At St Francis the health and safety of the school community is of paramount importance. We aim to keep the children in our care safe by implementing policies, procedures and systems in accordance with national safeguarding guidance and legislation designed to: 

• prevent unsuitable people working with children;
• promote safe practice and challenge poor and unsafe practice;
• identify instances in which there are grounds for concern about a child's welfare, and initiate or take appropriate action to keep them safe;
• contribute to effective partnership working between all those involved with providing services for our children. 

The school has a child protection and safeguarding policy and procedures in place that are in accordance with local authority guidance and locally agreed interagency procedures, and the policy is made available to parents below or upon request. 

We operate safe recruitment procedures to ensure that all appropriate checks are carried out on staff and volunteers who work with children. 

What is the Prevent Strategy?

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, which came into force on 1 July 2015, requires certain authorities, including schools, to "have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism". This is known as the 'Prevent Duty'.

The Prevent Duty is a safeguarding responsibility.

Headteacher (Designated Safeguarding Lead) Mrs Winton

Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) Miss Strudwick

Lead Assistant Headteacher (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) Miss Date

School Governor (Governor for Safeguarding) Mrs Faulkner

Any safeguarding concerns please email: dsl@stfrancisassisi.org.uk.