SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
Handsworth Primary School ensures that children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe; to develop positive and healthy relationships and how to avoid situations where they might be at risk. We pay full regard to the Equality Act 2010 in relation to age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation and socio-economic background. We are committed to keeping all children safe.
The school complies with current guidance for Keeping Children Safe in Education, issued by the DFE in September 2018, and staff receive current safeguarding training annually as well as regular updates throughout the year. Staff understand that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and know what action to take in response to safeguarding concerns.
The school works in partnership with parents to educate children and keep them safe from harm and promote their welfare. The school has positive and effective working relationships with other agencies. Where extended school activities are provided by and managed by the school, our own safeguarding policy and procedures apply. The school has a clear and explicit confidentiality policy.
The school has a statutory responsibility to share concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular the police, Health and Social Care and Children’s Services. Schools are not able to investigate child protection concerns, but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by Children’s Services or the police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter.
The school will always seek to work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child and family.
The school’s record keeping policy for child welfare and child protection is consistent with DFE guidance. Where allegations are made against any member of staff who is working in, or on behalf of, the school, we will follow the procedures as outlined in the London Child Protection Procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children.
More detailed policies and procedures which are in place to keep children safe and to respond to child protection concerns include; Safeguarding, Anti-bullying, Equality and Online Safety and these are available on the school website.
Handsworth Primary School’s Safeguarding Team
| Designated Safeguarding Lead |
Mrs C Nairne, Head Teacher |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
Ms A Addai, Deputy Head Teacher |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
Ms A Struthers, Inclusion Lead |
| Safeguarding Link Governor |
Alina Harris |
Any concerns about pupils should be immediately to one of these members of staff.
Anyone can make a referral to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) if a child is at risk of significant harm. Waltham Forest MASH can be contacted on 020 8496 2310 or via email at
MASHrequests@walthamforest.gov.uk. The police can be contacted in an emergency on 999.
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