Safeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. At Christ Church C of E Primary School, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where every child feels valued, listened to and protected.
We know that safeguarding concerns can happen both in and out of school, including online, and we work closely with families and partner agencies to make sure children get the right help at the right time.
Key safeguarding contacts
Head Teacher: Mr Lee Harrison - head@christchurch.notts.sch.uk
Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr Lee Harrison
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Justine Watts - jwatts@christchurch.notts.sch.uk
Designated Teacher for Children in Care: Lee Harrison
Safeguarding Governor: Mrs Niki Monks - nmonks@christchurch.notts.sch.uk
LA Safeguarding Children in Education Officer: Zain Iqbal - zain.iqbal@nottscc.gov.uk
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) – allegations about adults working with children: LADO@nottscc.gov.uk - 0115 804 1272
School office contact: 01636 680051 - office@christchurch.notts.sch.uk
What do we mean by “safeguarding”?
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children includes:
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protecting children from harm
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preventing impairment of children’s health or development
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ensuring children grow up in safe and effective care
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taking action so children have the best life chances
Child protection is an important part of safeguarding and relates to children who may be at risk of significant harm.
If you have a safeguarding concern:
Contacting the school
If you have a worry, concern, or would like advice, please contact us.
Telephone: 01636 680051 Christ Church C of E Primary School+1
Email: office@christchurch.notts.sch.uk
If your concern is urgent and you cannot reach us, please use the external contacts listed above to speak to either the senior or deputy designated safeguarding leaders.
If you need to report a concern outside school (Nottinghamshire)
Children’s Social Care / MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub)
Public: 0300 500 80 80 Nottinghamshire County Council
Professionals: 0300 500 80 90 Nottinghamshire County Council
Emergency Duty Team (out of hours): 0300 456 4546 Nottinghamshire County Council+1
In an emergency: call 999 Nottinghamshire County Council
Early Help (Nottinghamshire)
If you need support but it is not an immediate safeguarding concern:
Early Help Unit: 0115 804 1248 | earlyhelp@nottscc.gov.uk Nottinghamshire County Council
Concern about an adult who works with children (LADO)
Nottinghamshire LADO: 0115 804 1272 nscp.nottinghamshire.gov.uk+1
(You can also raise concerns with the Headteacher, or the Chair of Governors if the concern is about the Headteacher.)
Helpful support for children and families
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Childline: 0800 1111 (free, confidential support for children)
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NSPCC: guidance for parents/carers and safeguarding advice - 0808 800 5000 - www.nspcc.org.uk
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Barnardos: Helps all kinds of families to cope with a wide range of issues including poverty, abuse, and homelessness - 01268 520224 - www.barnardos.org.uk
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Women's Aid Federation: The key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. Support a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK - 08457 023 468 - www.womensaid.org.uk
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National Drugs Helpline - 0800 77 66 00 (24 hour free advice)
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Missing Person Helpline - 0500 700 700 (24 hours)
Our whole-school approach to safeguarding
Safeguarding is fully embedded in daily school life, including our curriculum, pastoral support and school culture. We work in partnership with parents/carers and agencies to provide early help and timely support. Our approach includes:
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a strong safeguarding culture and regular staff training/updates
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clear procedures for reporting and recording concerns
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support for vulnerable pupils and families, including early help and nurture support (including 'The Willows' provision).
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a contextual safeguarding approach (recognising risks can occur beyond the school gates, including online and in the community)
Safer recruitment and site safety
We are committed to safer recruitment and follow robust vetting and checking procedures for staff, volunteers and, where appropriate, regular visitors. We maintain an up-to-date Single Central Record and ensure safeguarding checks are completed in line with statutory guidance. Any staff employed by the school complete a Christ Church School specific DBS check.
For visiting professionals, we follow the Nottinghamshire DBS Letter Process (where appropriate) and ensure visitors know how to report concerns. This includes requesting for anyone working in proximity to children.
Safeguarding through the curriculum (including Online Safety)
We teach safeguarding in an age-appropriate way through RSHE/PSHE, Computing, assemblies and wider curriculum opportunities. Key themes include online safety, healthy relationships, bullying (including cyberbullying), consent and boundaries, exploitation, radicalisation, mental health and wellbeing, and knowing how to seek help.
Online Safety in our curriculum
Online safety is taught progressively across the primary years and is reinforced in lessons and wider school life. Our curriculum helps children learn how to:
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keep safe online and know who to go to for help
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tell what is real/fake and safe/unsafe
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understand rights and responsibilities online
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manage pressures and influences online
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understand social networking (pros/cons), online identity and digital footprints
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recognise risks linked to online exploitation and harmful content
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use 'SMART' internet safety rules to make safer choices
We use resources that align with Education for a Connected World, which organises online safety learning into key strands (e.g. self-image and identity, online relationships, online reputation, online bullying, managing online information, health/wellbeing/lifestyle, privacy/security, and copyright/ownership).
We also support parents with current guidance and updates, including online safety information shared through school communication and workshops (including “Wake Up Wednesdays” style updates).
PREVENT strategy
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. Many of the things we do in school to help pupils become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.