Swalecliffe Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff and volunteers to be aware of and share this commitment. Regular training sessions are held for staff and adults working in school to maintain this awareness.

We have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place and all staff, volunteers and governors are aware of these procedures. Our policies are available for parents to read on our website.

Swalecliffe Community Primary School recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help children to be safe and feel safe. In our school children are respected and encourage to talk openly.

Our core safeguarding principles are:

• • Prevention
    • positive, supportive, safe culture, curriculum and pastoral opportunities for children, safer recruitment procedures.
  • Protection
    • following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to recognise and respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns.
  • Support
    • for all learners, parents and staff, and where appropriate specific interventions are required for those who may be at risk of harm.
  • Working with parents and other agencies
    • to ensure timely, appropriate communications and actions are undertaken when safeguarding concerns arise.

The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in our school are -

• Sarah Watson (Head of School)
• Leah Garton (Deputy Head)
• Julie Deeks (Inclusion Lead)
• Carly Fry (Assistant Headteacher)
• Carrie Hill (Mental Health and Well-being Lead)
• Amanda Potterton (teaching assistant)

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern and report to one of the DSLs as soon as possible. Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare.  We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with their parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

If your concerns relate to the actions or behaviour of a member of staff (which could suggest that s/he is unsuitable to work with children) then you should report this to one of the DSLs in confidence.