken into account.
PROTECTION
By following agreed procedures, ensuring staff are trained to recognise possible signs and symptoms of abuse and are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to child protection concerns.
SUPPORT
To pupils and school staff and to children who may have been abused.
The policies cover all areas of school life and include:
Staff & Visitors - ensuring they are vetted, informed and trained.
Children’s Behaviour - promoting safer and happier behaviours and lifestyles.
Parents and Carers - promoting links and supporting families.
Premises - keeping them safe, pleasant and fit for purpose.
Curriculum - providing positive learning experiences.
Outside School - ensuring safer activities and environments outside school.
Further reading
For further information please find our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and our Child Friendly Safeguarding Policy below.
INFORMATION SHARING
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:
- emergency contact numbers;
- the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
- the child’s special health requirements;
- information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.
Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
ONLINE SAFETY
The Internet is a huge resource available to our children. It is a fascinating and effective tool for both teaching and learning, at home and within school. We believe that it is paramount that all users from children to adults are educated on how to use the Internet safely.
Online safety is ELECTRONIC SAFETY for all (especially children) and it is often associated with websites such as Facebook, X, Instagram, SnapChat, WhatsApp and any other social network. Online safety however covers all electronic safety such as identifying appropriate and inappropriate e-mails, text messages and much more.
Please make sure you know what your child/children are doing online. It is important to remember that if you allow your child internet access at home, parental supervision is recommended. Ideally, the computer screen, tablet or phone should be in an easily viewable position in the family living area.
Please read our Online Safety Policy found below.
HELP FOR PARENTS
