St Margaret’s CE Primary is wholly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Safeguarding is an essential part of the school’s holistic approach to providing a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child.

We recognise that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play in protecting children from harm. The child’s welfare is our paramount concern. As such, there are times we will need to record, monitor and share information with other agencies. We will share concerns about our pupils with the child’s parents/carers unless we have reason to believe that such a move would not be in the child’s best interest.

‘Pupils enjoy being a part of their friendly school community. They welcome everyone to their school, greeting adults and friends with a happy ‘good morning’. Leaders and staff want the best for every pupil and build trusting relationships with them. Parents and carers are very positive about the school. One parent said that leaders and teachers are caring and ‘put the children first in everything they do’.

Ofsted Inspection 28th and 29th September

Our Safeguarding Approach

• We maintain robust policies and procedures to identify, report, and respond to concerns.

• All staff receive regular safeguarding and child protection training.

• We work closely with parents, carers, and external agencies to ensure children receive timely and appropriate support.

• Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSLs oversee all safeguarding practices within the school.

Working With Families and External Agencies

We recognise that effective safeguarding relies on strong partnerships. To ensure families receive comprehensive support:

• Our dedicated Schools Worker, works directly with families who may require guidance, early intervention, or strategies to support their child at home.

• We collaborate closely with Children’s Services to address a wide range of identified needs and ensure coordinated support.

Parenting Classes and Family Support

To further strengthen our partnership with our families, we host parenting classes throughout the year. These sessions offer practical strategies and guidance on key areas including:

• Supporting children’s emotional regulation

• Encouraging healthy eating and positive lifestyle habits

• Establishing effective sleep routines

• Building strong family relationships

• Promoting online safety and digital awareness

Dates for upcoming sessions will be published in our weekly school newsletter, and all parents and carers are warmly encouraged to attend.

Safeguarding Role	Name	School Role/Responsibility
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)	Mrs J Darby	Pastoral Lead
Other DSL's	Mr G Lumley	Headteacher
	Mrs K Magee	Deputy Headteacher
	Mrs T Challis	SENCO
Designated Safeguarding Governor	Mrs K Goater	Parent Governor

What you Can Do

Parents and carers also play a crucial role in safeguarding children in their community. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, you can speak to any of the above mentioned staff members.

If you think a child or young person may be in immediate danger, call 999. You can also contact the West Sussex Social Care Team on 01403 229900 or 033 0222 6664 (out of hours).

Mrs Darby, DSL and Pastoral Lead, is available to support children with social and emotional needs.