Safeguarding

View our School Prospectus on our Prospectus page

Download: Sexual Exploitation Leaflet [PDF]
Download: Schools Safeguarding Charter [PDF]
Download: Safeguarding Advice for Visitors [PDF]
Download: Operation Encompass Information [PDF]
Download: Safeguarding Induction Booklet [PDF]
Download: Designated Safeguard Lead (DSL) Job Description [PDF]

View our Anti-bullying Policy on our Policies page
View our Attendance and Punctuality Policy on our Policies page
View our Code of Conduct for Parents and Visitors Policy on our Policies page
View our E-Safety Policy on our Policies page
View our Managing Allegations Policy on our Policies page
View our Model Safer Recruitment Policy and Procedures on our Policies page
View our Positive Behaviour Policy on our Policies page
View our Pupil Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy on our Policies page
View our Social Media Policy for Pupils, Parents & Visitors on our Policies page
View our Staff Code of Conduct on our Policies page
View our Safer Working Practice Code of Conduct on our Policies page
View our Staff Wellbeing Policy on our Policies page
View our Transition Policy on our Policies page
View our Wellbeing Policy on our Policies page
View our Whistleblowing Policy on our Policies page


Keeping Safe at St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School

Nothing is more important to us than the safety and welfare of our pupils. We take rigorous steps to ensure that children stay safe and do not come to any harm. We work closely with parents / carers and a range of professional external agencies in order to secure this.

Safeguarding and promoting the Welfare of children is defined as protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes;

Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE 2019)

If you have any concerns, no matter how small they may seem, about the safety or welfare of any child, please contact our Safeguarding team:

Designated Safeguarding Lead/Operation Encompass – Mrs C Sime (Headteacher)

Deputy Safeguarding – Mrs Evans / Mrs Gaskell and Mrs J Walsh

Safeguarding Governor – M Black / Mrs Sargeant

 

Operation Encompass

Our school is a part of Operation Encompass. This operation is a national partnership between all schools, families and the Police. It is and early safeguarding intervention which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.

The intention is that all parties will be informed immediately of any reported domestic abuse.

Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.

Operation Encompass means that police will share information with out school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children prior to the start of the next day.

Once a key adult (DSL) and their deputies (DDSLs) have attended either an Operation Encompass briefing or completed the online Operation Encompass key adult training they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other school staff and Governors can undertake the online training

Our DSL Mrs Sime undertook training in July 2023

Our DDSL’s Mrs Walsh, Mrs Evans and Mrs Gaskell undertook training in July 2023

Our safeguarding governor undertook training in July 2023

7 members of staff have completed the training (September 2023)

Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school and we ensure that when a new child joins our school the parents/ carers are informed about Operation Encompass.

The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information

 

As a staff we have discussed how we can support our children who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse on a day-today basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification. We have used the Operation Encompass Handbooks to inform our thinking.

We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

The safe guarding governor will report on Operation Encompass in the termly report to Governors. All information is anonymised for these reports.

We have used the Operation Encompass key adult responsibilities checklist to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.

When the head teacher, DSL or DDSL’s leave the school and other staff are appointed, they will ensure that all Operation Encompass log in details are shared with the new head teacher/ key adults and that the new member of staff will undertake the Operation Encompass online training.

See letter seny to parents Operation Encompass letter sent to parents

For more information see below.


Bullying

If you think that bullying is just a part of everyday school life, you’re wrong. No-one deserves to be bullied and you shouldn’t ignore the problem.

External Link: Direct.gov – Young People


Online Safety

Think U Know

Think U Know is a set of resources developed by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre to help educate young people, parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet.

Website: www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Know IT All

Know IT All is a set of resources developed by Childnet International to help educate parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet.

Website: www.childnet-int.org/kia

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)

CEOP work to encourage all organisations that have an online presence where children and young people congregate to adopt the CEOP ‘Report Abuse’ mechanism. You can report abuse at website: www.ceop.gov.uk/saferbydesign

Family Lives

A national charity that works for, and with, parents. It works to offer help and support through an innovative range of free, flexible, responsive services.

Phone: 0808 800 2222
Website: www.familylives.org.uk

Barnardos

Helps all kinds of families to cope with a wide range of issues including poverty, abuse, and homelessness.

Phone: 01268 520224
Website: www.barnardos.org.uk

Internet Matters for Parents

Website: www.internetmatters.org

Kidscape

Gives information for parents on a range of ways children can be bullied including cyber bullying and gives advice on keeping children safe online.

Phone: 020 7730 3300
Website: www.kidscape.org.uk

Missing Person Helpline

Whether you are missing yourself, or have been affected by the disappearance of a loved one, you can contact the missing person helpline whenever and however you want

Phone or Text: 116000 (24 hours)

National Drugs Helpline

Phone: 0800 77 66 00 (24 hour free advice)

NHS Direct

Phone: 0845 46 47
Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

NSPCC

Offers some helpful information for parents and carers on a range of issues, such as internet safety, protecting children at home and positive parenting tips.

Phone: 0808 800 5000
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Parents against Child Sexual Exploitation (PACE)

Free E learning course for parents and carers on Child Sexual Exploitation aimed at raising awareness, identifying signs and providing advice on what to do if you have concerns. Go to the website at www.safeguardingchildrenea.co.uk and follow the simple registration process.

ParentInfo.Org

Website: parentinfo.org

Women’s Aid Federation

The key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. Support a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK.

Phone: 08457 023 468
Website: www.womensaid.org.uk

Parents Centre

Information and support for parents on how to help with your child’s learning, including advice on choosing a school and finding childcare.

Website: Direct.gov – Parents


PREVENT STRATEGY

What is Prevent?

Prevent is part of CONTEST, the Government’s strategy to address terrorism. The main aim of Prevent is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent focuses on all forms of terrorist threats. E.g. international terrorism, far right extremists (among others).

The Government’s Prevent strategy can be found here: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Three key themes:

The police, Local Authorities, and our partner organisations are working together to help strengthen and empower our communities to reject those who want to cause harm. We work together and focus on three key themes:

  • Safeguarding vulnerable individuals through the provision of advice and support and intervention projects.
  • Working closely with institutions such as Universities, Schools, Prisons, Health, Charities and faith establishments.
  • Challenging terrorist ideology by working closely with other local and national agencies, partners and our communities

Prevent Team

The Prevent Engagement Team of officers and police staff aim to encourage discussion ensuring that terrorism is prevented from taking root in our communities. They support the wider engagement activities already taking place in schools, places of worship and community groups.

Through this work they aim to strengthen communities in order to challenge the ideologies and messages of hate which lead to terrorism.

How you can help?

It is important that we all work together, so that we can protect our communities. There are many ways you can help:

  • You can get in touch with your local neighbourhood or Prevent team for advice and support, if you are worried about someone you know who you believe may be vulnerable to radicalisation
  • You can speak to your local officers or Prevent contact about helping run community events to bring people from different communities together
  • You can provide facilities that could help us and our partners hold community engagement events.

Useful Resources

Download: What is Safeguarding [PDF]
Download: Keeping Children Safe in Education [PDF]
Download: Safeguarding Across the Curriculum [PDF]
Download: Safer Parenting Handbook [PDF]
Download: What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused [PDF]
Download: Level of Need Safeguarding [PDF]
Download: Information Sharing Advice Safeguarding Practitioners DFE [PDF]
Download: Sexual Exploitation – Disturbing Signs Leaflet [PDF]
Download: Prevent Strategy DFE [PDF]
Download: Barnardo’s Report CSE [PDF]
Download: What to do if you suspect a child is being sexually exploited [PDF]
Download: What every parent should know about radicalisation [PDF]
External Link: Prevent Training / e-Learning

Contact Us

Give us a call or fill in the form below and we will reply as soon as possible. We aim to answer all inquiries as soon as possible.