Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where every child is respected and valued.

St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. We expect all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment and to help us maintain a vigilant, safe and supportive environment.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

Everyone has a responsibility to act without delay if they see, hear or become aware of anything that may suggest a child is being abused, neglected or is otherwise at risk of harm. Our willingness to work safely, remain vigilant and challenge inappropriate behaviour underpins our commitment to safeguarding.

We seek to work in partnership with children, families and other agencies to improve outcomes for children who are vulnerable or in need of additional support.

Our Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mrs Dowell

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs)
Mrs Davies
Mrs Austin
Mrs Durnin Pierce

Nominated Safeguarding Governor
Mrs Roper

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Tracey Holyhead

Keeping Our Children Safe

The safety and wellbeing of all children and young people is of paramount importance at St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School.

We recognise that parents and carers send their children to school each day with the expectation that we will provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment in which they can learn, develop and flourish.

We have a wide range of safeguarding measures in place to ensure that this commitment is put into practice and maintained throughout our school.

Child Protection at St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School

All members of school staff are trained to be alert to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns. Staff follow the policies and procedures of the Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.

Parents and carers should be aware that all school staff have a responsibility to pass on information that gives rise to concerns about a child's welfare, including concerns relating to abuse or neglect.

Where appropriate, staff will seek to discuss concerns with parents or carers and, where possible, inform them if a referral is being made to Children's Social Care. However, this will not take place where doing so could place a child at increased risk of significant harm or otherwise compromise their safety.

In accordance with local information-sharing protocols, information will be shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is necessary and proportionate to ensure that children are safe and receive the right support at the right time.

Getting Help and Support in Sefton

Sefton Children's Services provides two teams that professionals and members of the public can contact if they:

• are concerned about a child and believe a social worker may be needed;

• think a child or family may benefit from Early Help support; or

• need advice about services and support available to families in Sefton.

Children's Help and Advice Team (CHAT)

Telephone: 0151 934 4013

CHAT provides advice where there are concerns about a child and helps determine the most appropriate support.

Find out more: www.sefton.gov.uk/chat

Family Advice and Support Team (FAST)

Telephone: 0151 934 4545

FAST provides advice and support for children and families who may benefit from Early Help and other family services.

Find out more: www.sefton.gov.uk/fast

The approach is designed to enable a high-quality conversation about the needs of the child and family so that the most appropriate support can be identified.

Safeguarding Policies

We have a comprehensive range of policies in place at St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School that support our commitment to ensuring children are safe, secure and able to learn in a positive environment.

Our safeguarding and related policies are available in the Policies section of our website. Paper copies can also be requested from the school office.

Staff Induction and Safeguarding Training

All staff and volunteers complete an appropriate induction programme, which includes safeguarding and child protection training.

Every member of staff receives formal safeguarding training and regular updates to ensure their knowledge remains current.

Throughout the school year, safeguarding knowledge is reinforced through regular briefings, reminders and updates, including information and guidance from the Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Safer Recruitment

We follow robust safer recruitment procedures when appointing staff.

Safeguarding expectations and an individual's suitability to work with children are considered throughout our recruitment process. Appropriate procedures are also applied to regular volunteers working within school.

Candidates should expect safeguarding and child protection to form an important part of the school's recruitment and selection process.

PSHE and Online Safety

Through our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, children learn how to keep themselves and others safe in ways that are appropriate to their age and stage of development.

Technology and the internet play an increasingly important part in children's everyday lives. Through our curriculum, we teach children how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully.

We also provide information and advice to help parents and carers support their children's safety online.

Site Security and Visitors

We have robust procedures for managing and maintaining our school site to help ensure that it remains safe and secure.

Visitors to school are required to follow our visitor procedures, including signing in and wearing appropriate identification.

Visitors will be appropriately supervised unless the school has completed the necessary checks and determined that they are permitted to work within school without supervision.

First Aid and Medicines

Staff are trained to provide appropriate first aid, and parents and carers will be informed of treatment provided where necessary.

We also have staff with appropriate paediatric first-aid training across the school.

The school has procedures in place for the safe administration and management of medicines.