The safeguarding team at St Clare’s Catholic Primary School is
Mrs G Pilkington – DSL (designated safeguarding lead)
Mrs E MacKenzie – Deputy DSL
Mrs K Mitty – Deputy DSL
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Our school ensures children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, to develop positive and healthy relationships and how to avoid situations where they might be at risk including by being exploited.
The school also has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services about a child in need of protection. Schools are not able to investigate child protection concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by children’s services or police that the parent/Carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the interests of the child.
The school will always seek to work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child and family.
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For further information see our Child Protection policy below or take a look at our policies page.
- Child Protection Policy 2023 – 2024
The leaflet below is a guide for parents on how we as a school work hard to keep the children in our care safe.
- Safeguarding Guide for Parents
The leaflet below is an example of the advice given to visitors upon arrival at our school, it provides a summary of our policy.
- Safeguarding Advice for Visitors
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‘The school ensures children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, to develop positive and healthy relationships, how to avoid situations where they might be at risk including by being exploited.’ Ofsted January 2020
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The school also has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate child protection concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by children’s services or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter or make enquiries.
We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the interests of the child. St Clare’s Staff will always seek to work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child and family.
Our school is committed to safeguarding children and promoting children’s welfare and expects all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment and maintain a vigilant and safe environment.
Everyone has a responsibility to act without delay to protect children by reporting anything that might suggest a child is being abused or neglected.
We would expect you to also report to the Head Teacher – Mrs MacKenzie or Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mrs Pilkington and deputy DSL Mrs K Mitty any behaviours of any adults working in the school that may concern you.
Should you wish to discuss any of the above matters further please contact Mrs E MacKenzie – Head Teacher. clares-ao@st-clares.liverpool.sch.uk
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If a child has been involved in, heard or witnessed a domestic incident, St Clare’s Primary’s Key Adult will be informed through Operation Encompass to allow immediate early intervention. St Clare’s Catholic Primary School Key Adults are Mrs G Pilkington and Mrs E MacKenzie.
In conjunction with Merseyside Police, Operation Encompass has been created to ensure that our children are given the support and nurture that they need when they need it most, by 9 am on the next school day the school’s Key Adult will have been informed that the child or young person has been involved, heard or witnessed a domestic incident. This knowledge, given to schools through Operation Encompass, allows the provision of immediate early intervention through silent or overt support dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child. If you have any questions about Operation Encompass, please do not hesitate to contact us.
This is a valuable initiative that means we can continue to support and help children and families within our school community when they need it the most.
You can find our more by visiting www.operationencompass.org or by contacting our Key Adults.
- Safeguarding Resource Hub Liverpool Safeguarding Board have put together a free hub of national safeguarding resources to empower children, young people and all adults supporting them. Please click on the link to take a look.
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Our Safeguarding Pledge
