Safeguarding

Our Commitment

St Monica Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is our absolute priority. We expect all of our staff, pupils, parents, volunteers, Academy Councillors, visitors, contractors and third party professionals to share this view.

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

The term “Designated Safeguarding Lead” (DSL) is used in the DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education document and refers to the person accountable for overseeing the safety and wellbeing of the children in the care of their setting. The role of the DSL must be fulfilled by a member of the schools Senior Leadership Team to ensure that they have appropriate authority and status to provide advice and support to other staff on child welfare and child protection matters.

Our school has two Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and four Deputy DSLs. Our school's DSLs are the people responsible for all safeguarding and child protection matters within our setting.

Richard Waghorn - Designated Safeguarding Lead
Kate Hunter - Designated Safeguarding Lead
Lisa Marshall - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Hannah Legg - Deputy Designated Safeguarding lead
Jenny Sherwood - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Megan Lawler - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Paul Langston - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Designated Teacher

Richard Waghorn

Attendance and Welfare Team

Katy Hunter - Attendance and Family Support Officer
Kim Dewey - Receptionist and Welfare Assistant
Wendy Parker-Green - Receptionist and Welfare Assistant

Reporting a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please contact a DSL.

Alternatively, you can contact Southampton Children's Services directly:

Office hours: 023 8039 9870. During out of hours, contact 023 8023 3344. Always call 999 if the child is in serious danger.

All school DSLs are contactable via: STM.DSL@ilpartnership.org.

If your safeguarding concern is about an adult working or volunteering in the school, you should contact the Head of School, Richard Waghorn or Executive Principal, Lisa Marshall. If your safeguarding concern is about the Headteacher, you should contact the Chair of the Trustees, Tim Sutherland tim.sutherland@ilpartnership.org . As an alternative, or if Tim is not available, you can contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) - 023 8091 5535 / 07500 952 037 or email: LADO@southampton.gov.uk.

If you wish to make an allegation or have a concern about an employee working with children or young people, concerns should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) - 023 8091 5535 / 07500 952 037 or email: LADO@southampton.gov.uk.

On 1st April 2021, the DfE established a dedicated helpline, run by the NSPCC, to support survivors of sexual harassment and abuse in education settings: 0800 136 663.

Our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy

At St Monica Primary School, we take safeguarding and child protection very seriously. We have a number of policies and procedures that contribute to our safeguarding commitment. Key policies can be viewed below.

We use a computerised system called CPOMS to record and track safeguarding concerns.

Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse means any threats, violence, controlling or coercive behaviour that takes place between family members or people aged over 16 who are in a relationship with each other (or have been in the past).

Domestic abuse can happen regardless of social group, class, age, race, disability or sexuality of the individuals involved. Domestic abuse can affect men, women and those who identify as non-binary. It can occur in any relationship - heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, young or old.

It is a pattern of behaviour used by abusers designed to establish and maintain power and control over another person.

If you, or anyone else, is at immediate risk of harm, telephone the police on 999. For help call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (24 hrs) If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.

Pippa Helpline: 023 8091 7917

https://www.southampton.gov.uk/health-social-care/domestic-abuse/what-is-domestic-abuse/

NSPCC helpline for survivors of sexual harassment and abuse in education settings: 0800 136663

Useful Websites

Southampton Childrens Services

Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

Department for Education: Tackling Child Abuse Together

National Online Safety

We have included below some helpful guides from National Online Safety to educate parents and pupils about e-safety, especially on social media platforms.