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. 

Safeguarding is the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

Meaning of Safeguarding
To protect children from abuse and maltreatment.
To prevent harm to children's health or development.
To ensure children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care.
To take action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.

Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.

Child Protection is 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