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Safeguarding at Our School
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing a safe, caring and nurturing environment where every child feels happy, valued, listened to and protected.
We have a strong and open culture of safeguarding, where the safety and wellbeing of our pupils is everyone's responsibility. All staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates, enabling them to recognise concerns, respond appropriately and take prompt action to keep children safe.
Our safeguarding team works closely with pupils, families and external agencies to ensure that children receive the right support at the right time. We take a proactive approach, regularly reviewing our safeguarding practices, identifying emerging concerns and continually looking for ways to strengthen our provision.
Pupil voice is central to our safeguarding culture. We actively encourage children to share their worries, opinions and experiences. We ensure that pupils know which trusted adults they can turn to and feel confident that their concerns will be taken seriously.
Keeping safe is also embedded throughout our curriculum, through PSHE, online safety, assemblies, our behaviour curriculum and opportunities to learn from external organisations. We teach children how to recognise risks, make safe choices and seek help when they need it.
Our Safeguarding Team
Our Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Miss R Rosie, Assistant Headteacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL): Mrs R Hawkins, Headteacher
If you have any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please contact the school office and ask to speak to a member of our safeguarding team.
At our school, safeguarding is not simply a policy or procedure – it is a shared responsibility, embedded in our everyday culture, relationships and practice.
UPDATE: 12th May 2026
SAFEGUARDING ADVICE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS: VIRAL 'SQUISHY TOY' TREND
We are aware of a viral trend circulating online where children are encouraged to heat soft “squishy” toys (sometimes called NeeDoh or jelly cube toys) in a microwave.
This is extremely dangerous. When heated, these toys can burst and release hot contents, which may cause serious burns to the hands, face and skin.
What you can do:
Talk to your child about the risks of copying online challenges or trends
Remind them that not everything seen online is safe or accurate
Ensure squishy toys or similar items are never heated or microwaved
Encourage your child to come to you if they see something online that concerns them
If you would like more information and practical advice, please see the safeguarding alert here: SAFEGUARDING ALERT: Viral Trend Risks Causing Severe Burns to Children - Ineqe Safeguarding Group
Every person who works with our children understand their responsibility in keeping children safe and should be confident in how they will do that.
Our school community has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are our pupils. This means that we have Safeguarding and Child Protection policies and procedures in place, which we refer to as a matter of routine. All staff, including our volunteers and supply staff, must ensure that they are aware of our procedures.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will always ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with their parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that this is not in the child’s best interests or a child is at significant risk or in immediate danger.
Safeguarding means:
• protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• preventing harm to children’s health or development
• ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.
Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
If you have any concerns regarding the welfare of a pupil, please report it to Miss Rose (the Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL)) or Mrs Hawkins (the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leader (DDSL)).
Prevent Strategy
As part of Cliffe VC Primary School’s ongoing safeguarding and child protection duties we are fully behind the government’s Prevent Strategy. All staff have received ‘Prevent’ training and understand about and how to deal with any issues they may see inside or outside school.
The Curriculum
One of our key priorities is teaching children to keep themselves safe. This is done through the curriculum all year round.
Our teaching includes:
Online Safety (e-safety)
Bikeability
Food Safety
Water Safety
Road Safety
Sex and relationships education
Stranger danger
Crucial Crew
NSPCC workshops
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