At St Mary’s, we treat safeguarding as a high priority to ensure the safety, health and well-being of all children, staff and visitors.

The Single Central Record (SCR) is a document maintained by the school to demonstrate that staff have undergone appropriate recruitment and police checks. The SCR is updated regularly, especially as and when new staff are recruited.

Governors, volunteers and regular visitors to the school are also recorded on the SCR.

Visitors to the school are required to sign in at the main reception area and are issued with a visitor’s badge. Visitors who do not have appropriate DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) clearance will not have sole access to children.

We have strong systems in place to ensure all staff know that they may see the DSL in school to discuss any concerns regarding Child Protection/Safeguarding even if the issue seems ‘low level’. Where there is information causing sufficient concern, the matter is discussed between the Headteacher and an Assistant Headteacher to decide if other agencies such as Social Services should be informed of the matter. Where appropriate, parents are informed if the school decides to make a referral to Social Services. In line with their procedures, Social Services may instruct the school that parents should not be informed in particular cases. The school follows Social Services advice with regards to referrals and information sharing.

Child Protection training is provided regularly for existing staff and forms part of the induction process for all newly appointed staff. The DSL attends forums led by the H&F LADO to receive up to date local information about child protection and safeguarding issues.

All staff are familar with the DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education document which forms the basis of our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy. Please see the links above for access to these.

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads at St Mary’s are Kristen Emanuel and Lucy Black.

Contact details for our DSL can be obtained by emailing the school office on admin@stmarysrc.lbhf.sch.uk