Safeguarding at Shanklea Primary School

At Shanklea Primary School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. We are committed to providing a safe, caring and inclusive environment where children feel secure, are listened to and know who they can speak to if they are worried about themselves or someone else.

We maintain an attitude of “it could happen here” and always act in the best interests of the child. We recognise that school staff are particularly well placed to identify concerns early, provide help and prevent concerns from escalating.

Our Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mrs Laura Ritson – Headteacher

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs)
Mrs Claire Crowther – Deputy Headteacher and SENDCo, Mrs Abbie Reynolds, Mrs Bev Downes. Miss Steph Laskey
and Ms Sarah Brown – Business Manager

If you are worried about a child

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team as soon as possible.

Concerns should never be ignored or assumed to have been reported by somebody else.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Parents, carers and members of the public can also contact Northumberland Children’s Social Care directly where they are worried that a child may be at risk of harm.

Our approach to safeguarding

Safeguarding at Shanklea includes protecting children from abuse, neglect and exploitation; identifying concerns early; providing appropriate help and support; and working effectively with families and other agencies.

Our safeguarding work includes child protection, child-on-child abuse, harmful sexual behaviour, online safety, exploitation and county lines, domestic abuse, Prevent and radicalisation, attendance and children missing education, mental health and wellbeing, safeguarding children with SEND, safer recruitment and managing concerns about adults working with children.

Technology is a significant part of children's lives. We recognise that safeguarding risks can occur both online and offline and may include social media, messaging, gaming, inappropriate content, cyberbullying and emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence and digitally altered or generated content.

Reporting and recording concerns

All staff receive safeguarding training as part of their induction and regular updates throughout the year.

From September 2026, all members of staff are required to read Part One of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 and follow the school's safeguarding policies and procedures.

Staff must report safeguarding concerns immediately to the DSL or a Deputy DSL. Safeguarding concerns, actions, decisions and outcomes are recorded securely using CPOMS.

Information is shared appropriately and on a need-to-know basis. Data protection legislation does not prevent information being shared where this is necessary to safeguard a child. KCSIE 2026 specifically reinforces that appropriate information sharing is an essential part of safeguarding.

Listening to children

Children are regularly reminded that they can speak to any trusted adult in school if something is worrying them.

Through our curriculum, assemblies, safeguarding education, online-safety teaching and opportunities for children to share concerns, we help pupils develop the knowledge and confidence they need to recognise risks, seek help and keep themselves and others safe.

We take children's concerns seriously and ensure that their wishes and feelings are considered when decisions are made about them.

Child-on-child abuse

Shanklea Primary School has a zero-tolerance approach to child-on-child abuse. We recognise that abuse can take place inside or outside school and online.

All concerns are taken seriously, recorded and responded to appropriately. We recognise that children may not always feel able to report abuse directly and that the absence of reports does not mean that abuse is not taking place.

Online safety

Online safety is an integral part of safeguarding at Shanklea.

We teach children how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully and work with parents and carers to help children manage online risks.

Our safeguarding arrangements include appropriate filtering and monitoring of school technology in line with statutory safeguarding expectations.

Children with SEND

We recognise that children with special educational needs and disabilities may face additional safeguarding challenges. Staff are alert to the possibility that indicators of abuse, neglect or exploitation may be attributed incorrectly to a child's additional needs, communication difficulties or behaviour.

We ensure that children are given appropriate ways to communicate concerns and access support.

Operation Encompass

Shanklea Primary School participates in Operation Encompass, which supports communication between the police and schools following incidents of domestic abuse involving children.

This enables us to provide appropriate support to children at the earliest possible opportunity.

Concerns about adults working with children

Any concern about the behaviour of a member of staff, volunteer, supply teacher or contractor should be reported immediately in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures.

Concerns about the Headteacher should be reported to the Chair of Governors.

The school has procedures for responding to allegations and low-level concerns, and staff are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

Working with parents and carers

We aim to work openly and positively with parents and carers wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

However, safeguarding information may need to be shared with Children's Social Care, the police or another safeguarding agency without first seeking parental consent where informing a parent could place a child at greater risk, prejudice an investigation or otherwise be contrary to the child's welfare.

Key safeguarding documents

Please see our policies page for:

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 2026–27
Online Safety Policy
Anti-Bullying Policy
Behaviour Policy
Low-Level Concerns Policy
Whistleblowing Policy
Intimate Care Policy

You can also access the current Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 statutory guidance from the Department for Education. 

Worried about a child?
Speak to Mrs Ritson (DSL) or any Deputy DSL immediately.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.