If you think you or a child is in immediate danger and needs urgent help, please call the police on 999.

Anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare can also make a referral to a local authority children’s social care service at any time, even when schools are closed. An online referral form can be found here:

https://cambridgeshire-self.achieveservice.com/service/Childrens_Services_online_referral_form

St. Laurence Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

Staff work hard to maintain an environment where children feel safe and secure. The curriculum is designed to ensure opportunities for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse. Children know that they can approach any of the adults in school if they are worried and that they will receive a consistent supportive response.

In recognising our responsibilities for Safeguarding and Child Protection, as a school we:
 

• have clear staff recruitment and selection procedures, ensuring that all staff (including volunteers) who have unsupervised access to children, have been appropriately checked for their suitability through the DBS procedure
• aim to raise awareness of child protection issues and equip children and staff  with the skills needed to keep children safe
• develop and implement procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases of abuse
• establish a safe and nurturing environment free from discrimination or bullying where children can learn and develop happily.

Should you have any concerns about any child please contact one of the school's Designated Persons for Child Protection, The Headteacher, Mrs Jenny McGhee Wallace, the Assistant Headteacher, Mrs Rachel Chalklin or the SENCo, Mrs Veronica Harvey who are our designated staff for Child Protection. Link Governor for Safeguarding is Ms. Ursula Lowe, who can be contacted via the school office.

All staff in school are trained to identify and report any concerns they have to the designated safeguarding officers. This training is updated annually.

The governing body and Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Trust fully recognise their responsibilities in regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. They aim to ensure that the policies, procedures and training in school are effective and comply with the law and government guidance at all times.

"Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children.

In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centered. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child."

^{Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021}