At St. Bede’s Catholic Primary School, South Shields, we regard the safeguarding of children as our highest priority. We believe that every child has the right to feel happy, safe, valued, and supported in their learning. We all share the responsibility of ensuring this happens each and every day.
We are committed to ensuring that:
- The welfare of every child remains paramount.
- All children, regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief, or sexual identity, have the right to protection from harm.
- All concerns, suspicions, or allegations of abuse are taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- All staff and volunteers understand their responsibility to report safeguarding concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads.
Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding procedures cover all aspects of school life, including:
Staff & Visitors
Ensuring all adults working within school are appropriately vetted, informed, and trained.
Children’s Behaviour
Promoting positive behaviour, safe choices, emotional wellbeing, and healthy lifestyles.
Parents & Carers
Building strong partnerships with families and offering support where needed.
Premises
Maintaining a safe, secure, welcoming, and purposeful learning environment.
Curriculum
Providing positive, enriching, and life-affirming learning experiences for all pupils.
Outside School
Promoting safe activities, visits, and environments beyond the school setting.
Members of Staff Responsible
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. However, the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads oversee all safeguarding and child protection matters within school.
Governor Responsibility for Safeguarding
Our safeguarding governors work closely with school leaders to ensure safeguarding arrangements remain effective, robust, and fully compliant with current guidance.
Safer Recruitment
We follow rigorous recruitment and vetting procedures to ensure all adults working with children are suitable to do so. Ongoing safeguarding checks and whistleblowing procedures are fully in line with current statutory guidance.
Staff Training
All staff receive regular safeguarding and child protection training and are fully aware of the procedures they must follow to keep children safe.
Staff are encouraged to remain vigilant and responsive to any concerns relating to a child’s wellbeing or safety.
All staff and volunteers are provided with safeguarding guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), which is reviewed annually by all members of staff.
Child Protection & Safeguarding Procedures
All staff maintain an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding issues and are able to respond appropriately to concerns, including:
- Significant changes in a child’s behaviour
- Deterioration in general wellbeing
- Unexplained bruising, injuries, or marks
- Signs of neglect
- Comments or disclosures that raise concern
All staff understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality and handling information sensitively and professionally.
Information Sharing
To ensure children remain safe and well supported, we collect essential information from parents and carers before admission, including:
- Emergency contact details
- Medical information and dietary requirements
- Allergies or health needs
- Details of parental responsibility and legal contact arrangements
Parents and carers provide written consent for emergency medical treatment where necessary.
Important
Parents and carers must inform the school immediately of any changes to contact details or important family information.
We take confidentiality extremely seriously. Information held by the school is treated sensitively and only shared on a strict need-to-know basis.