Safeguarding

Our Safeguarding Team

At Cayley Primary School, keeping children safe is at the heart of everything we do, and every member of staff is responsible for the safety of the children in our school. Our Safeguarding Team works together to ensure that all children feel protected, valued and supported throughout their time in school.

Our team includes trained staff who take responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the school. They:

• Ensure our safeguarding procedures are followed consistently and effectively
• Make sure children know who they can talk to if they feel worried or unsafe
• Support families through times of difficulty
• Work closely with teachers and support staff to monitor the wellbeing of pupils

We want every child to feel safe, listened to and cared for.

If you have any concerns about the health and safety of a child at this school, you should share this information with a designated safeguarding lead immediately.

Any allegation or disclosure involving a member of staff or a volunteer at the school must be reported directly to the Head, unless it involves the Head and then it should be reported directly to the Chair of the Governing Body or the LADO.

You can contact the school regarding safeguarding matters by emailing office@cayley.towerhamlets.sch.uk.

If you are unable to contact anyone, you should call the police on 999.

Thank you for supporting and safeguarding the learners at our school.

Working with Social Workers and External Agencies

Sometimes, families may need additional help from professionals outside of school. Our first concern is the well-being of your child and there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the Local Authority Child Protection procedures.

When this happens, our Safeguarding Team may work respectfully and sensitively with:

• Social Workers
• Early Help Teams
• Family Hubs and voluntary services
• Health and wellbeing professionals

Working together in this way helps ensure that children receive the right support at the right time. Our role is to advocate for the child, to communicate openly, and to help coordinate the support in place for families.

We understand that asking for help can feel daunting, but families are never judged—our aim is always to support, empower and work in partnership.

A Shared Commitment

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and every visitor to our school is given a copy of our safeguarding leafelt to read on arrival. By working closely with families and external professionals, we aim to create a safe, nurturing environment where every child can thrive.

At Cayley Primary School we will do all we can to ensure that:

• The welfare of the child remains paramount.

• All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs have the right to be protected from harm.

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• All staff and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to the  designated Safeguarding Leads

If you ever have a concern about your child’s wellbeing—or if you simply want some advice—please speak to a member of our Safeguarding Team. We are here to help.

Further information can be found in our Safeguarding Policy.

Recruitment and Training 

We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. Details of our Safer Recruitment practice as well as ‘whistle-blowing’ can be seen in our Safeguarding Policy.

Information Sharing

We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:

• emergency contact numbers;
• the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
• the child’s special health requirements;
• information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS & CARERS TO TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.

We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.

Further information is detailed in our Data Protection Policy.

Staff Training

Staff receive robust safeguarding training including annual updates relating to key legislation (Keeping Children Safe in Education) and regular updates throughout the academic year. Staff acknowledge and sign that they have read these updates. We also have weekly safeguarding discussions as part of our staff briefings, relating to different areas of practice. The Safeguarding Team meet weekly to discuss vulnerable children and any issues arising. All Governors undertake safeguarding training. 

Our policy is underpinned and shaped by legislation and guidance contained in a variety of documents including: 

• The Children Act 1989; Children Act 2004

Children Act 1989 (legislation.gov.uk); Children Act 2004 (legislation.gov.uk)

• The Education Act 2002; Education and Inspections Act 2006

Education Act 2002 (legislation.gov.uk); Education and Inspections Act 2006 (legislation.gov.uk)

• Working Together to Safeguard Children December 2023

Working together to safeguard children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements and Procedures

www.durham-scp.org.uk

• What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused – DfE 2015

Stat guidance template (publishing.service.gov.uk)

• Keeping Children Safe in Education. Statutory guidance for schools and colleges. September 2025

Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Use of reasonable force. Advice for head teachers, staff and governing bodies. DfE. July 2013

Use of reasonable force in schools - GOV.UK (July 2013)

• Information Sharing Agreement: County Durham Safeguarding Adults Inter-Agency Partnership

Good practice guidance for professionals - Durham Safeguarding Adults (safeguardingdurhamadults.info)

• Procedures for locating missing pupils and the removal of pupils from roll.

Children Missing Education - Guidance for Local authorities

• Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales: HM Government 2023

Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales: HM Government 2023

• The Prevent Duty – An introduction for those with safeguarding responsibilities - Updated 2023

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-prevent-duty-safeguarding-learners-vulnerable-to-radicalisation/the-prevent-duty-an-introduction-for-those-with-safeguarding-responsibilities

• Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education (until 31st August 2026)

Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education guidance