Safeguarding and other support and advice
Keeping Children Safe
The health, safety, and well-being of all children in our care are paramount. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected, valued and listened to.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. This responsibility includes every member of our school community. School staff, however, are in the unique and privileged position of spending many hours interacting with and caring for children. They have thus been given clear and specific responsibilities in supporting families who may be finding things difficult and in noticing when children are showing what might be the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect. Part of this responsibility is in then seeking appropriate help in addressing these issues. We recognise that all staff members have a full and proactive part to play in protecting children from harm. We also expect that all volunteers and visitors to our school follow our policies and procedures to work alongside staff members in keeping children safe
At Hopping Hill in order to fulfil our responsibilities effectively, we ensure that our approach is child centred. This means that at all times, we act in the best interests of the child. This at times, might involve some difficult conversations. This is always done without judgement and information will only be shared with any professional where it is necessary in order to safeguard children.
We listen to our pupils and take seriously, what they tell us. Children are supported in considering whom they could talk to if they have any worries, problems or are feeling unsafe. We also have a curriculum in place that teaches children about safety. For further information on the curriculum, please see information in the curriculum section of our website.
All school staff receive regularly training in issues relating to safeguarding, including anti-bullying, online safety and child protection, this training includes the issue of child abuse and the signs of sexual, physical, emotional harm or neglect along with other specific types of abuse.
While every member of staff has a role in safeguarding, there are individuals with specific roles. Michelle White (Deputy Headteacher) is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in school but if you have any concerns about the safety and well-being of a child, please contact any of our safeguarding Team. You can do this by calling the school office. If you would prefer to email, the office will be able to provide you with these details too. All school staff receive regular safeguarding training. The safeguarding team receive specific training in order to carry out their named role.
| Mrs Michelle White | Deputy Head Teacher |
| Mrs Jo Fantarrow | Head Teacher |
| Mrs Liz Doughty | Assistant Head Teacher |
| Mr Jamie Pell | Assistant Head Teacher |
| Mrs Rebecca Cronin | Family Support Worker |
At times, we may need to seek advice from outside agencies as to how best to support you and your family. Please see our school safeguarding policy for further information.
Key safeguarding documents that we work with:
Whenever we have a visitor, student or supply teacher to our school we pass on to them our Safeguarding Leaflet and ask that they read it carefully and keep it with them for reference throughout their time at Hopping Hill Primary School.
What should I do if I have concerns about a child or family?
- Speak with one the safeguarding leads at school.
- Contact Northamptonshire multi agency safeguarding hub (MASH) on 0300 126 7000
- Further information on the MASH team can be found here.
- Contact the Northampton Children's Trust Report a concern (nctrust.co.uk)
- Speak to the NSPCC:
Help for adults concerned about a child 0808 800 5000
Help for children and young people 0800 1111
The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
Northamptonshire MASH can be contacted and can give advice on whether a family needs early help or they meet the threshold for statutory child protection. They can be contacted by telephone on 0300 126 7000 or email (Secure email address) MASH@nctrust.co.uk
Out of Hours
If you need to contact children's social care urgently during the evening, at night or at the weekend, phone their out of hours team on 01604 626938
Northamptonshire Early Help
What is early help?
Every family goes through challenging times at some point. Early help means working with you and your family so that small problems don’t become big problems. Early help is for everybody, for families with children and young people of any age. And it’s your choice whether to have it or not.
Why would I want early help?
There are lots of reasons why people look for early help. It could be that you’re worried about your child’s health, development or behaviour, or how they’re doing at school, or perhaps because you are caring for a disabled child. It may be that you’re worried about money or housing and how that is affecting your family. Maybe your child or your family is affected by domestic abuse, drugs or alcohol or crime. Perhaps your child is a carer for other people, or maybe you’ve had a bereavement in the family that’s made life a real challenge.