Safeguarding children is of paramount importance in our school. Ofsted define safeguarding as:

• Protecting children and learners from maltreatment.
• Preventing impairment of children’s and learners’ health or development.
• Ensuring that children and learners are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
• Undertaking that role so as to enable those children and learners to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

Here are just some of the key ways we ensure children are safe in school:

We have rigorous recruitment and checking procedures when appointing all staff members. Key staff and governors are trained in safer recruitment procedures.

We carefully review and follow processes, procedures and guidelines set out in our Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) policy. This policy is informed by Durham County Council and DSCP (Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership), a link to which can be found here: DSCP

We have made many adjustments to our building and grounds to ensure children's safety when in school. These include changing the position of the main entrance and fitting secure access to doors in several key areas around school.

Risk assessments are in place for all elements of school life, including buildings, grounds and equipment.

Staff assess risks of all activities they plan, for example trips and visits. The school uses the Durham Evolve tool and County policies to plan and assess risks for these activities.

We have clear systems and policies for managing medical conditions and medication in place.

We have several members of staff trained in paediatric first aid and have clear procedures, policies and guidelines to inform their practice.

All staff are trained to Level 1 in safeguarding procedures and three members of staff are trained at a higher level. These teachers are the designated teachers who oversee child protection in school. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is the head teacher, Jemma Crosby. We have two Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads and they are: Tom Leake, Deputy Head Teacher and Lynsey Robinson, SENCO.

The head teacher has attended a WRAP awareness session to ensure that school is fully aware of its role and responsibilities in terms of the Home Office's PREVENT strategy to tackle extremism.

All staff have undergone PREVENT training and subsequent refresher training.

We have rigorous admittance and supervision procedures for any adults not normally employed by us but who need to access the school. These adults could range from building contractors to visiting educational professionals.

We have effective behaviour and anti-bullying policies.

Our computing curriculum includes modules relating to e-safety.

Staff and children have good relationships and the children trust their teachers to take care of them.

We are working hard to develop risk awareness and management skills in children so that they can identify risks for themselves and take appropriate action to keep themselves safe. We use the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) play ethos to develop this further. For more information on this, please see the appropriate page of this website.

We have very strong links with the local police and our Y5 and Y6 children have taken part in the 'Mini Police' project. This programme allows children to find out about the roles of police and how they help us all to stay safe. They join in with community actions to support the local community and the wider city.

Regular visitors such as the fire service and Jet and Ben the police dogs reinforce safety messages.

Our Y5 and 6 children have several sessions a year with Childline staff members to improve their understanding of keeping themselves safe.

Our 'Safeguarding and Child Protection' policy can be found in the 'About Us' section of this website. This has been thoroughly reviewed in order to ensure that school is fully compliant with the most recent version of Keeping Children Safe in Education and the national PREVENT agenda.