Safeguarding Statement

At North Petherton Primary School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our values of collaboration, creativity, aspiration, and independence, we are dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing environment where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential.

Our Commitment
We are committed to keeping every pupil safe, ensuring their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Through close collaboration between staff, parents, and the wider community, we work to create a culture of vigilance, empowering children to become independent, confident, and resilient individuals.

Responsibilities

• Staff: Every member of our team takes collective and individual responsibility for safeguarding, undertaking regular training to stay informed of the latest guidance and best practices.
• Parents/Carers: We value our partnership with parents and carers, who play a vital role in supporting the safety and well-being of their children. We encourage open communication and proactive engagement with the school.

Legislation and Guidance
Our safeguarding policies and practices are underpinned by statutory guidance, including:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)
• The Children Act (1989 and 2004)
• Equality legislation, ensuring our policies are applied fairly and inclusively to all.

Safeguarding Leads
To ensure robust safeguarding measures, the following members of staff are responsible:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mr Nicolaides
• Deputy DSL(s): Mrs Mills, Mrs van-Cole, Mrs Ardren, Mrs Winter, Miss Shepherd

All staff are trained to identify concerns and act promptly to protect children from harm.

Our Approach
We apply all safeguarding policies in a non-discriminatory manner, respecting the unique needs and circumstances of each child. By fostering creativity, aspiration, and independence, we aim to ensure every pupil feels valued and supported, regardless of background, ability, or identity.

Together, as a collaborative community, we are steadfast in our mission to provide a safe and inspiring environment for all.

For further details, please refer to our full Safeguarding Policy, available.

Our Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

Mr Nicolaides (Acting Headteacher)

Deputy Safeguarding Leads:

Mrs van-Cole (SENDCo and Acting Deputy Head), 

Mrs Mills (Acting Deputy Head)

Mrs Ardren 

Mrs Winter

Safeguarding Governor

Louise Dennis-Smith

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child we strongly encourage you to contact a member of our safeguarding team.  You can contact them in the following ways:

Email: dsl@npcps.co.uk or office@npcps.co.uk

Telephone: 01278 662442

Alternatively you can contact Children's Social Care 0300 123 2224 or emailing them at childrens@somerset.gov.uk 

For additional information please follow the below link.

Some useful websites for parents and carers...