Safeguarding at Sandling Primary School
We recognise our statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and all those directly connected (staff, volunteers, governors, leaders, parents, families, and learners) are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children and have an essential role to play in making this community safe and secure.
We believe that the best interests of children always come first. All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account and all children regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection.
Our staff maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. When concerned about the welfare of a child, staff will always act in the best interests of the child and if any member of our community has a safeguarding concern about any child or adult, they should act immediately.
Our core safeguarding principles are:
Prevention
positive, supportive, safe culture, curriculum and pastoral opportunities for children, safer recruitment procedures.
Protection
following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to recognise and respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns.
Support
for all learners, parents and staff, and where appropriate specific interventions are required for those who may be at risk of harm.
Working with parents and other agencies
to ensure timely, appropriate communications and actions are undertaken when safeguarding concerns arise.
Definition of Safeguarding:
In line with KCSIE 2024, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this policy as:
- protecting children from maltreatment
- 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, and
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
The full Child Protection policy and related policies can be found by following this link.
Our Designated Safeguarding Team:
Our safeguarding team and trained Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
Miss Coombes – Headteacher – Lead DSL
Mr Kilduff – Deputy Headteacher – Deputy DSL
Mrs Arnold - FLO – Deputy DSL
Miss Ferguson - SENCo Assistant – Deputy DSL
Child Protection Policy:
Our Child Protection policy can be found by following this link. We have also developed a child friendly version of the policy, alongside a parent's guide, both are accessible using the links below:
Safeguarding Policy - Child friendly version
Safeguarding Policy - A Parents’ Guide Leaflet
Safeguarding Concerns:
If you are aware of a safeguarding concern regarding one of our pupils, please contact the office and ask to speak to a DSL or email safeguarding@sandling.kent.sch.uk.
- If you have an immediate concern about the safety of a child, please contact the police.
- You can also report child protection concerns to the Local Authority service through their Integrated Front Door: 03000 411 111 (or outside of office hours 03000 419 191)
- You can also report safeguarding concerns to the NSPCC helpline:
Whatever your worry – call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, email us, or submit our online form – we can help. We also have advice about spotting the signs of abuse. You can call Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm or 9am – 6pm at the weekends, or email us at any time. It’s free and you don’t have to say who you are.
