At Penketh South Primary School and Nursery, Safeguarding has a high profile. Everyone who has contact with children has a shared safeguarding responsibility. At Penketh South, we are committed to working together with the relevant agencies to ensure that children and families are able to receive the right help at the right time and that appropriate action is taken swiftly to protect children from harm.
If you are concerned about a child’s wellbeing, please share your concern with one of the Safe and Sound Team members at the earliest opportunity.
Keeping Children Safe
Keeping Children Safe outlines the legal framework that all schools must adhere to in relation to safeguarding and child protection. This is the link to the latest version.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education–2
Safe and Sound Team
At Penketh South, we have a team of staff who meet together, formally every two weeks to discuss the needs of our pupils and informally, often daily, when necessary.
The children, staff and visitors are made aware of who is on the team so that they know who they can speak to if there are any concerns. Posters of the Safe and Sound Team are displayed around school. If you have any concerns, please contact the team to speak to us.
If you have things on your mind and feel that you can’t talk to an adult in school, there is always someone to listen to you at Childline. Call 0800 1111 or click here to go to their website. Here you can find out information about getting help; talking about your feelings; staying safe online and learn how to help a friend.
Please contact:
 | Mrs Roper – c.roper@penkethsouth.tcat.uk.comShe is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and supports Mrs Lawton with matters relating to safeguarding. She is the main contact for Safeguarding concerns. |
 | Mrs Lawton is the Headteacher and has overall responsibility for the safeguarding of the pupils at Penketh South. She is the key adult for Operation Encompass and is a deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. |
| Miss Browne is the Deputy Headteacher and is a deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. |
 | Mrs Bennett is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Pastoral Lead. She supports many of our children with their Mental Health needs, 1:1 or small group interventions if they need guidance, time to talk, support with friendships, etc. |
Safeguarding Governor
Mrs Carolyn Williams is our Safeguarding Governor and Chair of the Governing Body.
Should parents, staff or visitors have concerns that Mrs Lawton or other members of the Safe and Sound Team are not dealing with issues appropriately, any concerns should be raised through her. She can be contacted by email or confidential letter via the school office.
Early Help
Any family can experience difficulties or unexpected challenges from time to time.
We are here to help!
If at any point, you or your family are experiencing difficulties which are affecting or have the potential to have an impact on your child or children, we can work with you to support what you are already doing and/or find agencies who can help.
The Warrington Early Help Team provide an array of services which are designed to offer help, advice and guidance on a range of topics. This is not Social Care and should be regarded as a supportive and temporary option to stop difficulties from escalating.
We may approach you or someone in your family to offer support or you can ask any member of staff for this help.
We may ask some questions to get to know you and your family so that we can help identify the best service to help support you. This will form what is called an Early Help Assessment.
Agencies in Warrington include:-
- Family Support
- Families First
- Health Visitors
- School Nurse
- School Health Advisor
- Warrington Youth Club
- CAMHS
- St Joseph’s Family Centre
- local Children’s Centres
As part of the Early Help process, we may have Team Around the Family meetings where the family and agencies meet together to formulate a plan and to evaluate how well the plan is working.
To contact Early Help click here.
Other ways we can help you and your family and the children in school;
- ELSA support – Emotional Literacy
- EBSA support
- School Councilor – support for children and 1-1 support sessions for parents
- NSPCC workshops – click here
- Online Safety Workshops – click here
- “Wake Up Wednesday” Parent Guides – click here
- PCSOs Workshops
- Fire Brigade Safety Talks
- The River Trust Workshops
- Magistrates Talks
- No Outsiders
- PSHE Curriculum
- My Happy Mind and Parent App – click here
- Warrington Youth Zone – click here
- Warrington Wolves Foundation – click here
- ADDvanced Solutions – webinars – click here
We are always here to help. Please don’t hesitate to ask for it if you need it.
Policies relating to Safeguarding
All of our Policies which refer to safeguarding are available on the Policies page on our website.
These include but are not limited to:-
- the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- the Whistleblowing Policy
- Behaviour Policy
- Anti-bullying Policy
Prevent Duty
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of being radicalised, this is a useful link:-
Get help if you’re worried about someone being radicalised – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Staff complete annual Prevent Training
Safeguarding Newsletters
Each month, we send out a Safeguarding Newsletter to help to support our families and provide them with signposts to relevant organizations.
