At Newnham St Peter’s, we are committed to helping every child thrive by creating a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment. We place the highest priority on promoting pupils’ wellbeing, supporting their emotional and social development, and ensuring they are equipped to make the most of every opportunity in life.

In line with the Education Act 2002, we have robust safeguarding procedures in place to protect and promote the welfare of all pupils. These include:

• Providing a safe and healthy learning environment that enables every child to reach their full potential

• Giving pupils opportunities to express concerns and talk openly about any issues affecting their safety or wellbeing

• Prioritising the welfare of all pupils, especially those who may be more vulnerable or disadvantaged

• Ensuring all staff and volunteers are recruited safely and appropriately vetted

• Training all staff to recognise signs of harm or abuse and equipping them to take the right action

• Having clear procedures for reporting and responding to concerns about a child’s welfare or safety

• Monitoring and supporting pupils who are subject to safeguarding or child protection plans

• Teaching children how to keep themselves safe, both in and out of school, and encouraging them to seek help when needed

• Working closely with parents, carers, and external agencies to provide joined-up support

Safeguarding Roles and Responsibilities

Everyone working at Newnham St Peter’s – including staff, volunteers, visitors and student placements – is responsible for safeguarding children. Any concerns about a child's welfare must be reported to the school's Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs).

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Ms Przybylska

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL): Mrs Howells, Mrs Tetlow, Mrs Harris

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Local Authority Committee Member: Mrs Bowles

If you need to contact any of us, please email [email protected] FAO the Safeguarding Team, or call 01594516208.

For more detailed information, please refer to our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy, available in the ‘Policies’ section of this website. This policy outlines our approach to:

• Roles and responsibilities

• Child protection procedures

• Supporting children in Early Years

• Safe recruitment

• Conduct and expectations for staff

• Health and safety and risk assessments

• Children missing from education

• Non-collection procedures

• Safeguarding vulnerable children, including those:

  • at risk of exploitation, FGM, or forced marriage

  • affected by domestic abuse or gang involvement

  • who are trafficked, missing, or privately fostered

  • living with mental health challenges or acting as young carers

  • at risk of radicalisation or extremism

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Advice and Support for Parents and Carers

Talking about difficult topics

Often children and young people can see the internet as a source of information and knowledge when they have important questions about their lives, bodies and the world around them and their internet use can raise the need to have a conversation about some sensitive topics.

We understand that talking about these issues can be a daunting prospect for many parents and carers but it is important to remember that you are the best people for your children to talk to. Below you can find links to some great organisations with more advice on how to tackle these difficult topics.

Where to go for further support

 Family Lives - Support with all aspects of family life

 Young Minds - Parent's Guide to support self-harm

 Young Minds - supporting young people with mental health and well-being - Parents Survival Guide

 NSPCC – Advice for talking about difficult topics

 NSPCC – Let children know you are listening

 Child Exploitation and Online Protection - Online safety for children and families