Safeguarding
Claypole Church Of England Primary School are fully committed to meeting its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people in our care. We recognise the important part we have to play in identifying children and young people at risk of abuse and neglect and in securing appropriate support for them and their families.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in the Department for Education’s (DfE) statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSiE) as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment;
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical 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 ‘Children’ includes everyone under the age of 18.
The child’s best interests will remain our paramount focus. We recognise that effective child protection requires sound procedures, good inter-agency co-operation and a workforce that is competent and confident in responding to Child protection to Keep Children Safe.
Child Protection is part of the safeguarding process and focuses on protecting individual children who have been identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Sometimes we 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 a pupil are discussed with parents/carer first, unless we have reason to believe that such a discussion would be contrary to the child’s welfare. Working with outside agencies enables us to ensure that our families are getting the support they need.
Safeguarding Team
If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child who attends this school; please speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team via the school office on 01636 626268 or adminoffice@claypoleprimary.org
Designated Safeguarding Lead - Martyn Wells
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - Elizabeth Silby
Looked After Children Lead - Martyn Wells
SEND and Inclusion - Elizabeth Silby
Safeguarding Monitoring Governor - Debbie Beet
SEND and Inclusion Monitoring Governor - Emily Phillips
Our DSL’s attend regular training to keep up to date with all issues relating to child protection and safeguarding. We follow the Lincolnshire County Council Safeguarding procedures and the school has tight procedures that record issues that relate to child protection. We work with an array of agencies including Social Services and the Police. Additional updates and training are given to staff as needed throughout the year.
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a partnership between schools, the local authority and the police, working together to support children who may have been affected by domestic abuse. When an incident is reported to the police where a child is present, our school is notified securely before the start of the next school day. This allows us to provide timely, sensitive support to ensure pupils feel safe, listened to and ready to learn. Information is shared on a need-to-know basis and treated with the utmost confidentiality. Being part of Operation Encompass helps us to strengthen our safeguarding procedures and provide the best possible care for our pupils during difficult times.
Complaints or Concerns
Complaints or concerns about a member of staff should be made directly to the headteacher via the school office. Details of making a formal complaint can be found in our Complaints Policy. The Headteacher will always take professional advice from the local authority on how to proceed with all allegations against staff. Any complaint or concern about the Headteacher should be made directly to the Chair of Governors via the School Office.
Online Safety
We encourage parents and children to visit the CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection) website or the NSPCC website to find out how to stay safe online and to keep up to date with information about games, social media and apps.
The NSPCC Pants rule is a great tool to help children keep themselves safe. Visit the NSPCC Website below to get more resources and information including a Pack for Parents on how to start the conversation. nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/underw ear-rule/
To help protect your children when using the internet remember the 'Golden Rules.'
Preventing Extremism
The school has adopted the Government definition of extremism as: “Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs; and/or calls for the death of members in our armed forces, whether in this country or oversees."
There is no place for extremist views of any kind in our school, whether from internal, sources (pupils, staff or governors) or external sources.
The school has arranged to complete awareness raising training. Should any parent or community member have concerns regarding extremism, please speak immediately to the Head teacher (DSL) or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leader in his absence.
As part of the duty to protect young people from the messages of extremism, the school will refer any young person they are concerned about to the local Prevent team through the Channel process. The Channel referral form can be found through the LSCB website link above and should be returned to the email provided channel@lincs.pnn.police.uk The school may also email prevent@lincs.pnn.police.uk to seek advice and support. Should a school use the child protection referral process through Customer Service Centre 01522 782111, the CSC will ask the school to complete a channel form if there are any concerns related to extremism and radicalisation. Where the school has serious concerns about the vulnerability of a young person in relation to extremist behaviour, then the school should make a call to the Police on 999.
Preventing Extremism Prevent Guidance: what is it and how to report it.
More information is attached below...
Vetting Procedures for Employees & Volunteers
All members on the school staff have to have a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) in order to work in school. This is regardless of the employee’s role - all members of staff are checked. In addition all volunteers and anybody who has regular contact with children are checked. Visitors to the school either provide their own DBS on arrival or are members of professional bodies who are registered by their employer, such as OFSTED inspectors or Local Authority Employees. Any one off visitor, such as a visiting author either provides their own DBS or signs one of the school’s Occasional Visitors’ forms. Parents who help out occasionally on school trips sign an Occasional Visitors’ form.
Risk Assessments
Whilst we cannot remove risk, we look at ways of minimising that risk. These risk assessments are undertaken on areas such as classrooms, halls, playground and the car park. We carry out risk assessments for all school trips (inc. residentials which are sent to the Local Authroity for approval). Risk assessments may be carried out for individuals who require some reasonable adjustments to support their learning and behaviour. This means that whist we cannot remove risk we have looked at ways of minimising that risk. These risk assessments are undertaken on areas such as classrooms, halls, playground and the car park.
Security
Staff have access to the gates by padlock codes and keys. Visitors can only gain access by authorised by staff. All fire exits are bar push exits.
Equality
The school has an Equality policy that monitors any possible discrimination in the school in relation to any of the nine protected characteristics (Equality Act 2010). The school also makes annual returns on any racist incidents.
Photographs & Videos
Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life, we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils.
We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.
There are occasions that school will not be able to allow photographs/videos taken at events (i.e. sports day, plays etc) because of children with Child Protection orders. This is emphasised before events and shows etc.
Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We like to use photographs of our children on our website, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around the school - but will have asked for permission. If you do not wish photographs of your child to be used for these purposes, please contact the school office to update your consent form.
Safeguarding Children Statement 2026-27
"It could happen here"
Safeguarding is everyone's business. We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We make every effort to provide an environment in which children and adults feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and feel confident to talk if they are worried, believing they will be effectively listened to.
Our staff are trained to look out for signs of abuse or neglect. They are required to report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and follow clear procedures to implement our safeguarding objective to ensure children receive effective support, protection and justice. Our pupils are made aware of the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns and any matters reported are taken seriously.
We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure children receive effective support, protection and justice. Child protection forms part of the school's safeguarding responsibilities. We expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguarding our pupils.
We follow the Lincolnshire County Council Safeguarding procedures and have a number of policies and procedures in place which contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy. A copy of this policy is available on our website. We actively support the Government's Prevent agenda.
The purpose of this policy is to provide staff, volunteers and governors with the framework they need in order to keep children safe and secure in our school. This policy is kept under constant review and revised when necessary to reflect developing safeguarding concerns. It is reinforced by regular training and updates for staff. The policy also informs parents and carers about how we will safeguard their children whilst they are in our care.
We regularly review the effectiveness of our safeguarding procedures within both the senior leadership team and the Local Governing Body of the school.
If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the DSLs as soon as possible on the same day.