Safeguarding

Hoddlesden St Paul’s CE Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Staff, governors and volunteers require an enhanced DBS disclosure and to undertake annual safeguarding training.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr Christopher Dugdale (Head Teacher).

The Designated Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Claire Warner (Chair of Governors).

The Additional Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Adele Bass (Deputy Head Teacher) and Mrs Helen Bullen

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Victoria Brown (Vice Chair).

The Designated Person for Looked After Children (CLA/LAC) and Pupil Premium Champion is Mrs Adele Bass.

The Deputy Designated Teacher for Looked After Children is Mr Christopher Dugdale.

• CAF/TAF Lead is Mrs Adele Bass 
• EY Supervision Lead is Mrs Adele Bass
• Harmful Sexual Behaviour and Child on Child Abuse Lead is Mr Christopher Dugdale
• Online Safety Lead is Mr Christopher Dugdale 
• Safeguarding Children with SEND Lead is Mrs Adele Bass
• Safer Recruitment Lead is Mr Christopher Dugdale 
• Prevent Lead is Mr Christopher Dugdale 

If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child, or think they may be at risk of abuse or neglect, please seek advice and report your concerns as soon as possible.

You can contact Blackburn with Darwen Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01254 666400.

This service can offer confidential advice and support if you are worried about a child.

Our school is extremely lucky to have our Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead represent the education sector on our Local Authorities Place Based CSAP Board. This is a vital role ensuring the education sector is heard and seen as a statutory partner, when it comes to safeguarding children and young people of our borough.

Safeguarding strategy can be viewed below

This helpline provides both children and adults who are potential victims of sexual abuse in schools with the appropriate support and advice. This includes how to contact the police and report crimes if they wish. The helpline also provides support to parents and professionals. See our safeguarding policy for our procedures.

Child on Child sexual abuse and harassment is not acceptable and not tolerated. Sexual harassment refers to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that occurs online or offline. Sexual harassment violates a pupil’s dignity and makes them feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated, and can create a hostile, sexualised or offensive environment. If left unchallenged, sexual harassment can create an atmosphere that normalises inappropriate behaviour and may lead to sexual violence.

Sexual harassment could include:

• Sexual comments.
• Sexual “jokes” and taunting.
• Physical behaviour, such as deliberately brushing against another pupil
• Online sexual harassment, including non-consensual sharing of images and videos and consensual sharing of sexual images and videos (often known as sexting), inappropriate comments on social media, exploitation, coercion and threats

St Paul’s is really proud to have a culture of openness and transparency. Our two new resources will continue to help support children, parents and staff open up about worries, thoughts and concerns.

During the Autumn Term 2021, the school welcomed an external safeguarding consultant to undertake an audit of our school processes and procedures. This was an great opportunity to showcase our safeguarding culture and advocacy for children’s holistic, academic and wellbeing outcomes. Below are some of the many strengths the audit referenced:

• “There is a strong culture of safeguarding that is embedded across the school. It was evident that all staff had a commitment and were dedicated to ensuring that all the children in school were safe.”  
• “Senior Leaders ensure that all staff are educated, confident, and effective at not only identifying children who may benefit from Early Help, but also ensuring that Safeguarding is at the forefront of everything they do.”
• “DSLs ensure that effective interventions are undertaken for children who need any additional support, and they are fully confident in implementing escalation procedures to ensure appropriate actions are taken swiftly.”
• “Supervision is offered to all staff, offering a safe and confidential space for them to discuss and offload any concerns they may have.”  
• “Fundamental British Values are embedded throughout the curriculum in a contextual, age-appropriate manner ensuring that the children not only understand them but also practise them in their daily life in and out of school.”
• “The children spoke about their experiences in school in such a positive manner, they feel safe, supported, and valued.”
• “This culture not only provides a positive learning environment, but supports the development of friendships, care and respect and it was evident that this is displayed effortlessly to all members of staff, their peers, and visitors into school.”

The LADO does not do the investigation themselves. They manage the investigation, to make sure it is done thoroughly, fairly and on time. They work closely with the police, children’s social care, employers and other involved professionals.

When an allegation is made, the LADO must be informed within 1 working day (or the next working day).

Referrals can be made by professionals, employers, and voluntary or faith organisations.

All allegations relating to harm of a child or young person by those who work with them, must be taken seriously.

An allegation may be that someone who works with children (whether in a paid or unpaid capacity) has:

• behaved in a way that has, or may have, harmed a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against a child, or related to a child
• behaved toward a child in a way that indicates that they would pose a risk of harm
• done something in relation to their work with adult service users, which causes concern about the welfare of an adult service user’s children or they have another role working with children

Additional information on Online Safety can be located in the Parents section. 

All safeguarding documentation is read and understood (signed) by all the teaching staff, non-teaching staff and governors of St Paul’s CofE Primary and Pre-School. 

The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) are responsible for the recording, implementation and tracking of all statutory updates and training requirements. Copies of all training certificates can be found in individuals personnel files. 

The Headteacher or members of the SLT carry out induction meetings with newly appointed staff to ensure key messages, policies and procedures are followed.  

You can contact the Blackburn with Darwen Local Safeguarding Children Board by following this link:

http://www.lscb.org.uk/

• Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2026.pdf
• Child Protection and Safeguarding Poilcy 2026 V2.pdf
• Child Protection and Safeguarding Poilcy 2026 V2.docx
• Prevent Strategy.pdf

• St Paul’s Hoddlesden PREVENT Risk Assessment 2025.pdf

• Working_together_to_safeguard_children_2023.pdf
• Children_and_young_person_guide_to_working_together_to_safeguard_children.pdf
• What to do if you are worried a child is being abused.pdf
• Children Missing Education statutory guidance.pdf
• Guidance for Safer Working Practices 2015 final.pdf

• Prevent Duty – Departmental Advice June 2015.pdf

• An animated guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children for children and young people.

Uploaded by Kent County Council on 2021-08-03.