At Waterloo Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of our children are our highest priorities. We are committed to providing a safe, calm and inclusive environment in which every child is known, valued, listened to and supported.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All members of staff receive regular safeguarding training and are expected to recognise concerns, listen carefully to children and report any worries promptly.

Our Safeguarding Team

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads have received specialist training and are available to support children, families and staff.

• Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ms. S. Maciver (Deputy Headteacher)

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs. S. Evison (Pastoral Lead)

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr. L. Rimmer (Headteacher)

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs. S. Wilson (Assistant Headteacher)

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs. R. Jones (Assistant Headteacher)

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr. C. Otten (Upper School Phase Lead)

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs. G. Wainwright (SENCO)

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs. J. Escott-Shaw (Specialist Provision Lead)

• Safeguarding Governor: Mrs. S. Robinson (Chair of Governors)

The safeguarding team can be contacted through the school office on 0151 928 4274 or at safeguarding@wps.mvlt.co.uk

Reporting a Concern

If you are worried about a child, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team as soon as possible. You do not need to be certain that something has happened—a concern, disclosure or noticeable change in a child’s behaviour should always be shared.

Information will be treated sensitively, but it may need to be shared with other professionals to protect a child.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

You can also report concerns directly to Sefton Children’s Services:

• Children’s Help and Advice Team: 0151 934 4013

• Emergency Duty Team outside normal hours: 0151 934 3555

Further information is available on the Sefton Council Report a Concern page.

For independent advice, adults can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children and young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111.

How We Keep Children Safe

Safeguarding is embedded throughout school life. We:

• listen to children and take their concerns seriously;

• teach children how to keep themselves safe, including online;

• monitor attendance and respond to unexplained absence;

• provide early help to children and families;

• work closely with Sefton Children’s Services, the police, health professionals and other agencies;

• follow safer recruitment procedures for staff and volunteers;

• maintain appropriate filtering and monitoring of school technology;

• respond promptly to concerns about bullying, child-on-child abuse, exploitation, domestic abuse, neglect or harm;

• make appropriate adjustments so that children with SEND can communicate concerns and access support.

Waterloo also participates in Operation Encompass, which enables the school to provide timely support when a child may have experienced domestic abuse.

Concerns About an Adult

Any concern about the conduct of a member of staff or volunteer should be reported directly to the Headteacher.

Concerns about the Headteacher should be reported to the Chair of Governors and the Chief Executive Officer of Mersey View Learning Trust.

Concerns should always be reported, even if they appear minor. The school and Trust will follow the appropriate procedures and seek advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer when required.

Safeguarding Policies

Our safeguarding arrangements follow current statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, together with all other policies relating to safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, online safety and children’s welfare, can be found on the Policies page of our website.