Safeguarding

At Witton-le-Wear Primary School, we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that we all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn. All staff have a responsibility to make this happen.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr Shawn Laws (Executive Headteacher) who holds Level 3 Child Protection training.

Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Becky Kasner-Wood and Miss Sarah Brown.

ALL staff in school have been trained to AT LEAST Level 1 Child Protection and all staff are fully aware of safeguarding procedures in school. All staff also follow statutory government guidance contained within the updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 document Governors have also received a copy of this document.

‘We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment.’

The safety of our pupils is our number one priority. Any concerns or signs of abuse or neglect must be immediately reported to one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL).

Safeguarding Annex A & B – Safeguarding Policy 2025 – 2026

Reporting a concern for a child’s safety or wellbeing

Anyone with a concern about a child’s safety and wellbeing can contact Children’s Social Care to make a referral directly at First Contact on 03000 267979

If you or your child is in immediate danger you should not hesitate call 999 to contact the Police

Police – Non Urgent – 101

All members of staff and volunteers will know how to respond to a pupil who discloses abuse, or where others raise concerns about them and will be familiar with procedures to be followed.

If a child chooses to tell a member of staff about alleged abuse, there are a number of actions that staff will undertake to support the child:

• The key facts will be established in language that the child understands and the child’s words will be used in clarifying/expanding what has been said.
• No promises will be made to the child e.g. to keep secrets.
• Staff will stay calm and be available to listen.
• Staff will actively listen with the utmost care to what the child is saying.
• Question normally without pressurising and use open questions.
• Leading questions should be avoided, as much as possible.
• Questioning should not be extensive.
• Staff will not put words in the child’s mouth but note the main points carefully.
• A full written record will be kept by the staff duly signed and dated, including the time the conversation with the child took place, outline what was said, comment on the child’s body language, etc.
• It is not appropriate for staff to make children write statements about abuse that may have happened to them.
• Staff will reassure the child and let them know that they were right to inform them and inform the child that this information will now have to be passed on.
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead will be immediately informed, unless the disclosure has been made to them.

Confidentiality

All staff within school are aware of, and adhere to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). These regulations determine how we share in formation with other parties in line with national procedures.

We recognise that all matters relating to child protection are confidential; however, a member of staff must never guarantee confidentiality to a pupil.

Where there is a child protection concern it will be passed immediately to the DSL and/or to Children’s Social Care.

The Headteacher or Designated Safeguarding Lead will disclose personal information about a pupil to other members of staff, including the level of involvement of other agencies, only on a ‘need to know’ basis.

All staff must be aware that they have a professional responsibility to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children.