Pupils said that they feel safe. They told inspectors that they are encouraged to talk about their worries and concerns. They are assured that adults will take their views seriously. They talked confidently about what it means to be a ‘telling school’. – Ofsted 2019

Keeping children safe at St Faith’s

At St Faith’s our values of kindness, trust and courage underpin everything we do: most importantly we want to keep our children safe.

Staff and Governors believe that our school should be a calm, safe and nurturing environment that gives children the confidence to express themselves. We recognise that all staff have a full and active part to play in protecting pupils from harm. As a school we have a legal and moral duty to ensure that the children get the highest level of care and are protected from any form of harm.

The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) at St Faith’s CE Primary School are: Julie De Silva (Headteacher) and Kate Harding (Assistant Headteacher).

We have two safeguarding link governors: Mr Ray Ingram and Mr Will Hattersley

Our curriculum is varied and designed to ensure that all children are taught how to stay safe. We want our children to make the right choices and be outstanding role models.

Online Safety is very important to us. There is a great deal of guidance available. As a school we have selected the following articles which provide advice for parents. Please note that children at primary school should not have access to Facebook or Instagram and that use of the internet should be closely monitored. The children also follow an online safety agreement.

All staff have receive regular safeguarding training and are clear of the steps they must take if they have any concerns regarding a child in their care. Any concerns will also be shared with parents at the earliest opportunity. The school has a number of policies that are embedded within our work. These include the Safeguarding Policy as well as the Health and Safety policy and the Online Safety policy.

The Governing body ensures that the school has child protection policy & procedures in place which are:

• in accordance with guidance and locally agreed inter-agency procedures
• given in writing to all school personnel, including volunteers
• the policy is made available to parents via the school website
• has an anti-bullying policy and systems in school to minimise incidents of bullying and intervene effectively when they occur

The school follows national guidelines

• with a particular reference to Keeping Children Safe in Education, the Prevent Duty and Female Genital Mutilation

The school operates safe recruitment procedures

• which ensure that all appropriate checks are carried out on new staff volunteers and parents who will work with children
• that provide a clear induction with all staff and that volunteers and Governors are aware of expectations

Both the Headteacher and School Business Manager are safer recruitment trained.

The staff are knowledgeable about what issues may be of particular concern

• staff are fully trained
• lines of communication are clear

All staff, governors and volunteers have read, understood and agreed to comply with the statutory guidance – Keeping Children Safe in Education.