Safeguarding at Whitefriars Primary 

Safeguarding Statement

Whitefriars Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our staff and volunteers.

We have high expectations and to achieve this we aim to:

• Provide a welcoming, safe and nurturing environment where everyone is valued.
• Continually raise standards in all areas of school life.
• Develop enthusiastic learners through fun activities and an engaging curriculum delivered by inspirational teachers.
• Enable pupils to recognise and value their place in a diverse and evolving global community;
• Within our school family, build resilience and determination for life.

The designated safeguarding lead for Whitefriars Primary School is Lucy Burman (Headteacher)

The deputy safeguarding leads are: Jennifer James (Deputy Headteacher), Nikki Barker (SENCo) and Alison Pearce (Assistant Headteacher).

The nominated governor for safeguarding is Andrew Presland (Co-opted Governor)

The designated lead for looked after children is Nikki Barker (SENCo) and the designated governors for looked after children is Clare Atthews (Chair of Governors).

All adults who work in school have a responsibility to read and understand all safeguarding policies and Adult Code of Conduct.

All adults are also expected to read the DfE guidance: Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance – September 2024.

It should be read alongside statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children, and departmental advice What To Do If You Are Worried A Child Is Being Abused - Advice For Practitioners.

Information sharing is vital to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. A key factor identified in many serious case reviews (SCRs) has been a failure by practitioners to record information, to share it, to understand its significance and then take appropriate action. 

Effective working together depends on an open approach and honest relationships between agencies. Where professionals consider that the practice of other professionals is placing children at risk of harm, they must be assertive, act swiftly and ensure that they challenge the relevant professionals in line with the  Northamptonshire Safeguarding Childrens' Board guidelines.

Schools have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This is referred to as Prevent. 

All adults at Whitefriars Primary are made aware of the Northamptonshire County Council WhistleBlowing Policy.  There is also an NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line on 0800 028 0285. This anonymous, free of charge service provides support to employees wishing to raise concerns about how their organisation has handled a child protection concern.

General Information