Safeguarding Statement
At Ladymount Catholic Primary School, we recognise our moral and statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We work hard to create an environment where children and adults feel safe, valued and respected, and confident to speak up if they are worried.
We follow the Wirral Children’s Safeguarding Partnership procedures and have a range of policies in place, including our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, which outlines how we keep children safe in our care and informs parents and carers of our approach.
At Ladymount, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility — including the children themselves.
What to do if you are worried about a child:
If you have any concerns about the well-being or safety of a child at our school or feel that something may be troubling them, you should share this information with an appropriate member of staff straight away.
Some issues such as a child’s appearance, hygiene or general behaviour can be shared with any member of staff in the school. Please do not worry that you may be reporting a small matter – we would rather you tell us things which turn out to be small than miss a worrying situation.
However, if you think that the matter is serious and may be related to a child protection concern - where the child has been harmed, or is at risk of harm, e.g. physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect, you must talk to one of the Designated Safeguarding Lead’s (DSLs) immediately.
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) are:
Miss Nicola Turner– Senior DSL and Headteacher
Mrs Eileen Kelly – Deputy DSL and Deputy Headteacher
Mr Ian Wheeler – Safeguarding Governor
DO NOT DELAY.
If you are unable to contact them, you can ask the school office staff to find them and ask them to speak to you straight away about a confidential and urgent matter. Please do not conduct your own investigation.
If your concerns relate to a member of staffs suitability to work with children please speak to a DSL immediately, in confidence, who will refer the matter to the Headteacher (or Chair of Governors if the concern relates to the Headteacher) who will investigate and consider what action to take.
Operation Encompass
In conjunction with Merseyside Police, Ladymount Catholic Primary School is involved in an initiative called Operation Encompass. The purpose of it is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, heard or witnessed a domestic abuse incident. Following such an incident, children can arrive at school distressed, upset, worried and unprepared. The initiative aims to ensure that appropriate school staff (called Key Adults) are made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe and included.
This is a valuable initiative that means that we can continue to support and help children and families within our school community when they need it most. You can find out more by visiting www.operationencompass.org or by contacting our Key Adult (N. Turner).
Prevent