At St. Helen’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our children have a right to be cared for and protected, protecting them is everyone’s responsibility.

At St Helen’s Catholic Primary School, we also have a duty of care to ensure that all users of the school are kept safe from harm. We are committed to providing a secure and supportive environment in which children can develop and grow into mature and responsible young people. Safeguarding children is an essential part of our holistic approach to ensure that children are protected from abuse and neglect and that every child reaches their full potential.

We follow the procedures set out by the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP). This is made up of the Metropolitan Police Borough Command for Brixton and Southwark, Lambeth’s Clinical Commissioning Group and the London Borough of Lambeth.

The Safeguarding Team is in charge of keeping children safe at home and at school. They also oversee the school’s Safeguarding Curriculum which teaches the children about Personal Safeguarding. Our Safeguarding Team are called Designated Safeguarding Leads or DSL’s. The school also has a Safeguarding Link Governor.

If you have any concerns about a child with regards to safeguarding or Child Protection issues you should contact a member of our Safeguarding Team. 

Definition and Purpose

According to KCSIE guidance, safeguarding is a broad concept that goes beyond simply protecting children from abuse. It encompasses all measures designed to ensure children's safety, wellbeing, and overall development. This includes:

• Protecting children from maltreatment such as abuse or neglect

• Preventing impairment to children’s physical or mental health and development

• Ensuring children receive safe and effective care

• Promoting positive outcomes and supporting children’s family care where appropriate

• Providing early help to address emerging needs and prevent problems from escalating

The guidance clarifies that safeguarding is a shared responsibility: everyone who works with children has a role in maintaining a safe environment, recognising potential risks, and acting when concerns arise.

Child Protection is also part of Safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

As a school, we are required to take any reasonable action to ensure the safety and welfare of our pupils. However, there may be occasions when we have reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse. We will ensure that our concerns about a child are discussed with parents or carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. In this case, we are obliged to follow the Child Protection procedures established by the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Links to Online Safety Information for Parents & Pupils