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ORCHARD
PRIMARY
SCH0OL

Safeguarding

Information for Staff 2025-2026

Statement of Intent

Orchard Primary School believes that it is always unacceptable for pupils and employees to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all by a commitment to embed practices that protect all.
The school recognises that:
The welfare of all is paramount.
All people, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
In order to help us to achieve that it is essential that anyone coming onto Orchard premises and into contact with our pupils and employees respects and adheres to our guidelines.
WHAT IS SAFEGUARDING?
In simple terms, safeguarding is the proactive and reactive measures that Orchard has in place to protect its pupils and employees from harm.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
All staff have a responsibility to co-operate fully with safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that the school can carry out its responsibilities.
You have a legal duty of care to others. Regardless of the position held within the school you must:
Understand that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
Co-operate with each other and work in accordance with any policies, procedures, regulations, codes of practice and information or training provided.
Report any safeguarding concerns to a Safeguarding Officer, in accordance with school procedures.
Participate in training sessions about safeguarding as requested by the school.
Be aware of and participate in the risk assessment process.
If requested, supervise an individual who does not have relevant DBS/safeguarding requirements in place.
All staff must be vigilant in order to intervene at the earliest opportunity to avoid serious harm to a young person.

Categories of Abuse: Children and Young People

Physical Abuse
This may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child/young person. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child/young person.
Emotional Abuse
This is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child/young person such as to cause severe and persistent effects on the child/young person’s emotional development. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child/young person, though it may occur alone.
Sexual Abuse
This involves forcing or enticing a child/young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution whether or not the child/young person is aware of what is happening.
Neglect
This is the persistent failure to meet the child/young person’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child/young person’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.
Self-Neglect/Harm
This is not a direct form of abuse, but staff need to be aware of it in the general context of risk assessment and risk management, and to be aware that they may owe a duty of care to a child/young person who places themselves at risk in this way. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
CSE can occur through the use of the internet or on mobile phones as well as face-to-face contact. Those exploiting the young person have power over them and often the victim will fear that they will not be believed and are, therefore, scared to disclose.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Within the UK this practice is prohibited and, therefore, a criminal offence. Any disclosures of this type should be immediately referred to the Senior Designated Person or their nominated deputy.
Radicalisation and Extremism
The school has a legal duty to protect young people from radicalisation. If you have any concerns about a learner, or hear or see anything that concerns you please contact a designated person for child protection.
Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence (HBV)
A forced marriage is a marriage that is performed under duress and without the full and informed consent or free will of both parties and is a criminal offence in the UK. HBV is a form of domestic abuse which is perpetrated in the name of so called ‘honour’.

Action to be taken following disclosure/suspicion of a safeguarding issue

If a pupil makes a disclosure to a member of staff of a safeguarding nature or a member of staff has concerns of a safeguarding nature/suspicion that the student is being abused or is at risk:
Do take the disclosure/concern seriously
The student should not be questioned over the validity of the claim nor should you attempt to investigate, question or probe further
Do not promise to keep it a secret
Do treat as highly confidential
Remember you must inform the relevant Safeguarding designated person, or if one is unavailable the Senior Designated Person (or Deputy) within 1 hour of disclosure.
If the suspicion or allegations of abuse is against an member of staff it must be reported to the Senior Designated Person (or nominated Deputy) within 1 hour of disclosure.
If there are any injuries that require medical attention, contact a First Aider for advice on the appropriate medical treatment.
Contact a school designated person outlining the concern(s) and name of the student. This must be on the same working day.
One of the schools designated safeguarding persons will follow up disclosure and refer the matter to the appropriate external agency where they feel that the student person may be in need and/or may be at risk of suffering significant harm and complete the necessary documentation of any action taken. The senior designated person will keep all documentation safe and secure.

If you have any concerns, please refer to the designated staff.

Role	Name	Contact Details
Designated Governor for Child Protection	Alison Hall	01623 455939
Designated Senior Person for Child Protection	Alison Prodger / Head Teacher	01623 455939
Designated Deputy Person for Child Protection	Alison Tilstone / Deputy Head Teacher	01623 455939
Designated person for Child Protection	Julia Monks / Steph Johns / Denise Jacks / Adele Burton	01623 455939
LA Safeguarding Children in Education Officer	Zain Iqbal	07824 482429
LA Child Protection Contact/LADO	Eva Callaghan	0115 8041272 / eva.callaghan@nottscc.gov.uk
MASH (Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub)	MASH	0300 500 80 90
Emergency Duty Team	Outside office hours	0300 456 4546