At Vernham Dean Gillum's Church of England Primary School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils feel safe, supported and valued.

All staff, governors and volunteers receive regular safeguarding training and understand their responsibility to identify and report concerns. Our procedures follow national guidance including Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

Our safeguarding team is responsible for managing child protection concerns and supporting pupils, families and staff.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mrs Holly Bulpitt

Deputy DSLs
Mr Ian Hickman
Miss Flo Nicoll

Safeguarding Governor
Mr Paul Nicoll

Online Safety Governor
Mrs Kate Taylor

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please contact the school office and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team.

Our Safeguarding Approach

Safeguarding in our school includes:

• Providing a safe and supportive learning environment

• Teaching children how to stay safe, including online

• Ensuring safe recruitment of staff and volunteers

• Working closely with parents and carers

• Working with external agencies where appropriate

We work with organisations such as NSPCC and local safeguarding services to ensure children receive the support they need.

Online Safety

Children are taught how to use the internet safely and responsibly. Online safety is taught through the curriculum and reinforced regularly so that pupils understand how to stay safe when using technology.

Prevent Duty

Our school has a duty to prevent children from being drawn into extremism or radicalisation in line with the UK government’s Prevent Duty. Staff are trained to recognise signs of vulnerability and to respond appropriately.

Operation Encompass

We are part of Operation Encompass, a national initiative that supports children who may have been affected by domestic abuse. This means the school may be notified by the police before the start of the school day if a child has been involved in or exposed to a domestic incident, allowing us to provide appropriate support.

Safeguarding Policies

Our safeguarding arrangements are supported by several policies, including:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

• Behaviour Policy

• Anti-Bullying Policy

• Safer Recruitment Policy

These can be found on our Policies page.

Getting Help

Children are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult if they are worried about anything. They can also contact Childline for confidential support.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please contact emergency services on 999.

 

Young people and adults can contact the NSPCC helpline, Report Abuse in Education on 0800 136 663 or email help@nspcc.org.uk

Select the link below, which takes you to the E-Safety section on the parents area of our website.

CLEVER NEVER GOES has been developed to replace the out-dated ‘stranger danger’ approach.

Whilst child abduction is relatively uncommon, it’s important that children can recognise the potential signs of danger. Teaching children simply to avoid strangers doesn’t work. Most strangers will help rather than harm children. Conversely, it is often people known to children that pose the greatest threat.

Clever Never Goes moves the focus away from strangers and instead teaches children to recognise when someone (anyone) is asking them to go with them. We call this ‘Go Spotting’. In doing so, the programme aims to give children practical safety skills which they can use as they get older and become more independent.

It’s about safety – but it’s also about building children’s abilities to engage with the outside world, and giving parents the confidence to let them.