Safeguarding
Intent
Safeguarding is the foundation of our school community and underpins every decision we make. Our intent is to create a culture where every child feels safe, valued and heard. We are committed to ensuring that all adults understand their collective responsibility to protect children from harm and act decisively when concerns arise. We empower children to recognise trusted adults in their lives, encouraging them to identify their “Trusted Five”, five adults they can count on their fingers, both in school and beyond, who they know will listen, support and help them. We foster an environment where vigilance, openness and care ensure that safeguarding is everyone’s priority.
Implementation
Safeguarding is embedded in the daily life of the school. All staff and governors receive regular safeguarding and PREVENT training, ensuring they remain knowledgeable, alert and confident in recognising and responding to concerns. Staff maintain a culture of professional curiosity, remaining attentive to changes in behaviour, presentation or circumstances, and never accepting things at face value when a child’s safety or wellbeing may be at risk. Clear systems are in place for reporting, recording and monitoring concerns, with the safeguarding team working closely with external agencies to secure timely and appropriate support. Through our curriculum, assemblies and pastoral provision, children are taught how to keep themselves safe and are regularly reminded of their Trusted Five, ensuring they know who they can turn to if they feel worried or unsafe. Strong partnerships with parents and carers further strengthen our safeguarding approach.
Impact
Safeguarding is well embedded within the culture of the school. Staff remain vigilant and demonstrate professional curiosity, enabling concerns to be identified, recorded and followed up appropriately. Children are able to identify their Trusted Five and understand that there are adults in school who will listen to them and help them if they have a worry. They report that they feel safe and know who they can speak to. Safeguarding processes are consistently applied, and pupils and families receive timely support when needed. This ensures that children are cared for, supported and able to learn within a safe and secure environment.
At Holy Trinity C of E School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. Rooted in our Christian values and ethos, we are committed to creating a caring, inclusive and nurturing community where every child is safe, valued, listened to and supported to flourish. We believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Every member of our school community has a role in noticing when a child or family may need help and ensuring concerns are shared and acted upon promptly.
Right Help, Right Time
Our safeguarding practice is guided by the Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) Right Help, Right Time Framework.
We recognise that children and families may need different levels of support at different times. Our aim is to understand each child’s individual circumstances, identify emerging needs as early as possible and work alongside children, parents, carers and partner agencies to ensure families receive the right help, at the right time.
At Holy Trinity C of E School, this means we will:
- Listen to the voice of the child, ensuring their wishes, feelings and lived experiences are at the centre of our safeguarding practice.
- Know our children well and notice changes in behaviour, attendance, wellbeing, relationships or circumstances that may indicate a need for help.
- Act early and promptly, ensuring concerns about a child’s welfare or safety are taken seriously and do not drift.
- Work respectfully with parents and carers, wherever it is safe and appropriate, recognising family strengths and involving families in decisions about support.
- Provide and access early help, seeking to address difficulties before they become more serious.
- Work in partnership with Staffordshire services and other professionals so that support around children and families is coordinated and effective.
- Escalate concerns appropriately when needs increase or there are concerns that a child is experiencing, or may be at risk of, harm.
- Maintain a culture of professional curiosity, respectful challenge and vigilance, always keeping the safety and wellbeing of the child at the heart of our decisions.
Working Together to Help Children Flourish
Effective safeguarding depends upon strong relationships and partnership working. We work with children, parents and carers, Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership, Staffordshire services, health professionals, social care, the police and other agencies to provide the most appropriate help and protection. Where additional needs emerge, we seek to work alongside families to understand what is happening in the child’s life, recognise strengths and protective factors, identify concerns and agree the most appropriate support.
Our Culture of Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Holy Trinity C of E School is part of the culture and everyday life of our school.We want every child to know that they matter, that their voice will be heard and that there are trusted adults in school who will listen to them and take their concerns seriously.Through our curriculum, relationships, pastoral care and wider school life, we help children develop the knowledge, confidence and resilience they need to keep themselves and others safe. We teach children about healthy relationships, recognising risks, including those they may encounter online, and how and where to ask for help. Our staff receive regular safeguarding training and understand their responsibility to recognise, respond, record and report concerns.
Meet Our Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team
Mrs Jade Wakefield
Headteacher Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Prevent Lead
Mrs Wakefield has overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection within school. She leads our safeguarding practice, supports staff and works with children, families and external safeguarding partners.
Mrs Laura Fox
Deputy Headteacher & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (Deputy DSL)
Mrs Fox supports the leadership of safeguarding across the school. As a Deputy DSL, she works alongside the safeguarding team to ensure concerns are identified, responded to and followed up appropriately.
Mrs Jane Wells
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (Deputy DSL) & Pastoral Leader
Jane supports safeguarding across the school alongside her role as Pastoral Leader. She works closely with children and families to identify needs early, provide pastoral support and help families access appropriate services.
Mrs Rosie Wain
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Mrs Wain supports the mental health and emotional wellbeing of our children. She works with pupils and alongside the safeguarding and pastoral team to identify needs and ensure appropriate support is available.
Mrs Hayley Cartwright
Early Years Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (Deputy DSL)
Mrs Cartwright has a particular safeguarding focus within our Early Years provision. She helps ensure that the needs of our youngest children are identified early and that children and families receive appropriate support.
Worried About a Child?
If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please speak to any member of our safeguarding team.
You do not need to be certain that something is wrong. We would always rather you share a concern so that we can listen, consider what is happening and ensure that the child and family receive the right help at the right time.
Where a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Useful Links to Support You
At Holy Trinity C of E School, we know that there may be times when children, parents and families need some extra help, advice or someone to talk to.
Below are some useful links to trusted organisations and services that can offer information, guidance and support on a range of issues, including safeguarding, mental health and wellbeing, family support and online safety.
National Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (NCATS)
Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART™)
Supporting your child as a young carer
Talking To Your Child About Racism
Talk PANTS and help keep children safe
Bullying
Bullying is when someone is mean on purpose. It can happen anywhere, like at school, at home or online. You have the right to be safe and there's always help available
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/bullying-cyberbullying/
Social media ban in the UK
On 15 June 2026, the UK government announced that major social media platforms will be banned from providing accounts to people under the age of 16. The new law is expected to come into force in spring 2027. Following this announcement, we will be updating our online safety advice pages as more detail on the new laws becomes available.
In the meantime, we have advice for you on supporting children through the changes.
Supporting your child with new social media changes
Meet Techosaurus, our new online safety dinosaur!
Child Line: 0800 1111
Childline for under 12s | Childline
Staffordshire Safeguarding and Family Partnership
Contact us - Child safeguarding | Staffordshire County Council
Child Safeguarding/PREVENT Governor:
- Sarah Davies and Helen Campbell
Home Office and Prevent
How do I talk to my child about extremism? - Educate Against Hate
Staffordshire Children’s Advice Service (SCSA) number:
0300 111 8007
If you have any concerns, queries or questions or if something doesn't quite feel right that you have witnessed with a child, please phone the above number to speak to Staffordshire Children's Advice Service.
Family Support
We work closely with Malachi Family Support to provide practical, hands on support to families who may be facing challenges. We recognise that parenting can be complex, and having the right support at the right time can make a significant difference.
Malachi Family Support Workers work primarily with adults in the household to strengthen the support available for children and young people aged 0–19 years, or up to 25 years for those with special educational needs and disabilities. The service offers a range of therapeutic and practical support, tailored to meet the individual needs of each family, helping to build confidence, resilience and stability.
There are two routes to access this support:
Referral Based Family Support or
Family Access Service (FAS)
Please see their website for further details. Families can make self referrals or please ask for support from Jane to make the referral in school.
https://www.malachi.org.uk/family-support-in-staffordshire/
