Safeguarding
Safeguarding our pupils is our number one priority
Safeguarding is our number one priority at Hollingwood Primary School and everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. We pride ourselves on providing a secure environment for children to flourish.
The information on this page explains some of our key provision and systems. Our Child Protection and Safeguarding policy outline the safeguarding arrangements for our school and can be defined as:
- providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
- protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
- 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
- promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework.
DSL Team
Our Safeguarding policy outlines the particular roles and responsibilities of our staff, and the actions they must take if they have concerns about the safety or well-being of a child.
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs D Walton
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads: Mrs T Asghar, Mrs V Ling, Miss K Dyson and Mrs N Wade.
Designated Teacher for Looked After Children : Mrs V Ling
Please contact one of these people if you have any concerns about the safety or well being of any child in our school during school hours.
School telephone number: 01274 575353
Alternatively, these are the numbers that you can ring for advice and to make a referral:
- During office hours (8.30am – 5pm Monday to Thursday, 4.30pm on Friday) call Children’s Social Services Initial Contact Point on 01274 433999
- At all other times, Social Services Emergency Duty Team on 01274 431010
- If you have reason to believe that a child is at IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM, contact the police on 999
- For all general enquiries, please contact Children’s Specialist Services on 01274 433999
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Childline: 0800 1111
Role of the DSL’s
The DSL’s will:
- Respond promptly to any safeguarding concerns
- Talk to parents about concerns raised where appropriate
- Liaise with social care and other agencies
- Update safeguarding records
- Lead and coordinate whole school training and updates
- Meet regularly with the safeguarding team and teachers to communicate relevant information
- Meet the safeguarding trustee
- Update the school safeguarding policy
- Keep informed of safeguarding national updates and guidance including KCSIE ( Keeping Children Safe in Education) and Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Be aware of the contextual safeguarding and issues that are affecting the local community
- Keep up to date with Prevent training
- Have safer recruitment training
- Attend annual online safety training
- Attend local DSL networks and training
- Have regular supervision training
Operation Encompass Safeguarding Statement
Hollingwood Primary School is part of Operation Encompass.
https://www.operationencompass.org/
Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children who experience Domestic Abuse.
Operation Encompass is in place in every police force in England and Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.
Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act. There is a legislative requirement for police forces to share information with educational settings through Operation Encompass.
Through Operation Encompass the police will share information with our school about ALL police attended domestic abuse incidents which involve any of our children who are related to either of the adults involved in the incident. This sharing of information will occur PRIOR to the start of the next school day. The notification will inform us about the context of the incident and will include the Voice of the Child.
The DSL’s in school have completed the free National Online Operation Encompass Key Adult training; they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other staff.
All staff have had training about Operation Encompass, the prevalence of Domestic Abuse and the impact of this abuse on children. To raise awareness of Operation Encompass we display the posters within school and share information with parents. Operation Encompass notifications are stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.
As a school we have also discussed how we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification.
Health & Safety
As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, health and safety is a priority for everyone at Hollingwood.
All staff, pupils and visitors share responsibility for maintaining a safe environment, and any concerns can be raised with the site team or senior leadership. We also actively encourage our children to take an active role in health and safety by reporting anything that may cause concern.
Regular drills are carried out to ensure the safe and efficient evacuation and invacuation of the building, supported by ongoing fire risk assessments and guidance from the Fire risk assessor. We are regularly visited by the Health and safety Inspector and comply with any recommendations. In addition to our Health and Safety Policy, we have clear procedures and risk assessments in place for areas such as food preparation and hygiene to ensure safe practices throughout the school, including the kitchen and dining areas.
Hollingwood Primary School is a secure site, with gates locked during the school day, controlled door access, a visitor registration system, and well-established routines and procedures.
All children are supervised at all times, and visitors are required to report to the main reception on arrival.
At Hollingwood Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and with respect. All children have equal access to the school and its curriculum, and are valued as equal partners in their learning.
When a child is identified as having special educational needs, we work closely with parents, the local authority and relevant professionals to ensure that appropriate support and adaptations are put in place. This enables all pupils to access learning fully and achieve their best.
We are a fully inclusive school, where children with physical needs and disabilities are supported to take a full and active part in all lessons and activities. Every effort is made to remove barriers to learning and participation so that all groups of children can reach their full potential.
Curriculum
Safeguarding is at the heart of our curriculum at Hollingwood Primary School and is carefully woven throughout all areas of learning. Through our PSHRE curriculum, including the use of the Story Project and POl- Ed, pupils explore a wide range of age-appropriate themes such as personal safety, healthy relationships, online safety, mental health and wellbeing. These important messages are reinforced regularly through class discussions, assemblies and wider curriculum opportunities.
We ensure that pupils are taught how to recognise risks, keep themselves safe and understand how to seek help and support when needed. This includes developing their confidence to speak out and their understanding of trusted adults both within school and beyond.
All staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates, enabling them to recognise the signs of abuse, neglect or vulnerability and to respond promptly and effectively. Staff understand their responsibility to safeguard children and promote their wellbeing every day, creating a safe, supportive and vigilant school culture.
Online Safety
Online safety is a key part of our safeguarding provision at Hollingwood Primary School. We have clear and robust Acceptable Use Policies in place for both staff and pupils, which are consistently implemented and regularly reviewed.
Pupils are taught how to use the internet safely and responsibly through our curriculum, including understanding risks such as online bullying, inappropriate content, and the importance of protecting personal information. They are supported to develop the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe online and to report any concerns.
The school uses effective filtering and monitoring systems to safeguard all users. These systems provide immediate alerts to Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) where there are potential concerns, enabling swift and appropriate action to be taken. This contributes to a strong culture of vigilance and ensures that safeguarding is proactive and responsive.
Mobile phones, Filming and Image
At Hollingwood we operate a clear consent process, parents and carers are asked to provide permission for image use when their child joins the school, and this can be amended at any time.
To ensure safeguarding remains a priority, parents and carers are not permitted to take photographs and videos at school events. Staff will take pictures on school devices and share pictures with parents through Class Dojo. This allows staff to remove those children who do not have permission to have their picture taken.
Parents are reminded in advance of all events that any images or recordings shared with them by staff must be for personal use only and must not be shared on social media or other public platforms. This helps to protect the privacy and safety of all children.
The school carefully manages the use of children’s images. Photographs may be used on the school website, in publications or in the media to celebrate achievements and promote the school.
On social media platforms we will minimise the use of children’s identity or faces.
These procedures ensure that we maintain a safe, respectful and secure environment, while celebrating pupils’ successes appropriately.
Behaviour
Our three Golden Rules are central to school life at Hollingwood Primary School and are consistently reinforced across all aspects of learning and play.
These are: Be a good learner, keep yourself and others safe, and treat everyone with respect.
We have a clear and consistently applied Relationships and Behaviour Policy which sets high expectations for all pupils. This policy establishes clear boundaries and promotes positive behaviour, ensuring that all children understand the impact of their choices on the learning, wellbeing and safety of others.
It helps to support a positive, orderly environment where pupils understand boundaries and the importance of making positive choices. It promotes respect, responsibility and consideration for others, ensuring that behaviour does not disrupt learning or compromise the safety and wellbeing of the school community.
Where behaviour falls below expectations, staff respond in a calm, consistent manner , using restorative approaches to help pupils to reflect on their actions and understand their impact. Staff encourage children to make better choices and understand how to repair relationships. This approach supports a positive, respectful and safe school culture where all children can thrive.
First Aid
Hollingwood Primary School ensures that there are trained first aid staff available on site at all times to respond promptly to any medical needs or incidents. Where necessary, parents and carers are contacted immediately and kept fully informed. Our administrative staff are also trained to support the effective management of incidents throughout the school day.
In Early Years, all staff are Paediatric First Aid (PFA) trained, ensuring that our youngest children are cared for by qualified adults who can respond quickly and appropriately to any medical or welfare concerns. This contributes to a safe, well-supervised environment where children’s health, safety and wellbeing are prioritised at all times.
Staff recruitment
All staff appointed to work at Hollingwood Primary School, including students on placement, are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, in line with statutory safeguarding requirements.
A number of staff are trained in Safer Recruitment, ensuring that robust procedures are followed throughout the appointment process and that safeguarding remains central to all recruitment decisions.
All volunteers complete an induction prior to working in school and are required to undergo appropriate DBS clearance. Where individuals may have extended or unsupervised contact with children, a full DBS check is completed before they commence their role.
Any visitor who has not yet received DBS clearance is never left unsupervised with children under any circumstances. Clear procedures are in place to ensure that all visitors are appropriately supervised at all times, supporting a safe and secure environment for all pupils.
These measures reflect our strong commitment to safeguarding and align with statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).
Whistleblowing
All members of staff have a professional duty to report any concerns they may have about individuals working within the school, whether paid or unpaid. Concerns must be raised with the Headteacher or, where appropriate, the Trust in line with school safeguarding procedures.
Concerns can be reported verbally or in writing. Staff are encouraged to speak openly and confidently, knowing that all matters will be treated seriously, recorded appropriately, and managed sensitively and in line with statutory safeguarding guidance.
The school ensures that all concerns are dealt with promptly and proportionately, with confidentiality maintained and information shared only on a need-to-know basis to protect children and ensure appropriate action is taken.