Safeguarding

Lancaster Lane Primary and Pre-School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is the Head Teacher, Mrs Hankin.

The school’s Deputy DSLs are:

  • Mrs Govier
  • Mr Clucas
  • Miss Marsden
  • Ms Park

Hilary Harrington (Chair of Governors) is the Child Protection Governor.

As detailed in the policy below, all staff undertake safeguarding and child protection training on a regular basis. 

Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment.
  • Preventing impairment of children’s health or development.
  • Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. ​

Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from deliberate harm. ​It relates to all aspects of school life including:

  • Pupils’ health and safety.
  • The use of reasonable force.
  • Meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions.
  • Providing First Aid.
  • Educational visits.
  • Intimate care.
  • Internet or online safety.
  • Appropriate arrangements to ensure school security (taking into account the local context).

Safeguarding Policies

Click here to read our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Legal Duties

All schools have a legal duty to ‘safeguard’ and promote the welfare of  children in the school.​ 

​This includes taking reasonable measures to reduce risk and taking appropriate action to address concerns.

Reducing Risk

What reasonable action does Lancaster Lane School take to reduce risk?​

  • All staff and regular visitors undertake DBS checks.
  • All governors undertake DBS checks.
  • All staff receive Child Protection training.
  • Governors have received Child Protection training/updates.
  • The Head Teacher, Chair of Governors and three governors have received Safer Recruitment Training.
  • Parents are telephoned by 9.30am if the school has not heard why their child is absent from school.
  • Security measures are in place, e.g visitors can only enter school via the front entrance and must sign in.
  • Risk assessments are in place and regularly reviewed.

Concerns

What might lead a member of staff to raise a concern? ​

  • If a child is consistently late for school.
  • If a child has poor attendance.
  • ​If a child is consistently unwashed or has dirty clothes.
  • If a child is regularly collected late from school.
  • If a child tells them about a concerning event at home.
  • If a child is consistently dropped off very early for school.
  • If a child is inappropriately dressed for the weather.
  • If the child has access to age inappropriate items or viewing materials.
  • If a child is playing inappropriate games for their age online.

​This is not an exhaustive list and are examples only.

​Taking Action to Address Concerns

What action does Lancaster Lane School take to address concerns?

If a member of staff raises a concern they will complete a CPOMS incident which the school based DSLs all read.

The DSL will decide whether to contact other relevant agencies in order to support the child/family – usually parents are fully informed before any referral is made.​

Allegations Against a Member of Staff

In line with KCSiE 2024, governing bodies and proprietors will ensure there are procedures in place to handle allegations against members of staff and volunteers. Such allegations should be referred to the LADO at the local authority. There must also be procedures in place to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if a person in regulated activity has been dismissed or removed due to safeguarding  concerns, or would have been had they not resigned.

If the allegation is against a member of staff/volunteer then the Head Teacher is the Case Manager who deals with this and liaises with the Local Authority. If the allegation is against the Head Teacher then the Case Manager who deals with this is the Chair of Governors.

Child Line​

The NSPCC has developed some guides for all parents of primary school aged children to speak to your child about keeping safe, called the Underwear Rule. You can find guides to the Underwear Rule to help you have simple conversations about keeping safe from abuse here for adults and here for children, and a video to share with your child here.

You can speak to an advisor for further advice or request a hard-copy guide for parents and carers by phoning the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000. You can also visit NSPCC for other advice on keeping your child safe.

KCSiE - Keeping Children Safe in Education

​The KCSiE document part 1 has information for managing allegations against staff can be read here.