At Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, we believe that keeping our pupils safe is at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our mission “One School Family, Achieving Together, Anchored in the Love of Christ”, we are committed to creating a nurturing, safe and inclusive environment where every child is protected and able to flourish.
We take our responsibilities under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 extremely seriously and work closely with families, the Local Authority and wider safeguarding partners to ensure the welfare of all children remains our highest priority.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility — all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors play a vital role in protecting children from harm and we maintain a vigilant attitude of "it could happen here". We are clear that a child’s welfare is paramount and any concerns will be dealt with swiftly, sensitively and robustly.
Creating a Safe and Supportive School Environment
We aim to provide a school that is:
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Safe, caring and respectful
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Positive and nurturing
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Inclusive of every child and family
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Vigilant in protecting children from risks and harm
We promote safeguarding through our curriculum, the wider life of the school and by ensuring pupils know who they can talk to if they are worried.
Health and Safety
We maintain strong health and safety procedures to keep our school community secure:
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Regular site checks and a comprehensive Health & Safety policy
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Regular inspections involving Local Authority guidance
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Routine fire drills for safe evacuation
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A current Fire Risk Assessment
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An Emergency Plan to ensure preparedness for emergencies
Any health and safety concerns reported by staff are addressed immediately.
Safer Recruitment, Induction and Volunteers
We follow national Safer Recruitment guidelines to ensure only suitable adults work with our pupils:
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All staff and regular volunteers hold an Enhanced DBS check
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Identity and employment checks are completed in line with DfE requirements
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New staff complete safeguarding induction before working with children
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Visitors without confirmed clearance are never left unsupervised
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)
People you can contact if you have a concern about a child’s safety:
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mrs Lucie Banks — Headteacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs Kerrie Margetts - Leader of Business, Behaviour and Attendance
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs Sarah Wild - EYFS Lead
Safeguarding Governor
Mrs Rebecca Colman
External Safeguarding Contacts
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Becky Paradise
01983 823435, email: LADO@iow.gov.uk
If a child is at immediate risk, call the police on 999.
Online Safety
Digital learning plays an important part in children’s education. We teach pupils how to stay safe online and support parents to confidently guide their children’s use of technology at home.
Useful support for online safety at home:
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NSPCC — keeping children safe online:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe -
CEOP — report online concerns
https://www.ceop.police.uk -
Childline — support for children
https://www.childline.org.uk -
Internet Matters — advice tailored by age:
https://www.internetmatters.org -
Childnet — tools, tips and activities:
https://www.childnet.com
We encourage open conversations between parents and children about safe, respectful and positive online behaviours.
Our Safeguarding Policies
Our Safeguarding Policy, Child Protection Policy and Online Safety Policy can be found below. Policies are reviewed at least annually and updated to reflect current statutory guidance, including:
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Keeping Children Safe in Education
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Working Together to Safeguard Children
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The Prevent Duty Guidance
Working Together with Families
We recognise that building strong relationships with families is essential in keeping children safe. If you ever have concerns about your own child or another child, please speak with us — we are here to help.