Safeguarding
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Designated Safeguarding Lead Mr. A Tickner |
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Deputy Safeguarding Leads Mr. S Atkinson Mr. S Austin Ms C Finnigan |
If you have any concerns about your child or any other pupil at St Edward's Catholic Primary School, please speak to Mr. Tickner, Mr. Atkinson, Ms Finnigan or Mr. Austin.
Mr. Tickner is the Lead Designated Safeguarding Lead at St Edward's.
Disclosures from pupils are always referred to the designated adult responsible for Safeguarding.
Safeguarding Statement
St Edward’s Primary School is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults within our school community. The trust recognises that all our staff have a responsibility to safeguard children in accordance with the principles established by the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 (+ related guidance).
Safeguarding of our pupils is of paramount importance at St Edward's Catholic Primary School.
All members of staff are subject to a full, enhanced DBS check prior to employment and 'Safer Recruitment' procedures are followed.
Volunteers in school are supervised at all times. Parents volunteering for specific roles in school are subject to a DBS check as they may be unsupervised with pupils' present.
All visitors in school are required to sign in at the school office and present identification.
Further information on related policies can be found in our 'Key Information' tab (on the home page) under the 'Policies' tab
Safeguarding Training
For all staff, governors, volunteers and contracted staff we all adhere to the principles of the DFE's Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) document. At St Edward's Catholic Primary School, all staff, governors and volunteers receive training at the start of the academic year with regular weekly reminders in staff briefings. If any staff join through through the academic year, a full safeguarding induction is completed by the Lead DSL. This includes understanding and identifying possible areas of concern.
For contracted staff, we check with their company whether their training has been completed before working at the school.
Keeping Children Safe in Education - 2026 (KCSIE)
CEOP: Do you believe that a child is at risk of online exploitation? Report it here
What to do if you have a safeguarding concern about a member of staff:
Statement on Safer Recruitment
- Ensure that our recruitment and selection processes are inclusive, fair, consistent and transparent.
- Take all reasonable steps to prevent those who might harm children who may be vulnerable, from taking up in our school, positions of respect, responsibility or authority where they are trusted by others.
- Adhere to safer recruitment legislation, guidance and standards, responding positively to changing understandings of good safer recruitment practice.
- Always seek advice from human resources personnel to achieve best possible practice.
- Ensure training on safer recruitment practice guidance is maintained and relevant to current legislation and guidelines.
- Ensure our systems for monitoring adherence to safer recruitment practice are reviewed on a termly basis and documented as such.
Prevent Duty - What is the Prevent Strategy?
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorists or extremist causes.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.
How does the Prevent strategy apply to school?
From July 2015, all schools have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs and gang violence. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.
What does this mean in practice?
Many of the things we already do in schools to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
These include:
- exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
- challenging prejudices and racist comments
- developing critical thinking skills and as a strong, positive self-identity
- promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy.
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation. For example, by using filters on the internet to make sure they cannot access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Key Terms
Extremism - vocal or active opposition to fundamental British Values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Ideology - a set of beliefs
Terrorism - a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological clause
Radicalisation - the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism
If you have any questions or concerns about the Prevent strategy and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Tel: 01795 662708
Email: office@st-edwards-sheerness.kcsp.org.uk
Operation Encompass
Safeguarding Contact
If you have any worries or concerns and want to raise these in a confidential manner, please contact Mr. Tickner, or any DDSL, through the school landline number which is 01795 662708.