Safeguarding

Catherine Junior School is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all pupils and staff. In order to do this, we ensure that all safeguarding and child protection procedures are in place.

At our school, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Lee (Deputy Headteacher). 

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are:

  • Mrs Badge (Headteacher)
  • Mr Khunti (Assistant Headteacher) 
  • Mr Banham (Year 3 Leader)
  • Mrs Hulait (Family Support Worker)

All DSLs are regularly trained in all relevant areas of child protection procedures.

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Our school ensures children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, on and offline, to develop positive and healthy relationships and how to avoid situations where they might be at risk, including by being exploited.

As parents/carers, you need to know that the Children’s Act (2020), Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) require all staff to pass on information that raises concerns about a child who may be at risk of significant harm. Significant harm can be categorised into 4 areas:  physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Please click here to read Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) in different languages.

Our school has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances, the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by Children’s Social Care or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the best interests of the child.

These procedures and policies are intended to protect children and schools are encouraged to take the attitude that, where there are grounds for concern, it is better to be over cautious than risk a child’s safety.  We therefore have an unavoidable duty to contact Social Care in some circumstances.

Occasionally, this duty on the Designated Safeguarding Lead means we risk upsetting some parents and carers by reporting a concern which, on investigation, proves to be unfounded.  In these circumstances, it is hoped that parents/carers will appreciate how difficult it is for schools to carry out this delicate responsibility, and accept that the Designated Safeguarding Lead was acting in good faith and had to take steps in the best interest of the child/children.

 

 Our safeguarding and child protection policy can be found on the policies tab or by clicking here: Policies.

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Contacting us about a safeguarding concern

If you have any concerns or require advice regarding the safety, health or well-being of a child who is a pupil at our school, please speak to one of the school's Designated Safeguarding Leads in person, by calling 0116 262 5896 or by completing the form below. 

Concerns submitted using the form during the school day, weekends, evenings and holidays will be addressed as soon as possible. A member of the safeguarding team will acknowledge receipt of your form by replying to you once they have read it. Please be aware, if you do not receive a reply, the team has yet to receive the email.

Alternatively, if the child is in immediate danger or is not a pupil at our school, please contact Leicester City Children's Social Care on 0116 454 1004 or the police on 101 (999 if it is an emergency).

Contacting us about a safeguarding concern
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All staff receive regular training in child protection and are aware of how to report concerns regarding children or staff.  In the event of an allegation about the Headteacher, our whistleblowing procedures are followed and the Chair of Governors is contacted immediately.

We have a commitment to safer recruitment. The Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, Business Manager, Chair of Governors and Safeguarding Governor have all been trained in safer recruitment.

Our Safer Recruitment policy can be found on the policies tab or by clicking here: Policies.

If you have any concerns, please ask to speak to Mrs Badge.

Telephone: 0116 2625896

E:mail: office@catherine-jun.leicester.sch.uk

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Below is a list of helpful safeguarding numbers that are available 24 hours a day:

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