Designated Safeguarding Lead

Crawford Village Primary School Safeguarding Declaration

At Crawford Village Primary School, safeguarding and child protection are at the heart of our work. We take seriously our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and follow current national and local safeguarding guidance and procedures.

All staff have a responsibility to contribute to a strong safeguarding culture and to act promptly when they have a concern about a child or about the conduct of an adult working with children.

Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) has overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection at Crawford Village Primary School.

The key responsibilities of the DSL include:

• managing safeguarding referrals and ensuring concerns are responded to appropriately and promptly;
• working with Children's Social Care, the police, health services and other relevant agencies;
• providing advice and support to staff in relation to safeguarding and child protection concerns;
• ensuring that safeguarding and child protection records are maintained appropriately, including concerns, actions, decisions and outcomes;
• ensuring that relevant child protection information is transferred securely when a pupil moves to another school;
• ensuring that safeguarding information is shared appropriately with those who need it to support a child's welfare, safeguarding and educational outcomes;
• being aware of pupils who have a social worker and ensuring that relevant safeguarding and welfare information is appropriately considered;
• helping to promote educational outcomes by ensuring relevant safeguarding information is shared appropriately with teachers and school leaders;
• ensuring that staff receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training and regular updates;
• maintaining up-to-date knowledge and skills through appropriate safeguarding training and professional development;
• raising awareness of safeguarding and child protection arrangements with staff, pupils and parents/carers as appropriate;
• ensuring that children's wishes, feelings and views are considered when responding to safeguarding concerns;
• ensuring that safeguarding concerns are followed up and that appropriate action is taken where concerns about a child's welfare or safety remain.

The DSL works closely with the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure that effective safeguarding arrangements remain in place when the DSL is absent or unavailable.

Reporting Concerns

All adults working in or visiting Crawford Village Primary School have a responsibility to report safeguarding concerns.

If an adult has a concern about a child, they should:

1. Record the concern in writing using the school's safeguarding reporting procedures.
2. Inform the DSL without delay.

The school's safeguarding procedures provide further information about recording and reporting concerns.

If the DSL is unavailable

If the DSL is not available, staff should speak to the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) without delay.

Staff should not delay reporting a safeguarding concern because the DSL is unavailable. Where appropriate, advice may also be sought from Children's Social Care in accordance with local safeguarding procedures.

If the concern is about the DSL

If a safeguarding concern relates to the Headteacher/DSL, this should not be reported to the DSL. The concern should be reported to the Chair of Governors, who can be contacted through the school office.

There are specific procedures in place for managing allegations and concerns about adults working with children, including staff, governors, volunteers, supply staff and agency workers.

Allegations and Low-Level Concerns About Adults

Crawford Village Primary School recognises that concerns may arise about the conduct of adults working with children.

All concerns should be taken seriously and reported in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures.

This includes:

• allegations that an adult may have harmed a child;
• concerns that an adult may pose a risk of harm to children;
• concerns that an adult's behaviour may not meet the expected standards of professional conduct;
• low-level concerns, where behaviour does not meet the harm threshold but may be inconsistent with the school's expectations or professional boundaries.

Staff should report concerns promptly rather than deciding for themselves whether a concern is sufficiently serious to report.

The school will follow the appropriate safeguarding, disciplinary and local authority procedures when responding to such concerns.

The Designated Safeguarding & Prevent Lead at Crawford Village Primary School

The Designated Safeguarding & Prevent Lead at Crawford Village Primary School School is the Headteacher: Mrs Debra Eaton. The Deputy Designated lead is Miss Anna Davies. Both designated safeguarding leads have received up-to-date safeguarding and DSL training.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead on behalf of the Board of Governors at Crawford Village Primary School is: Dr Chris Lomas (Chair). Where a concern relates to the Headteacher/DSL, the Chair of Governors provides the appropriate alternative reporting route.