This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, providing a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The school operates a stringent Child Protection policy, in line with Cambridgeshire Area Child Protection guidelines. All volunteers will be subject to a clear DBS check and will be required to provide references.

The school will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Children Partnership Board’s procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection. 

Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Parents/carers should know that records of safeguarding concerns may be kept about their child.  They should be informed that school staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies.

For further details about our procedures, please see the document below. 

The designated Child Protection staff members in school are:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent Lead - Mrs Simpkin Smith (Executive Headteacher)
• Deputy Safeguarding Leads - Mrs Smith (Head of School), Mrs Saunders (Family Support Worker), Mrs Northfield
• Safeguarding Governor - Bryony Goodliffe

There is always a member of the Safeguarding team available in school. 

All staff and governors receive updated safeguarding training every September when the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is reviewed. All new staff receive training during their induction. 

Other policies linked to safeguarding and child protection include e-safety and our Positive Behaviour Policy. These can be found on the website under Policies. 

The school has an extensive 'Offer of Early Help' (see below) to support pupils and their families. Louise Saunders our Family Support Worker and also a Deputy Safeguarding Lead, is also available for advice and support around your children in school and to support you as parents/carers in supporting your child(ren) the best you can.

The Prevent duty is part of a wider government strategy. It 'requires all education providers 'to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism'. This includes safeguarding children from extremist ideologies and radicalisation. 

A very useful resource for all adults in the school community, parents/carers especially, is the Educate Against Hate website https://www.educateagainsthate.com/ . There is information, advice, resources and support on radicalisation and E-safety on this site. 

If you have a Child Protection or Prevent concern please get in touch with school as soon as possible. No concern is too small. Contact the school via office@cherryhinton.cambs.sch.uk or call 01223 568834.

Online Safety and Digital Lifestyles

It is important that children are also safeguarded online and learn to use technology safely. Below is further information about how we go about this in school and information for parents.