Longcot and Fernham CE Primary is committed to all aspects of safeguarding.  We believe that all children have the right to be protected from abuse and harm.  The Governing Body takes seriously its responsibility under section 11 of the Children Act and duties under 'working together' to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements exist within our setting to identify, and support those children who are suffering harm or are likely to suffer harm.

We recognise that all staff and governors have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm, and that the child’s welfare is our paramount concern.  All adults working in school (voluntary or paid) have undergone a DBS (CRB) check. All adults working in school have received Safeguarding training, including child protection training. All adults recognise the need to be observant of children and to report any concerns to the lead person for child protection.

Our school  provides a safe, caring, positive and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child free from discrimination or bullying where children can learn and develop happily.

Our School Safeguarding Team    

Safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole community, staff, governors, parents,  volunteers and the wider community.  Should you have a concern please speak to one of our safeguarding team immediately

Our School's Designated Safeguarding Lead is Sally Robins (Headteacher)

Our School's Designated Deputy Safeguarding Leads are Victoria Jones and Catherine Kent

Our School's Safeguarding Governor is Leah Spiers

Faringdon Learning Trust Safeguarding Officer is Lynne Hammond

Faringdon Learning Trust Inclusion Lead is Sarah Gristwood

If you are unable to speak to a member of our Designated Safeguarding Team at school and have a safeguarding concern, please contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) directly who will be able to advise you.

If you have a concern about a child, please call MASH on 0345 050 7666. 

Cause for Concern

Our first priority is of course your child’s welfare and we are required to take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of our pupils. However there may be occasions when we have reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse. We will ensure that our concerns about a child are discussed with his/her parents first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.  In this case we are obliged to follow our Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures established by the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board and inform Social Care of the concern.

We work extremely closely with the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board to access training and support.

If you are worried about a child's safety please do not hesitate to contact Sally Robins (DSL, Headteacher) or Victoria Jones or Catherine Kent (Deputy DSLs) immediately.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

Safeguarding means:

• Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• Preventing harm to children’s health or development
• Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.

Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.