Safeguarding

Staff, Visitors and Volunteers

At St Alban’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the children entrusted to our care.

Our school supports all children by:

Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment within the school

Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness

We recognise that some children may be victims of neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Adults working with children should be well placed to identify such abuse. Guidance and advice is given in “Keeping Children Safe in Education”, a document which all staff need to be aware of and have read. If you do not have a copy, please ask in the school office where you can collect a copy.

At St Alban’s, in order to protect our children, we:

• Create an environment where all our children are safe, feel secure, valued and listened to.
• Recognise signs and effects of abuse.
• Respond quickly and appropriately to any incidents/issues where we feel a child or children are at risk from harm.
• Know how to access and offer help for children and their families using the “Right Help, Right Time” model.

Everyone working with our children, their parents and carers should be aware that:

• Disclosures of abuse or harm from children may be made at any time.
• Their role is to listen and note carefully any indications which could indicate abuse.
• They should not attempt to investigate once the initial concern is raised.
• They should never promise to keep disclosures a secret or ask any leading questions.
• They should never ask to see any marks which a child has alleged are a result of abuse.
• They should not cuddle a child or sit them on their knee to comfort them.
• They should involve the DSL or, in her absence, the Deputy DSLs immediately.

If anything worries you, report it straight away