Safeguarding

At Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority.

We ASPIRE that through the love of Jesus everyone should “have life and have it to the full”. (John 10:10)

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. We believe every child has the right to feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and to grow and flourish in a nurturing environment.

Our Commitment

We ensure that:

• safeguarding is at the heart of all we do
• all staff are trained, vigilant and act promptly on concerns
• children feel safe and know who they can talk to
• we work closely with families and external agencies
• concerns are recorded, shared and followed up appropriately

Our safeguarding practice follows the statutory guidance set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE).

Safeguarding Leads

Our trained safeguarding team is responsible for ensuring effective safeguarding practice across the school.

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Aga Przybylska

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs): Rachel Bryan & Olivia Major

If you have any concerns about a child, please contact the school immediately 📞 01432 274814, email: admin@our-ladys.hereford.sch.uk

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding means:

• protecting children from harm
• preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• ensuring children grow up in safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

How We Keep Children Safe

We take a proactive approach to safeguarding through:

Safe Environment

• Secure school site and controlled access
• Visitors are checked and supervised
• Health and safety procedures are in place

Safer Recruitment

• All staff and volunteers undergo rigorous pre-employment checks, including DBS
• Recruitment follows national safer recruitment guidance

Staff Training and Vigilance

• All staff receive regular safeguarding training
• Staff understand the signs of abuse and how to report concerns
• A strong culture of vigilance ensures concerns are acted upon quickly

Supporting Our Pupils

We support children’s safety and wellbeing by:

• providing a strong pastoral system
• teaching children how to stay safe, including online
• promoting emotional wellbeing and mental health
• encouraging children to speak to a trusted adult
• delivering a comprehensive PSHE and RSE curriculum

Online Safety

We are committed to helping children stay safe online.

• Filtering and monitoring systems are in place
• Children are taught how to use technology safely
• Parents are supported with guidance on online safety

Early Help and Support for Families

At Our Lady’s, we are committed to supporting families at the earliest possible stage.

Early Help means providing support as soon as a need is identified, helping to prevent concerns from becoming more serious.

We can support families with:

• family relationships
• behaviour concerns
• emotional and mental health
• housing or financial difficulties
• safety in the community
• any other issues affecting your family

Getting Help

If you need support, we encourage you to speak to:

• a member of our school staff
• our pastoral team
• your GP or other professionals

Early Help Hub (Herefordshire)

The Early Help Hub provides confidential support for families with children aged 0–19.

They offer:

• advice and guidance
• access to local services
• support from specialist teams
• help finding the right support for your family

📞 01432 260800
(Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm)

Further support can also be found via the Talk Community Directory.

Safeguarding Policies

Our key safeguarding policies include:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
• Child-on-Child Abuse Policy
• Staff Code of Conduct
• Behaviour and Relationships Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Online Safety Policy