Safeguarding Overview
A Child-Centred Approach to Safeguarding
Low Ash Primary is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our children in school. We believe that pupils have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse; where staff are vigilant for signs of any pupil in distress and are confident about applying the/our safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.
Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm – safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment – and that we all feel safe in our environment.
At Low Ash safeguarding permeates all aspects of school life and is everyone’s responsibility; the school forms part of a wider safeguarding system. In order to fulfil our responsibilities we adopt a child-centred approach. This means that:
- Safeguarding systems and procedures are oriented around the wishes, feelings and best interests of children;
- We seek to give children a ‘voice’, listen to what they say, take them seriously and work collaboratively in order to meet their needs.
Our school aims to provide a positive, stimulating, caring and safe environment which promotes the social, physical, emotional and moral development of each child. We work hard to maintain a safeguarding ethos and culture whereby children feel safe and are safe whilst at school and on their way to and from school. Further information can be found in our Safeguarding Policy on our policies page.
If you are ever concerned about the safety or well‐being of someone at our school please talk to one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs).
Safeguarding Statement
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This means that we have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place.
Parents and carers are welcome to read the Policy on request. 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 his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. If a member of staff is concerned about a child’s welfare, they will record their concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the DSLs as soon as possible the same day.
If a member of staff has concerns which relate to the actions or behaviour of another member of staff (which could suggest that s/he is unsuitable to work with children) then this will be reported to one of the DSLs in confidence, who will refer the matter to the Headteacher (or the Chair of Governors if the concern relates to the Headteacher) who will consider what action to take.
Low Ash Primary School’s Safeguarding Leads
Mrs Carmel Spedding (Assistant Headteacher) – Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Beth Medhurst (Headteacher) – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr Daniel Hurst (Deputy Headteacher) – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Online Safety Leader
Mrs Louise Robinson (Assistant Headteacher) – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Sharon Giedroijt (School Business Manager) – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Jacqueline Hill (Safeguarding, attendance and pastoral officer)- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss Sadie Kellett (Pastoral and family support worker)- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
All of our Safeguarding Policies can be found in the policies section of our website.
