Safeguarding
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr. M. McGrail (Deputy Headteacher)
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs. S. Bollado (Headteacher)
Our Children’s Welfare Officer is Miss. C. McKenzie
Safeguarding our children, staff and visitors is of the utmost importance to us at St. Mary’s. We have policies and procedures in place to make sure that everyone is safe from harm. All staff are annually trained in the DFE’s guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, which is updated every year. This feeds directly into our school’s Safeguarding Policy. Both of these documents can be found on this page, along with others which relate to safeguarding.
Early Help Support for Families
Early Help is about helping children, young people and families deal with any issues as early as possible by offering help and support.
The best way to get Early Help support is to talk to a professional who knows you already. This could be your child’s doctor, teacher, support worker, school nurse, health visitor or early intervention and prevention worker.
If you feel you may need this Early Help support, please speak to our Children’s Welfare Officer, Miss McKenzie in school, another professional, or contact Rochdale Early Help through this webpage –
https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/childcare-children/early-help-support-families
You can also find Rochdale Local Authority’s ‘Early Help Guide for Families,’ here –
What to do if a child is being abused
Safe After School Campaign
The Safe After School campaign was launched to support parents with advice and guidance on out of school activities. There have been many instances, nationally as well as locally, about inappropriate behaviour and abuse perpetrated by adults in a position of trust at an after school activity. Please follow the link below to find out more information.
https://www.ourrochdale.org.uk/kb5/rochdale/directory/service.page?id=239kpyAw3mE
The Rochdale LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) is also concerned that childcare is being offered by strangers via Nextdoor.co.uk. These people have NOT been vetted or safety checked.
To keep your child safe outside of school when they are in clubs or at sporting activities, Rochdale Council have put together a YouTube video to show you what you need to know about people who look after your child. We have also provided posters for guidance.
If you decide you want to use a home tutor, please read the following advice from Rochdale LA.
Important Documents
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (updated December 2020) (Please follow link below)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-safeguarding-policy/ofsted-safeguarding-policy