Safeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
Our Commitment
St Monica Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is our absolute priority. We expect all of our staff, pupils, parents, volunteers, Academy Councillors, visitors, contractors and third party professionals to share this view. Click here to view safeguarding information from our Trust.
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)
The term “Designated Safeguarding Lead” (DSL) is used in the DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education document and refers to the person accountable for overseeing the safety and wellbeing of the children in the care of their setting. The role of the DSL must be fulfilled by a member of the schools Senior Leadership Team to ensure that they have appropriate authority and status to provide advice and support to other staff on child welfare and child protection matters.
Our school has co-Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and five Deputy DSLs. Our school's DSLs are the people responsible for all safeguarding and child protection matters within our setting.
- Richard Waghorn - Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Hayley Clark - Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Kate Hunter - Deputy Safeguarding Lead
- Hannah Legg - Deputy Designated Safeguarding lead
- Jenny Sherwood - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Megan Wilkinson - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Paul Langston - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Our 'Safer Recruitment Team' includes: Richard Waghorn, Hayley Clark, Jenny Sherwood & Amy Humby
Designated Teacher
- Richard Waghorn
Attendance and Welfare Team
- Katy Hunter - Attendance and Family Support Officer
- Kim Dewey - Receptionist and Welfare Assistant
Reporting a Concern
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please contact a DSL. All school DSLs are contactable via: STM.DSL@ilpartnership.org.
Alternatively, you can contact Southampton Children's Services directly:
Office hours: 023 8039 9870
Out of office hours: 023 8023 3344
Always call 999 if a child is in immediate danger.
If your safeguarding concern is about an adult working or volunteering in the school, you should contact the Principal, Hayley Clark.
If your safeguarding concern is about the Executive Principal, you should contact the Chair of the Trustees, Rob Shaw rob.shaw@ilpartnership.org.
As an alternative, or if Rob is not available, you can contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) - 023 8091 5535 / 07500 952 037 or email: LADO@southampton.gov.uk.
On 1st April 2021, the DfE established a dedicated helpline, run by the NSPCC, to support survivors of sexual harassment and abuse in education settings: 0800 136 663.
Policies and Record Keeping
At St Monica Primary School, we take safeguarding and child protection very seriously. We have a number of policies and procedures that contribute to our safeguarding commitment.
Key policies can be viewed below and all policies can be found here.
We use a computerised system called CPOMS to record and track safeguarding concerns.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse means any threats, violence, controlling or coercive behaviour that takes place between family members or people aged over 16 who are in a relationship with each other (or have been in the past).
Domestic abuse can happen regardless of social group, class, age, race, disability or sexuality of the individuals involved. Domestic abuse can affect men, women and those who identify as non-binary. It can occur in any relationship - heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, young or old.
It is a pattern of behaviour used by abusers designed to establish and maintain power and control over another person.
If you, or anyone else, is at immediate risk of harm, telephone the police on 999. For help call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (24 hrs) If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.
Pippa Helpline: 023 8091 7917
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/health-social-care/domestic-abuse/what-is-domestic-abuse/
NSPCC helpline for survivors of sexual harassment and abuse in education settings: 0800 136663
Useful Websites
Safeguarding Policy / Safeguarding Curriculum / National Online Safety
We have included below some helpful guides from National Online Safety to educate parents and pupils about e-safety, especially on social media platforms.
- Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy - Sept 2024 -2025
- Keeping children safe in education 2024
- Safeguarding Curriculum - St Monica - 2024-2025 2
- Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism Policy 2024
- What parents need to know about Facebook
- What parents need to know about Facebook Messenger
- What parents need to know about Fortnite
- What parents need to know about Friends and Followers
- What parents need to know about Instagram