Creating a Strong Safeguarding Culture at St Mary’s
Maintaining an effective safeguarding culture is at the heart of everything we do. Through clear procedures, open communication and a collective commitment from the whole school community, we ensure that safeguarding remains a priority.
Leadership and Safeguarding Ethos
School leaders champion a proactive safeguarding culture, ensuring that the welfare of children is embedded in all aspects of school life.
Safeguarding is regularly communicated as a priority, helping staff, pupils and the wider school community to understand their shared responsibility in keeping children safe.
Reporting and Managing Concerns
Effective procedures are in place to enable safeguarding concerns to be raised without delay.
- Staff record concerns using CPOMS, our secure online safeguarding system, allowing information to be logged quickly and efficiently.
- Every concern is reviewed promptly and appropriate action is taken without unnecessary delay.
Supporting Our Pupils
Ensuring pupils feel safe, valued and listened to is fundamental to our approach.
- Pupils are taught to recognise unacceptable behaviour and know how to report any worries, whether they relate to themselves or someone else.
- Children understand who they can speak to if they need support and are confident that adults in school will help them.
Governance and Accountability
The Safeguarding Governor provides strategic oversight and support to ensure safeguarding remains effective across the school.
- They monitor the implementation of safer recruitment procedures.
- They provide both support and constructive challenge to leaders to ensure safeguarding standards remain high.
Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers
Strong relationships with parents and carers help us create a safe environment for all children.
- Families are provided with information about safeguarding and how concerns can be raised.
- Open and honest communication reassures parents that any concerns will be treated seriously, sensitively and confidentially.
Training and Professional Development
Regular training ensures all staff remain informed, confident and alert to safeguarding responsibilities.
- Every September, all staff and governors complete Flick safeguarding training.
- Designated Safeguarding Leads attend Trust-wide DSL network meetings each term.
- Safeguarding remains a standing agenda item within staff meetings, where practical scenarios help strengthen understanding.
- Staff receive ongoing training to recognise indicators of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding risks.
Curriculum
Safeguarding is embedded throughout the curriculum to help pupils make safe and informed choices.
- Children learn how to identify risks to their wellbeing, including online safety, healthy relationships and personal safety.
- Our structured Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum supports pupils in developing these important life skills.
Safe Environment
We work hard to ensure both our physical environment and school culture promote safety and wellbeing.
- School facilities are designed and managed with children’s safety as a priority.
- We actively promote respect and inclusion through a zero-tolerance approach to discriminatory language and unacceptable behaviour.
Safeguarding Contextual Information for St Mary’s
Access via Grammar School Rd
Risk
The school’s location on the road allows for access into the car park via Grammar School Rd.
Control Measures
- Visitors are asked to enter through the main reception which has access control points.
- The school building remains inaccessible during the school day unless being granted access by the admin staff.
- Staff and Lunchtime Supervisors remain vigilant of trespassers and have updates through regular safeguarding training.
- Pupils develop awareness through the safeguarding curriculum.
- Our Responsible Property Officer routinely completes site inspections.
School Field Bordering
Risk
The school field is situated adjacent to a public footpath (which is behind a 6ft fence).
Control Measures
- Staff maintain close supervision of pupils.
- Regular perimeter and site inspections are carried out.
- Vigilance procedures remain consistent across all outdoor areas.
Anti-Social Behaviour Within the Local Community
Risk
Local police have previously identified anti-social behaviour as an area of concern. This may affect pupils’ safety outside school and increase the likelihood of exposure to inappropriate behaviour.
Control Measures
- PSHE lessons explore topics including peer pressure, gangs, personal safety and making positive choices.
- The St Mary’s curriculum and school values promote respectful behaviour and good citizenship.
- Regular visits from guest speakers strengthen pupils’ understanding of community safety.
- Frequent visits and visitors reinforce these key safeguarding messages.
Locations Where Pupils Feel Less Safe
Risk
Pupils have identified some local places where they feel less secure.
Control Measures
- Local safety is explored through PSHE lessons.
- Pupils learn how to identify, assess and manage risks within their community.
- Stranger awareness and online safety remain key curriculum themes.
- Children receive guidance on responsible mobile phone use.
- Educational visits are planned in line with the Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) policy.
Water Safety – River Ancholme
Risk
Swimming in the local River Ancholme is a risk to young people in the area.
Control Measures
- Water safety education is delivered through the PSHE curriculum.
County Lines
Risk
Children may be vulnerable to exploitation linked to county lines activity and gang involvement.
Control Measures
- County lines awareness is addressed through the PSHE curriculum.
- Learning is linked to topics including exploitation, peer influence, anti-social behaviour and personal safety.
Online Safety
Risk
Children face a range of online risks, including exposure to harmful content, inappropriate contact and unsafe digital behaviour.
Control Measures
- A progressive online safety curriculum supports pupils’ digital awareness.
- Filtering and monitoring systems help safeguard internet use within school.
- Parents have access to e-Safety workshops.
- PSHE lessons reinforce safe, responsible and respectful behaviour online.
