We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  We expect all staff, visitors and volunteers to share this commitment.  Our school is a safe place for children, where our responsibilities for safeguarding children are taken seriously.

Should you have any safeguarding concerns please contact one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Our policies and agreed practices for child protection, health and safety, behaviour management, attendance and looked after children all comply with the recommendations for safeguarding children at school.  We have trained designated safeguarding leaders and a designated Governor with responsibility for child safeguarding at the school.  We have policies to manage potential allegations against staff, whistle blowing and the use of physical intervention.

There is a strong anti-bullying ethos evident throughout the school.  We teach our children how to recognise bullying, how to keep themselves safe from bullying behaviour and how to report it.  We listen to our children.

Through our curriculum we teach the children about personal safety, and how to keep themselves safe from harm. Our curriculum includes opportunities to discuss feelings and emotions, and helps our children to think about their own personal safety and their rights as individuals to be kept safe from harm.

We have clear guidance for both pupils, teachers and parents to help children to use the internet (including social medial) safely and responsibly.

Our staff recruitment policies and practices are rigorous and comply with safe recruitment and selection requirements.  We always pursue identity checks and qualification checks and we take up and scrutinise written references before confirming employment.  We require clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before employing any staff, in addition to pursuing ISA list checks, this includes supply teachers.

The Trust are regularly updated about child protection, bullying and safeguarding policies and practices by the Head Teacher and Local Authority training.

It is the responsibility of every adult in this school to ensure that we maintain the highest level of awareness about possible unsafe practices and deal with any issues immediately and appropriately.

Our Safeguarding Leads

V Millar VMillar@stm.beds.olicatschools.org   Designated Safeguarding Lead	J Hopkins JHopkins@stm.beds.olicatschools.org Deputy Safeguarding Lead

M Bonner Head Teacher	C Soraghan  Deputy Head Teacher	I Bond IBond@olicatschools.org Governor

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.  If you have any concerns, please contact one of our designated Safeguarding Leads.

All visitors to our school are required to sign in at reception, and will be handed a Safeguarding leaflet with which contains important information, which we strongly suggest is read and followed whilst on the school site.

Use of Mobile phones on site for the purposes of taking pictures in any way which may contain any children in the background is prohibited.