At St. Mary’s, we aim to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, which secures the well-being and very best outcomes for the children in our care. We have a duty of care to safeguard and promote the well-being of children.
St Mary’s recognises the importance of creating and maintaining a safeguarding culture that will help all pupils to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are committed to providing an environment where children can play, learn, develop and achieve and where they are safeguarded and are enabled to disclose if they are being harmed in some way. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that all pupils receive effective support, protection and justice.
Our school core safeguarding principles are:
That schools are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children.
It is a whole school responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) have equal rights to protection regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity.
All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account.
All staff understand safe professional practice and adhere to our code of conduct and other associated policies.
All staff have a responsibility to recognise vulnerability in children and act on any concern in accordance with this guidance.
Please read the following documents to gain a wider understanding of Safeguarding at St. Mary’s.
Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy 2020
Supporting Guidance (to be read and followed alongside the school Safeguarding policy)
If you are worried about a child
You can speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead at school OR
Contact the Children’s Services Contact Team (CSCT), it is the single point of contact for all referrals and requests for services for vulnerable children and young people in the borough.
Child safeguarding or protection concerns should be referred to Children’s Social Care, 0207 527 7400 (all hours).
All referrals should be followed up with a Request for Service form to Children’s Social Care
Key Contacts in Islington for targeted and specialist services, health, early years and police.
Support for Parents
Support for Children
NSPCC: www.nspcc.org.uk
ChildLine: www.childline.org.uk
Papyrus: www.papyrus-uk.org
Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk
Support for Staff
Education Support Partnership: www.educationsupportpartnership.org.uk
Professional Online Safety Helpline: www.saferinternet.org.uk/helpline
Setting up an IslingtonCS training account with Islington Safeguarding Children Board
Support for Online Safety
Support for Domestic Abuse
