Safeguarding and Behaviour

Weobley Primary School — Safeguarding Statement

Weobley Primary School is committed to providing a safe, secure and caring environment in which every pupil can learn, thrive and be protected from harm. We expect all staff, governors, volunteers, visitors and contractors to share this commitment and to act in the best interests of our pupils at all times. Our Safeguarding Policy found on our policies page is underpinned by the statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education (2026).

What we do

We place the safety, welfare and well‑being of pupils at the centre of everything we do. Safeguarding underpins our school vision to nurture pupils who are confident, respectful and ready to reach their potential.
We maintain high expectations for behaviour, respect and mutual tolerance and teach British values through PSHE, RSE and our curriculum so pupils learn to keep themselves and others safe.
We adopt a whole‑school approach to safeguarding: safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and is embedded in our policies, practice and daily routines.

Safeguarding arrangements

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with overall responsibility for safeguarding is: Mrs Sharon Thomas, Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Contact: 01544 318273 | admin@weobleyprimary.co.uk
Deputies are: Mrs Sarah Wallace
Contact: 01544 318273 | admin@weobleyprimary.co.uk
Our safeguarding policies and procedures (including child protection, safer recruitment, whistleblowing, behaviour, online safety and staff code of conduct) set out how we identify concerns, respond to disclosures, refer to statutory agencies and keep accurate records. These policies are available on the school website and on request from the school office.

Recruitment and safer working practice

We follow safer recruitment procedures to ensure all staff and volunteers are safe to work with children, including appropriate pre‑employment checks and DBS clearance where required.
All staff and governors receive safeguarding training at induction and regular updates thereafter so they can recognise and respond appropriately to concerns about a pupil’s welfare or safety.

Keeping children safe — reporting concerns

If you are worried about a pupil’s safety or welfare, you must share your concern without delay with the DSL (or a deputy). You may also raise a concern directly with the Local Authority Children’s Social Care team or the police in an emergency.
If, for any reason, you feel unable to raise a concern internally, or you are not satisfied with the school’s response, alternative channels include the NSPCC whistleblowing helpline (0800 028 0285 or help@nspcc.org.uk) and the local authority safeguarding contacts. We will support staff who raise concerns in good faith.

Online safety

We promote safe and responsible use of technology for pupils, staff and parents. Our e‑safety procedures and acceptable use agreements set expectations for online behaviour and outline how we respond to online risks and incidents.

Early years provision

Where provision covers the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we follow the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS statutory framework and ensure arrangements are appropriate for children under five.

Working with partners

We work closely with parents, carers, the Local Safeguarding Partners and other agencies to protect pupils, share information appropriately and provide effective support where it is needed.

Data and confidentiality

We balance our duty to share information to protect children with the need to maintain confidentiality. Information will only be shared on a need‑to‑know basis and in line with statutory guidance.

Review

This safeguarding statement is reviewed annually and whenever there is a change to statutory guidance or local arrangements. Current review date: 17 July 2026. Next scheduled review: 17 July 2027.

Further information and documents

Copies of our full Safeguarding Policy, Child Protection Policy, Whistleblowing Policy and Online Safety Policy are published on the school website and available from the school office on request.

If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, call the police on 999.

Sources

The School has adopted the definition of the term ‘Safeguarding’ used in the Children Act 2004.

In summary this is:

protecting children from maltreatment;
preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

The School’s safeguarding arrangements cover all aspects of life at School, in particular addressing these issues:

health and safety;
bullying;
other harassment and discrimination, including racism;
physical intervention;

meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions;
provision of medical first aid;
drug and substance abuse;
off-site visits;
intimate care;
internet and communications safety;
physical security of the School site;
protection from maltreatment; and
recruitment and vetting of staff and visitors to the site.

USEFUL LINKS

Click HERE to access the Government Publication ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.

Click HERE to access the Government Publication ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.

Click HERE to access the West Midlands Safeguarding Children Procedures.

Click HERE to access the Childline Website.

Click HERE to access the Family Lives Website.

Herefordshire MASH Parent Information Leaflet

Prevent

This page gives information about the Government ‘Prevent’ strategy. From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to keep children safe from radicalisation and extremism.

This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence. Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

All of our staff have completed the ‘College of Policing – Channel General awareness Module’ for the Prevent Strategy regarding radicalisation and extremism.

Staff and Governors have also undertaken the WRAP training led by the Community Cohesion and Integration Manager.

What does this mean in practice?

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

These include:

Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
Challenging prejudices and racist comments
Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy.

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.

Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.

How does Prevent relate to British values?

Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy.

British values include:

Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty and mutual respect
Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?

The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.

The teachers at Weobley will of course make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.

Is extremism really a risk in our area?

Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and gender extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.

We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.

Prevent Parent Leaflet

Staying Safe Online

Click here to access the Get Safe Online.

Click here to access the 5-7 pages of the Think U Know Website for great internet safety advice for youngsters.

Click here to access the 8-10 pages of the Think U Know Website for great internet safety advice for youngsters.

NSPCC Online Safety Checklist Think You Know Internet Safety Advice Leaflet

Thinkuknow produced some great resources for the COVID lockdown’s under the heading #OnlineSafetyAtHome to support children and their families. Whilst lockdown is hopefully a thing of the past, the resources remain valuable.

Each home activity pack contains simple 15-minute activities parents can do at home with their child using Thinkuknow resources.

Pack 1

Pack 2

Pack 3

Pack 4

Pack 5

Pack 6

Pack 7

Pack 8

Pack 9

Concerned about a child?

Get help from other organisations through the links on the Thinkuknow website click here.

Information and advice for parents and carers from the NSPCC click here to follow the link.

Looking for further information?

Use the links below to find a range of information about keeping yourself or a child you know safe:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/4_7/child/

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/worried/

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/11_13/help/

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

Childline – for support
UK Safer Internet Centre – to report and remove harmful online content
CEOP – for advice on making a report about online abuse

Help with setting parent controls Follow the links on the site below to help you set parental controls on different devices.

Statement of Behaviour Principles

Weobley Schools’ Federation: Statement of Behaviour Principles

The Department for Education requires governing bodies of maintained schools to publish a statement of behaviour principles for their school. The Governing Body therefore has a duty to produce, and review, a written statement of general principles to guide the Executive Headteacher in determining measures to promote good behaviour and discipline amongst pupils. The document ‘Behaviour in Schools: Advice for Headteachers’ (2024) has been used as a reference in producing this Statement of Behaviour Principles.

This is a statement of principles, not practice. Practical applications of these principles are the responsibility of the Executive Headteacher and the Head of Primary School and are set out in a range of school policies including the Behaviour Policies.

The Governor believe that high standards of behaviour lie at the heart of a successful school. Good behaviour enables pupils to make the best possible progress in all aspects of their school life. At our schools, we value everyone as an individual, capable of growth, change and development. Our relationships are underpinned by our co-operative values of inclusion, tolerance, personal responsibility, integrity, equality and pride.

We have high expectations that support the development of our pupils as responsible citizens, able to participate democratically in their community. The purpose of this statement is to give guidance to the Executive Headteacher and the Head of Primary School in drawing up the Behaviour Policies by stating the principles that the Governors expect to be followed. The Governors expect any policy or actions to be in accordance with their responsibility under Equality legislation.

Principles:

All pupils, staff and visitors have the right to feel safe at all times at school.
Our schools are inclusive. All members of the schools’ communities should be free from discrimination of any sort. Measures to protect pupils should be set out in the Behaviour and Equality policies.
All policies should be underpinned by our ethical values of openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others.
School rules should be clearly set out in the Behaviour Policies and displayed around school. Governors expect these rules to be consistently applied by all staff.
Governors would like to see a wide range of rewards, consistently and fairly applied in such a way as to encourage and reward good behaviour around school.
Sanctions for unacceptable/poor behaviour should be known and understood by all staff and pupils and consistently applied. We recognise that the use of rewards and sanctions must have regard to the individual situation and the individual pupil and that school staff will use their discretion in their use. Sanctions should however be applied fairly, consistently, proportionally and reasonably, taking into account SEND, disability and the needs of vulnerable pupils, and offering support as necessary.
The Governors expect pupils and parents to cooperate to maintain an orderly climate for learning.
The Governors wish to emphasise that violence, threatening behaviour or abuse by pupils or parents towards staff will not be tolerated.
The Governors expect the Executive Headteacher and Head of Primary School to include guidance on the use of reasonable force, within the Behaviour Policies.
The Governors expect the Behaviour Policies to set out the schools’ responses to non- criminal bad behaviour and bullying which occurs anywhere off the school premises and which is witnessed by a member of staff or reported to the school.

Anti-Bullying

At Weobley, we say STOP to bullying.

Click here to access the BullyingUK Website for great help and advice about preventing bullying.

Child Friendly Anti-Bullying Leaflet
Bullying Advice for Parents – HCSB

Keeping Healthy Advice

Healthy Lunchbox Tips
NHS Headlice Advice

Welcome to Weobley Primary School! Please use the menu below to find more information.

Weobley Primary School — Safeguarding Statement

USEFUL LINKS

Prevent

Staying Safe Online

Concerned about a child?

Statement of Behaviour Principles

Anti-Bullying

Keeping Healthy Advice

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