St. Edward's Catholic First School fully recognises the responsibility it has under Section 175 (Section 157 for Independent Schools and Academies) of the Education Act 2002 to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. We also have a responsibility regarding the Prevent Duty statutory guidance and the complementary Department for Education guidance that accompanies this policy, as well as the Department of Health's FGM Risk and Safeguarding Guidance for professionals.
“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. To fulfill this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should ensure their approach is child-centered. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child”, Keeping Children Safe in Education, September 2023.
No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child's needs and circumstances. If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information, and taking prompt action.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as
All our staff maintain a culture of vigilance in all areas of school life. We have robust policies in place for ensuring the well-being of our children. These policies underpin our practice and values, which are shared by every single member of staff in our school.
Any concerns about children are passed through our Safeguarding Team, which comprises members of staff trained as 'Designated Safeguarding Leads' in the school, in compliance with the 'sharing of information' guidance.
Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Liam Keohane
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:
Rhona Miccoli & Andy McKell
Designated Safeguarding Link Governor
Aimee McElwee