Safeguarding and Child Protection

At Aylward Primary School, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and expect all staff, governors, volunteers and adults working within our school community to share this commitment.

We aim to provide a safe, caring and supportive environment where children feel secure, are listened to and know that there are trusted adults they can speak to if they are worried or need help.

Our approach to safeguarding

We recognise that every child has the right to be safe and protected from harm. Some children may be more vulnerable to abuse, neglect, exploitation or other safeguarding concerns because of their individual circumstances.

Our approach is always child-centred. We consider what is in the best interests of the child and recognise that children may communicate concerns in different ways. Changes in behaviour, attendance, emotional wellbeing, presentation or engagement can all be important indicators that a child may need additional support.

We understand that children who have experienced abuse, neglect or other adverse experiences may experience difficulties with their emotional wellbeing, relationships, behaviour and learning. At Aylward, we respond sensitively and consider the individual needs and lived experiences of each child.

Where concerns arise, we work closely with children, families and relevant professionals, including Children's Social Care, health services, the police and other agencies, to ensure children receive the right help at the right time.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Aylward Primary School follows the Department for Education's statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 (KCSIE).

KCSIE sets out the legal duties that schools must follow to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. All members of staff receive regular safeguarding training and are expected to understand their responsibilities for identifying, responding to and reporting safeguarding concerns.

Read Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026

Safer Recruitment

Aylward Primary School is committed to safer recruitment and follows statutory guidance when appointing staff and engaging volunteers.

Our recruitment procedures include appropriate pre-employment checks, verification of identity and qualifications, employment history and references, and the relevant Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and barred-list checks where required.

We maintain a Single Central Record and ensure appropriate safeguarding checks are completed for adults working or volunteering within the school.

Operation Encompass

Aylward Primary School participates in Operation Encompass, a police and education information-sharing partnership designed to ensure that schools can provide timely support to children who have experienced domestic abuse.

Through Operation Encompass, our Designated Safeguarding Lead or an appropriately trained member of the safeguarding team may receive information from the police following a police-attended domestic abuse incident involving a child or their family.

Receiving this information enables us to provide appropriate, sensitive and timely support for the child in school. Information shared through Operation Encompass is treated confidentially and managed in accordance with our safeguarding and information-sharing procedures.

Find out more about Operation Encompass

Reporting a Safeguarding Concern

If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please speak to a member of the school's Designated Safeguarding Team as soon as possible.

We encourage parents, carers, pupils and members of our school community to share concerns with us. No concern is too small to share.

Our safeguarding procedures are designed to ensure concerns are listened to, recorded appropriately and acted upon in the best interests of the child.

Find out more about our safeguarding and child protection procedures here.