Safeguarding Statement

The Governors and staff of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School take seriously our responsibility to promote the welfare and safeguard all the children and young people entrusted to our care.

We have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place and all staff, volunteers and governors must ensure they are aware of these procedures. Our policies are available for parents to read.

The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in our school are:-

Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead

Michele Blunt - Headteacher

michele.blunt@st-marys-whitstable.kcsp.org.uk

Deputy DSLs

Angela Thorogood - Senior Teacher 

angela.thorogood@st-marys-whitstable.kcsp.org.uk

Nicola Samson - Senior Teacher   nicola.samson@st-marys-whitstable.kcsp.org.uk

Sarah Clark - SENCO

sarah.clark@st-marys-whitstable.kcsp.org.uk

Safeguarding Governor: Anne Locke - anne.locke@st-marys-whitstable.kcsp.org.uk

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern and report to one of the DSLs as soon as possible. Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare.  We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

If your concerns relate to the actions or behaviour of a member of staff (which could suggest that s/he is unsuitable to work with children) then you should report this to the Headteacher Mrs Blunt.

DfE published an update to the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education-2

Internet Safety Day

Internet Safety Day  6^th February

All children will be taking  part in our Safer Internet Day assembly led by Mrs Johnson and our digital leaders. This year's theme is 'Inspiring Change. Making difference, managing influence and navigating change online.' We have also taken part in the BBC's Live Lesson on internet safety.

Online Safety Workshop for parents

We will be offering two live workshops for parents to attend, to support your understanding of how to keep your children safe online. These will be led by the NSPCC.

Our workshop will: 

• Help you understand how kids experience the online world 

• Show you resources and tools that could help keep them safe 

• Empower you to guide them on their journey 

We will be offering two sessions, which can be accessed virtually online. To receive the login details, please contact office@st-marys-whitstable.kcsp.org.uk and indicate which session you wish to attend.

Session 1: 26^th February 5-6pm

Session 2  tailored SEND session for parents and carers of children with additional needs: 28th February 10 - 11am

NSPCC Factsheets

• Online Safety Factsheet Page 1.pdf
• Online Safety Factsheet Page 2.pdf
• Online Safety Webinar Poster.pdf

 Online Safety - Has something happened online that has made you feel worried or unsafe?  If you have been a victim of online abuse or you’re worried about somebody else, you can contact CEOP (Child Exploitation Online Protection) and let them know. How can CEOP help you? (click here)

CEOP helps to keep children and young people safe online. CEOP helps thousands of children and young people every year who have been in a similar situation to you.  If something scary or bad has happened to you online we will talk to you to find out what has happened and to help you keep safe.

If you make a report to us it will be read by one of our Child Protection Advisors who will make contact with you.

Make a report to one of CEOP’s Child Protection Advisors

For further information regarding the safeguarding of children, please go to the following websites: