Safeguarding

Keeping Children Safe at St Stephen's

At St Stephen's C.E. Primary School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is our highest priority. We believe that children achieve their full potential when they learn in an environment that is safe, secure, nurturing and supportive. Every member of our school community has a role to play in ensuring children are protected from harm and able to thrive.

We work closely with parents, carers, the Local Authority and a range of professional agencies to support children and families, ensuring that help is provided at the earliest opportunity when concerns arise.

Our Safeguarding Ethos

At St Stephen's, we are proud to be a listening school where children know they are valued, respected and heard.

We are committed to:

Putting the welfare of every child at the centre of everything we do.
Treating every child as an individual with unique strengths and needs.
Creating a culture where children feel safe to share worries and concerns.
Maintaining an open and transparent approach to safeguarding.
Ensuring all adults are appropriately trained to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns.
Teaching children how to stay safe both online and offline.
Working proactively with families and external agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children.

Safeguarding Throughout School Life

Safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of school life and underpins all decision-making.

Our safeguarding arrangements include:

Robust child protection procedures.
Safe recruitment and vetting of staff and volunteers.
Regular safeguarding and child protection training.
Educational visit and risk assessment procedures.
Online safety education.
Attendance monitoring and support.
Health care and medical support plans.
Mental health and wellbeing provision.
Site security and visitor management systems.
Effective information sharing with relevant agencies.

Our aim is to create a caring environment where children feel happy, secure and confident, enabling them to learn, develop and succeed.

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)

Our safeguarding procedures are fully informed by the latest statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education.

We recognise that safeguarding extends beyond child protection and includes protecting children from:

Neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Child-on-child abuse.
Sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Online abuse and exploitation.
Child sexual exploitation (CSE).
Criminal exploitation and county lines.
Domestic abuse.
Radicalisation and extremism.
Serious violence.
Mental health concerns.
Harmful sexual behaviour.
Children missing education.
Modern slavery and trafficking.

All staff receive regular safeguarding updates and training to help them identify concerns early and respond appropriately.

Online Safety

Technology plays an important role in children's lives and education. We are committed to helping pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe online.

Children are taught about:

Safe use of the internet and social media.
Cyberbullying.
Privacy and personal information.
Healthy online relationships.
Reporting concerns.
Digital responsibility.

Our school uses appropriate filtering and monitoring systems and works closely with parents to promote online safety.

Child-on-Child Abuse

We recognise that children can sometimes abuse other children and that such incidents can occur both in school and online.

All concerns are taken seriously and may include:

Bullying and cyberbullying.
Physical abuse.
Sexual harassment.
Sexual violence.
Harmful sexual behaviour.
Sharing of nude or semi-nude images.
Initiation or hazing behaviours.

Children are taught about respectful relationships, consent, equality and personal boundaries through our curriculum and wider school life.

Working with Parents and Carers

Strong partnerships between home and school are essential to keeping children safe.

We regularly communicate with families through:

Parent consultations.
Newsletters.
Text messaging services.
Workshops and information sessions.
Family learning opportunities.
The school website.

We value parents' views and encourage families to contact us if they have any concerns regarding the welfare of a child.

Information Sharing and Early Help

There may be occasions when concerns about a child's welfare require us to work with other agencies. We follow statutory guidance regarding information sharing and always act in the best interests of the child.

By identifying concerns early and working alongside families, we can often provide support before difficulties escalate.

Designated Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Alison Richardson
Headteacher

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads

Victoria Suddes
Deputy Headteacher

Linda Edwards
SENDCo

Safeguarding Governor

Marvin Ryder

Reporting a Concern

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child, please contact the school immediately.

St Stephen's C.E. Primary School
Hall Lane, Willington, Crook, County Durham, DL15 0QH

☎ 01388 746426
✉ ststephensce@durhamlearning.net

Further Information

Please refer to our:

"There is something potentially wonderful in everyone." Our Christian vision calls us to nurture, value and protect every child so they can flourish, achieve their potential and let their light shine.