Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Winmarleigh CE Primary School
Every child known. Every child valued. Every child safe.
At Winmarleigh, the safety, happiness and wellbeing of our children is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating a nurturing, secure environment where every child feels valued, listened to and protected. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we work closely with families and external agencies to ensure the very best outcomes for all children.
Meet Our Safeguarding Team
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) are:
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Mrs Cunningham – Headteacher (Lead DSL)
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Mrs Darling – Class 1 Teacher (Deputy DSL)
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Mrs Shaw - Class 2 Teacher (Deputy DSL)
Our Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Sutcliffe. All staff receive regular safeguarding and child protection training in line with Lancashire County Council guidance
What Safeguarding Means
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children includes:
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Providing help and support as soon as needs emerge
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Protecting children from maltreatment, including online
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Preventing impairment of health or development
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Ensuring safe and effective care
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Taking action to ensure the best possible outcomes
Safeguarding is not just about preventing deliberate harm. It includes:
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Health and safety
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Reasonable force
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Medical needs
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First aid
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Educational visits
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Intimate care
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Online safety
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School security
If You Are Worried About a Child
If you believe a child is at risk of harm:
Lancashire Social Care (Mon–Fri 8.45–17.00): 0300 123 6720 Emergency Duty Team (out of hours): 0300 123 6722 Police (immediate danger): 999
You can also contact:
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NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
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Childline: 0800 1111
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You can also report your concerns online:
NSPCC Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Operation Encompass
Winmarleigh CE Primary School is part of Operation Encompass, a national initiative that supports children who may have been affected by domestic abuse. Lancashire Police notify our trained Key Adults (Mrs Cunningham) before the start of the school day if a child has been involved in or witnessed an incident. This enables us to provide immediate, confidential support.
Read more on our Operation Encompass page.
Prevent Duty
We actively support the Government’s Prevent Strategy, which aims to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. All staff are trained to identify concerns and know how to report them. We work closely with families and external agencies to ensure children are safe, resilient and able to make positive choices.
Read more on our our Prevent page:
How We Teach Children to Stay Safe
We help children learn how to keep themselves safe through:
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PSHE and RSE lessons
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Online safety teaching
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Assemblies and themed weeks
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Visits from police, fire service and health professionals
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Encouraging pupils to speak to trusted adults
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Teaching about healthy relationships and consent
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Promoting emotional literacy and resilience
This empowers children to recognise risks, seek help and make safe choices.
Educational Visits
Mrs Cunningham is our Educational Visits Coordinator.
All school trips and visits are fully risk‑assessed and approved in line with Lancashire County Council guidance. They are uploaded to EVOLVE. Staff ensure that safeguarding, supervision and medical needs are carefully planned for every visit.
The trip must be approved by Mrs Cunningham, the Headteacher, and the Local Authority 4 weeks in advance for residential trips.
CEOP – Online Safety & Reporting
If you are worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with your child, you can make a report to CEOP, a law‑enforcement agency dedicated to protecting children.
For more information or to make a report, go to: CEOP Safety Centre
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
ACEs are stressful or traumatic events that can impact a child’s wellbeing, behaviour and development. These may include abuse, neglect, domestic violence or living with family members who have substance misuse issues.
ACEs can affect:
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Learning and social skills
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Emotional regulation
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Self‑esteem and anxiety
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Behaviour and relationships
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School performance
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Risk‑taking behaviours
We work closely with families and agencies to provide early, compassionate support.
Useful Contacts & Early Help
We recognise that families may need support from a range of agencies. We work in partnership with services that can offer specialist help, including:
Lancashire Talkzone: Talkzone - Lancashire County Council
Domestic Abuse Support: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/your-health-and-wellbeing/domestic-abuse
Mental health services: https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/Mindsmatter
Housing and Homelessness Support : https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/lancashire-insight/population-and-households/households-and-housing/homeless-households-in-priority-need/
Safeguarding Policies
Printed copies of any of our policies are available if required. Please request copies from the school office.
