Safeguarding Pupils
At St. Paul’s Church of England Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. All staff, governors, volunteers and visitors have a responsibility to help keep children safe, identify concerns and act promptly when they are worried about a child's welfare.
We are committed to providing a safe, caring and supportive environment in which children feel secure, are listened to and know that there are trusted adults they can speak to if they are worried about anything.
Our safeguarding arrangements follow the statutory guidance contained within Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 and Working Together to Safeguard Children. KCSIE emphasises a child-centred approach, acting in the best interests of the child and ensuring children receive the right help at the right time.
Our Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Stephen Emmett – Head of School
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs)
Bronwen Craft – SENCO
Executive Headteacher
Ben Hulme
Safeguarding Governor
Hilary Wilder
Photographs of our safeguarding team are displayed around the school so that children, staff, parents and visitors know who they can speak to if they have a concern.
If you are worried about a child
If you have any concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child at St. Paul’s, however small it may seem, please speak to a member of our Safeguarding Team.
You do not need to be certain that abuse or neglect has taken place before raising a concern.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Concerns about a child can also be reported directly to Kent Children's Social Services.
Report a child safeguarding concern to Kent County Council
Kent County Council's safeguarding information provides routes for members of the public and professionals to report concerns about children.
What to do if a child tells you something
If a child tells you that they are being harmed, abused or neglected, or says something that causes you concern:
- listen carefully;
- remain calm;
- take what they say seriously;
- do not promise to keep the information secret;
- do not ask leading or unnecessary questions;
- reassure the child that they have done the right thing by telling someone;
- record what has been said accurately; and
- report the concern immediately to the DSL or a Deputy DSL.
Staff record safeguarding concerns using the school's safeguarding recording system and follow the procedures contained within the school's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.
Concerns about an adult working with children
If you have a safeguarding concern or allegation about the behaviour of a member of staff, volunteer or another adult working with children at St. Paul’s, this must be reported promptly.
Concerns about a member of staff or volunteer should be reported to the Head of School or Executive Headteacher.
Concerns about the Head of School should be reported to the Executive Headteacher.
Concerns about the Executive Headteacher should be reported to the Chair of Governors, David Strachan.
Safeguarding concerns about adults will be managed in accordance with the school's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and the procedures set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Safeguarding in school
Safeguarding is embedded throughout school life at St. Paul’s.
Our safeguarding arrangements include:
- appropriate safer recruitment and vetting procedures;
- an up-to-date Single Central Record;
- regular safeguarding and child protection training for staff;
- Designated Safeguarding Lead training;
- appropriate management of safeguarding records;
- procedures for reporting and responding to concerns;
- attendance monitoring;
- online safety education;
- filtering and monitoring of school technology;
- appropriate risk assessments;
- first aid and medical arrangements;
- educational visit procedures; and
- teaching children how to recognise risks and seek help.
All visitors are required to sign in and follow the school's safeguarding procedures while on site.
Online Safety
Technology provides children with significant opportunities for learning, communication and creativity, but it can also expose them to risks.
We teach children how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully and how to seek help if something happens online that worries or upsets them.
Our approach includes education about:
- online relationships;
- privacy and personal information;
- inappropriate and harmful content;
- cyberbullying;
- responsible communication;
- recognising unsafe situations;
- reporting concerns; and
- healthy use of technology.
The school has appropriate filtering and monitoring arrangements in place for school devices and networks. These arrangements form part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities and are reviewed regularly.
Child-on-child abuse
We recognise that children can abuse other children and that this can happen both in person and online.
Child-on-child abuse may include bullying, cyberbullying, physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual violence, harmful sexual behaviour and other forms of harmful or intimidating behaviour.
We take all reports seriously.
We do not dismiss harmful behaviour as “banter”, “part of growing up” or simply something that children have to tolerate.
Children are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult if another child behaves towards them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, frightened or unsafe.
Attendance and safeguarding
Regular attendance at school is an important part of keeping children safe.
Unexplained or persistent absence can sometimes be an indicator that a child or family needs additional support.
We monitor attendance carefully and work with children, families and other agencies where there are concerns.
Where absence raises a safeguarding concern, the school's safeguarding procedures will be followed.
Preventing radicalisation
Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism forms part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities.
Staff are trained to recognise potential indicators of concern and know how to report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
We help children develop the knowledge and skills to question what they see and hear, respect others and understand different perspectives.
Concerns about radicalisation are managed through the same safeguarding processes as other concerns about a child's welfare.
Operation Encompass
St. Paul’s participates in Operation Encompass.
Operation Encompass is a police and education information-sharing partnership that enables schools to provide timely support to children who have experienced domestic abuse.
Where police attend a domestic abuse incident involving a child connected to the school, appropriate information is shared securely with the school's trained safeguarding staff so that support can be put in place for the child.
Operation Encompass is now established on a statutory footing across England and Wales.
Find out more about Operation Encompass
Safer Recruitment
St. Paul’s is committed to safer recruitment.
Appropriate pre-employment checks are undertaken for staff in accordance with statutory requirements, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks where required.
The school maintains a Single Central Record of the required recruitment and vetting checks.
Visitors, volunteers, contractors and other adults on site are managed in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures and the level of supervision appropriate to their role.
Safeguarding through the curriculum
Children learn how to keep themselves and others safe through the curriculum and wider school life.
This includes learning through:
- PSHE and RSHE;
- Computing and online safety;
- assemblies;
- Relationships Education;
- Health Education; and
- wider opportunities to develop confidence, resilience and positive relationships.
Children are taught about trusted adults, appropriate boundaries, healthy relationships, online safety and how to ask for help.
Working with parents and carers
Safeguarding works best when school and families work together.
We aim to work openly and constructively with parents and carers and will normally discuss concerns with families.
There may, however, be circumstances where information must be shared with Children's Social Care, the police or another safeguarding agency without first seeking parental consent if doing so is necessary to protect a child or could place a child at greater risk.
Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy 2026–27 sets out our safeguarding arrangements and procedures in full.
Our policy reflects Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, which comes into force on 1 September 2026.
Useful safeguarding information
Kent County Council – Protecting Children