Spellbrook Primary School acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice.

We take our responsibilities towards safeguarding very seriously and the school has adopted and regularly reviews policies and procedures which reflect our commitment. The school's safeguarding procedures are subject to external audit.

There are a number of polices that relate to safeguarding and the school ensures all are reviewed regularly.

• Administration of Medicines and First Aid at School Policy 
• Attendance Policy
• Behaviour, Discipline & Anti-Bullying Policy
• Child Protection Policy including Prevent Duty
• Complaints  Procedure
• Employee Code of Conduct in school 
• GDPR and Data Security Policy 
• Harassment and discrimination including racial abuse
• Health and Safety
• Information Sharing
• Internet Safety
• Intimate Care Policy 
• Managing Allegations against Staff 
• Safe working practice
• Safer Recruitment for Schools 
• Special Educational Needs & Disability 
• Visitors Policy  
• Volunteering in School 
• Whistle-blowing

Many of these can be accessed via this link: 

Any others can be obtained by contacting the school office

Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (DBS)

All staff, governors and volunteers are required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before they are able to visit/work unsupervised within our school. All adults coming into school to work with children for sports, music tuition or representing any other agency will be asked to present a valid DBS check.   A Single Central Record is maintained by the school and is subject to an annual audit.

Safeguarding - Staff, Governors and Volunteers

All our staff, volunteers and governors are required to attend appropriate safeguarding training with refresher training every three years.  The headteacher will keep staff and volunteers updated on safeguarding issues/information as required.  School staff have also attended 'Step On' training covering the principles of behaviour management and strategies.

A thorough induction programme for staff and volunteers is managed by the headteacher and highlights what is expected  of adults within the school to help safeguard pupils. 

• A leaflet entitled 'Safeguarding Children - A quick reference guide for Staff, Parents and Volunteers' can be viewed via a link below.

Visitors to the school can read 'Safeguarding Children and Emergency Evacuation Procedures' copies available from school reception.

• A leaflet entitled 'Safeguarding Children and Emergency Evacuation Procedures' can be viewed via a link below.

Our school's Designated Senior Person Mr Jeremy Fisher (Headteacher) and Deputy Designated Senior Persons; Mrs Heather Foster (SENCO) and Mrs Sarah Cook regularly update their training to enable confidential safeguarding issues to be dealt with in an appropriate and professional manner. 

Our Safeguarding Governor Mrs Michelle Birch carries carries out a safeguarding compliance checklist and audit,  the results of which are shared with the Full Governing Body.

The Chair Governors and Headteacher have completed accredited Safer Recruitment training.

Child Protection

The local authority requires headteachers to report any obvious or suspected case of child abuse, which includes non-accidental injury, severe physical neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. This procedure is intended to protect children at risk and schools are encouraged to take the attitude that where there are grounds for suspicion, it is better to be safe than sorry.  It is hoped that parents will appreciate how difficult it is for the headteacher to carry out this delicate responsibility

The Children Act 1989 places a clear responsibility on schools to ensure that they work together with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.  As a result, if concerns are raised within the school or a child, or parent, reports a situation involving possible abuse, we would not be able to guarantee confidentiality.  The matter would have to be referred to Social Services.  This is in line with government and Hertfordshire County Council policy.