Chiltern Primary School recognises our statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We will be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice. 

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We recognise that our school is part of a wider safeguarding system and work closely with the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and other agencies to promote the welfare of children. We maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ and will consider the wishes of, and at all times, what is in the best interests of each child.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 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.

To ensure we all understand our responsibilities, all staff, including Governors undertake annual safeguarding training. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the school is Miss McGuigan. The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) are Mrs Howell, Mrs Croxford and Ms Britten.

Our school adapts an open and accepting attitude towards children as part of its responsibility for pastoral care. All staff encourage children and parents to feel free to talk about any concerns and to see school as a safe place when there are difficulties. Children’s fears and concerns are taken seriously and children are encouraged to seek help from members of staff. Children can also use the ‘worry box or monster’ located in their classroom if they feel they cannot directly approach a member of staff. 

It is of high importance to us that we:

• Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are always listened to;
• Ensure that children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or are in difficulty;
• Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities for PSHE which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse (including online), and to know to whom they can turn for help;
• Provide opportunities to establish effective working relationships with parents and colleagues from other agencies;
• Operate safer recruitment procedures and make sure that all appropriate checks are carried out on new staff and volunteers who will work with children, including references, criminal record and prohibition from teaching checks.

Alongside support provided in school, we also work closely with other outside agencies and services, such as:

• Social Services
• Early Help Team
• VOICE for Children and Young People
• Police

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust works holistically with West Northamptonshire Council and other key partner organisations to ensure that children’s services across Northamptonshire are delivered by a qualified and experienced workforce to deliver the best outcomes for children, young people and our community.

We provide a range of services for children and their families, including:

• Early Help – early help services provide targeted support to children, young people and families at the earliest point of identified need
• Social Care – social care services provide support to children in need of help and protection​

The Trust will aim to develop and deliver high quality social care services to children and young people in the county of Northamptonshire within the resources made available to the Trust by the Council.

In conjunction with partner agencies, the Council and the Trust shall work together collaboratively to secure the following outcomes:

• To promote the welfare and safeguard children in line with key children’s legislation and statutory guidance
• To provide family support to vulnerable children and their families to enable them to cope with difficulties
• To support children to live safely with their immediate and extended families wherever possible
• To meet the needs of looked after children and those leaving care
• To support disabled children and their families