Safeguarding
At Claydon Primary School, the safety and well-being of every child is our highest priority. We believe that all children have the right to feel safe, secure, and valued, and we are fully committed to creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive both emotionally and academically.
Our Safeguarding Policy can be accessed via our Policies page.
Please note that any adult who has concerns about the welfare of a child has a duty to report this.
Meet Our Safeguarding Team
If you ever have concerns about a child’s safety or well-being, please contact a member of our safeguarding team:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Heather Brown (Assistant Headteacher)
- Deputy DSLs: Cheryl Riches (Senior Leader of SEND and Inclusion) Emma Sefton (Family Wellbeing Lead) Vici Morris (Deputy Headteacher) and Donna O’Connor (Headteacher)
- Safeguarding Governor: Diane Armstrong
All discussions are handled sensitively, and action is taken in line with safeguarding policy and guidance.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding, as defined in the government’s statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), is:
“Protecting children from maltreatment;
Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development;
Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.”
Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from harm—it’s about creating the right conditions for children to grow, learn and develop safely. This means:
- Being alert to signs of abuse or neglect.
- Teaching children how to protect themselves.
- Listening carefully to their worries or concerns.
- Working closely with families and external professionals to provide the right support.
- Creating a safe and inclusive school environment where every child is seen, heard, and cared for.
Safeguarding applies to everyone who works with children—teachers, support staff, volunteers, parents, and carers all have a role to play.
Our Safeguarding Commitment
We have clear policies, procedures, and staff training in place to ensure a safe environment for every pupil.
Our approach includes:
- A well-trained safeguarding team, including Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs).
- Secure systems for reporting and following up on concerns.
- Close partnerships with children’s services and external safeguarding agencies.
- Thorough staff and volunteer vetting, including enhanced DBS checks.
- Clear and accessible behaviour, anti-bullying, and online safety policies.
Safeguarding is part of our everyday practice—from how we supervise playtimes to how we teach online safety and manage behaviour.
Safeguarding and the Curriculum
We embed safeguarding through our broad, detailed, and progressive curriculum.
Through carefully planned lessons, we help children:
- Develop resilience and self-confidence.
- Learn how to build respectful, healthy relationships.
- Understand how to stay safe in a variety of settings.
- Know how and when to ask for help.
Subjects such as PSHE, RSE and Life Lessons play a vital role in helping children navigate growing up safely, while our wider curriculum and assemblies reinforce British values, kindness, inclusion, and responsible citizenship.
Online Safety – Working Together to Keep Children Safe Online
In a digital world, online safety is more important than ever. At school, children are taught how to:
- Use technology responsibly and respectfully.
- Identify risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming, and misinformation.
- Protect their personal information and digital identity.
- Report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
We use filtered and monitored internet access and teach children how to make safe choices when using the internet, apps, and games.
How Parents Can Support Online Safety at Home
As a parent, you play a key role in reinforcing good online habits.
You can help by:
- Talking openly with your child about their online experiences.
- Setting boundaries around screen time, device use, and age-appropriate content.
- Keeping devices in shared spaces where you can supervise.
- Using parental controls on apps, Wi-Fi, and devices.
- Staying informed about online trends, platforms, and potential risks.
Keep an eye out for our 'Wake Up Wednesday' - Helping You Stay Safe Online!
Every Wednesday morning, we’ll be sharing useful hints and top tips designed to help you and your children stay safe in the digital world.
Our Wake Up Wednesday updates will focus on:
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The latest technology and apps children are using
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Clear, practical advice for parents and carers
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Tools and strategies to help you navigate the online world confidently and safely
Here are some examples below of what to look out for:
How Parents Can Support Further Support Safeguarding
At Claydon Primary School, we believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for a child’s success. We place great emphasis on the partnership between home and school and feel privileged to hold ‘community’ as one of our five Claydon Values.
You can further help and support us keep children safe by:
- Ensuring the school has up-to-date emergency contact information.
- Informing us of any changes at home that may affect your child’s wellbeing.
- Reinforcing the importance of kindness, inclusion, and personal safety at home.
- Reporting any concerns you may have - no matter how small they may seem.
Is it an Emergency?
Call:
- 0808 800 4005 if you're worried that a child or young person is at risk of neglect or harm, abuse (you can report and share your concerns anonymously)
- the police on 999
- the NSPCC child protection helpline on 0808 800 5000
We are committed to keeping every child safe, secure, and supported. If you have any questions or need advice about safeguarding—online or offline—please do not hesitate to get in touch. Together, we can ensure every child feels safe, happy, and ready to learn.
Helpful websites for parents:
