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Safeguarding

At Ashfield Primary School, we consider the safeguarding of children to be our most important priority. Children need to feel safe, cared for and valued in order to learn and thrive.

What is Safeguarding?

In our school, we follow the guidance set out in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ 2019 which states that schools must ensure they:

  • Protect children from maltreatment
  • Prevent the impairment of children’s health or development
  • Ensure children grow up in safe and effective care
  • Take action to ensure children achieve the best outcomes

To ensure the above guidelines are followed, we take action to enable all children to have the best outcomes through our safeguarding measures regardless of their age, culture, physical needs, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and sexual identity. In order to do this, we have clear procedures in place to ensure that disclosures or allegations are taken seriously, recorded correctly and investigated. 

Who is Responsible for Safeguarding?

At Ashfield we have four Desiginated Safeguarding Leads (known as DSLs). Please speak to them regarding any concerns about the safety and welfare of a child. For out of school hours concerns, please email: elspeth.warren@ashfieldprimary.co.uk or ring Leeds public social care on: 0113 222 4403.  In the event of an emergency of course ring 999.

Elspeth Warren

Sarah McLaughlin

Karen Hey

Stephanie Davison

Elspeth Warren Headteacher, designated child protection staff and supervisor

Sarah McLaughlin Assistant Headteacher, SENDCO and designated child protection staff

Karen Hey Learning Mentor and designated child protection staff

Stephanie Davison Assistant Headteacher and designated child protection staff

Sandra Perring Safeguarding Governor - Contact: info@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. Staff are made aware that any safeguarding issues need to be reported via the correct route to the designated safeguarding leads.

On-going safeguarding measures are in place for all staff members: regular training, circulation of updates to our safeguarding policy and sharing of good practice to ensure that all staff can recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and report using our agreed procedures.

Where national issues come to the fore, whole school staff training is put in place, for example around the PREVENT agenda or around online safety.

How does our Curriculum Support Safeguarding of Pupils?

To support pupils with confidence and knowledge of safeguarding issues, we ensure our curriculum allows lots of opportunities to develop their understanding.

For example:

  • We cover whole school national and global themes across the whole year such as Anti-Bullying week and Safer Internet Day
  • We learn about our values and keeping safe in lessons and assemblies to help children develop their sense of worth and confidence

In addition, there is a regular review of the school setting to ensure that pupils are in an environment where they feel safe, and are safe. Pupils are well equipped with the knowledge and understanding of how to keep safe, maintain a healthy lifestyle (including healthy relationships) and keep mentally healthy through activities such as recognising Online Safety and Anti-Bullying weeks,  visits from the Fire Brigade and Community Police as well as health professionals. 

safeguarding assembly

How we keep ourselves safe at Ashfield

By following our golden Rules:

  • Be Kind
  • Stay safe
  • Show respect
  • Be honest
  • Try your best

Emotionally safe

  • Be smiling and kind
  • If someone is nasty – walk away but tell someone about it
  • If you see or experience bullying tell and get involved in a circle of friends
  • We look after our wellbeing by: being active; spending time with friends; doing things to take all our attention; doing nice things for other people and learning new things
  • We talk through problems – listen and resolve – restorative practice

In the playground

  • If you are throwing or kicking balls, watch out for others
  • Remember not to kick the heavy basket balls
  • Do not play boisterously or play fight
  • Sports leaders and teachers help us
  • We have a fence around the pond.  Go in with a teacher
  • If wet we don’t play on the Trim Trail or grass
  • If a ball is out of school, a teachers supervises its retrieval

On the way to school

  • Cross with Sharon at the crossing patrol

On trips we:

  • wear Hi Vis vests
  • Adults help with road crossing
  • Registers and counting show we are all accounted for
  • Risk assessments are done before the trip.
  • We have plenty of adult helpers

In PE there are demonstrations of how to be safe with a new activity

We have 12 trained first aiders

Staff know the medical needs of the pupils

We plan for potential emergencies by having:

  • Fire alarm and practices
  • Invacuation practices
  • Locks and intruder alarms
  • Gates
  • Fences
  • Badges for authorised staff and visitors

First Aid

Peer nominations for Golden Rules Heroes

Using Friends to Keep Emotionally Safe

Using Friends to Keep Emotionally Safe Using Friends to Keep Emotionally Safe

Gate Around Pond

Teacher Supervising Retrieval of Ball Circle of Friends Gate after the Office Gate at Entrance Locked During School Day
Hi Vis vests on Trips Wearing Badges and Stickers to Show Who You Are Stickers to show visitors have been checked by the office    

Links with External Agencies

In order to provide the best possible safeguarding for all pupils in our school we work with outside agencies to ensure we get expert advice and support. We follow procedures set out by the Local Education Authority, the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board as well as ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ in accordance with child protection procedures.

Below are some of the links we have with external agencies:

  • NSPCC
  • West Yorkshire Police
  • Children's Social Work Team
  • Educational Psychology Team
  • CAMHS (Child and Adult Mental Health Service)
  • Area Inclusion Partnership
  • Social Services
  • Parent Support Advisor
  • Health practitioners
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability Team