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Safeguarding

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everybody’s responsibility.

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils at Griffin Park Primary School and endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from deliberate harm.  It relates to aspects of school life including:

  • pupils’ health and safety
  • the use of reasonable force
  • meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions
  • providing first aid
  • educational visits
  • intimate care
  • internet or e-safety
  • appropriate arrangements to ensure school security, taking into account the local context

All safeguarding documentation is read and understood (signed) by all the teaching staff, non-teaching staff and governors of Griffin Park Primary School.

The senior leadership team are responsible for the recording, implementation and tracking of all statutory updates and training requirements. 

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

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr David Chapman (Head Teacher).

The Designated Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Karen Miller.

The Additional Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Lesley Otter, Mrs Zoe Campbell, Mrs Rebecca Schofield (Deputy Head Teacher) and Mrs Suzi Aspinall (Assistant Head Teacher)

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

The Deputy Designated Teacher for Looked After Children is Mr David Chapman.

  • CAF/FPM Lead is Mrs Lesley Otter
  • EY Supervision Lead is Mrs Lesley Otter
  • Harmful Sexual Behaviour and Child on Child Abuse Lead is Mr David Chapman
  • Online Safety Lead is Mr David Chapman
  • Safeguarding Children with SEND Lead is Mrs Lesley Otter
  • Safer Recruitment Lead is Mr David Chapman
  • Prevent Lead is Mr David Chapman

Safeguarding School Poster

Safeguarding at Griffin Park Information Poster

Are you concerned that a child is being abused or neglected?

If you are concerned about a child and you feel they are being abused, neglected or at risk of abuse/neglect, then you should consider making a safeguarding child referral.

Contact Blackburn with Darwen Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub for confidential advice and consultation. Monday to Friday 08.45-17.00 please call: 

01254 666400

If you are calling outside these hours please contact our Emergency Duty Team on 01254 587547.

You can contact the Blackburn with Darwen Local Safeguarding Children Board by clicking here.

You can also report your concerns online:

NSPCC Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Or you can also speak to:

NSPCC 0800 800 5000

Childline 0800 1111

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy 2025-2026

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy 2026

Keeping Children Safe In Education September 2025

Low Level Concerns Policy

Blackburn With Darwen Safeguarding Partnership

Blackburn with Darwen Safeguarding Children Partnership Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements

Mrs Otter, our deputy DSL, is on the board of the Blackburn with Darwen Safeguarding Children's Partnership Domestic Abuse Subgroup.  This gives education partners a vital voice in the safeguarding of children in Blackburn with Darwen.

Subgroup Meeting Notes - 21/10/2025

Prevent Strategy

As part of Griffin Park's commitment to safeguarding and child protection we fully support the government's Prevent Strategy, and take guidance from Teaching Approaches to help build resilience to extremism.

Griffin Park Prevent Strategy

Mr Chapman is the lead for the Prevent Strategy. 

What is the Prevent Strategy?

The Prevent strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists, supporting terrorism, fundamentalism or extremist behaviours. It:-

  • responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
  • provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
  • works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health).

 

Child on Child Sexual abuse and/or harassment

Dedicated NSPCC helpline: 0800 136 663 

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 

Online Safety

Please see our information to support parents here:

ENCOMPASS

We are part of the Encompass Strategy.  For further information please look here:

Statutory Safeguarding Documentation and Information

Working Together to Safeguard Children

Children and Young Persons Guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children

An Animated Guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children - For Children and Young People

What to Do If You Are Worried A Child Is Being Abused

Children Missing In Education Statutory Guidance

Guidance For Safer Working Practices

Prevent Duty - Departmental Advice

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

 

What does the LADO do?

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). 

Who can make a referral to the LADO?

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

Who should be referred to the LADO?

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

Reasons for an allegation

An allegation is made against a person if there is an indication that they may not be suitable to work with children. This can be connected with their employment or voluntary activity, or in relation to their private life where:

  • Concerns arise about someone’s behaviour with their own children
  • Concerns arise about the behaviour of a partner, member of the family or other household member
  • Other information suggests they may pose a risk to any person that may demonstrate a transferable risk within their role with children

Managing Illness

Minor Illness and Attendance Guidance

All safeguarding documentation is read and understood (signed) by all the teaching staff, non-teaching staff and governors of Griffin Park Primary 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.