Learning through the creative and performing arts
LIPA Primary and High School is committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the children entrusted to our care.
Our school will support all children by:
Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment within the school
Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness
Effectively tackling bullying and harassment
We recognise that some children may be the victims of neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Staff working with children are well placed to identify such abuse.
In order to protect our children we aim to:
Create an atmosphere where all our children can feel secure, valued and listened to
Recognise signs and symptoms of abuse
Respond quickly, appropriately and effectively to cases of suspected abuse
If you have a concern that a child is being harmed, is at risk of harm, or you receive a disclosure (intentionally or unintentionally) you must contact the following staff member as quickly as possible.
The school ensures children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to identify risky, unsafe or problematic situations, how and when to seek help, how to develop positive and healthy relationships and how to avoid situations where they might be at risk including by being exploited.
The school also has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate child protection concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances the school will be able to inform the parents/carers of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school can in certain circumstances share information without the consent of the family and may be advised by children’s services or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter or make enquires. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the interests of the child.
The school will always seek to work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child and family.
Designated Senior Lead for Child Protection:
Hannah Sutton
If Hannah Sutton is not available, please contact a deputy safeguard lead:
Deputy Designated Senior Leads for Child Protection
Amy Atherton, Laura Noldy, Claire McKendrick, Claire McCaskie, Andrew Raven, Freya Wright,
Demi Fearon, or Sophie Smallshaw, Morgan Beechey, Rebecca Oakes
Nominated Governor with responsibility for Safeguarding and Child Protection
Nichola Grimshaw
Everyone working with our children, their parents and carers should be aware that:
Their role is to listen and note carefully any observations which could indicate abuse
They should not attempt to investigate once the initial concern is raised
They should involve the Designated Senior Lead (DSL) immediately
If the DSL is not available the Deputy DSL should be contacted
Disclosures of abuse or harm from children may be made at any time.
In our school, one of our most important jobs is teaching our learners how to keep themselves safe. This could be in a wide range of different circumstances: road safety, online safety, safety in the community and personal safety to name a few.
In school, our curriculum includes key topics and messages that are covered in each year group (online safety is covered through our Computing curriculum). Some really important messages are included every year at an age appropriate level.
We try our best to link these messages with other curriculum areas and accept any help from professionals, theatre companies and charitable organisations to help deliver these vital messages to our children. For example, The LFC Foundation have worked closely on their #iwill social justice campaign on Mental Health, giving children in Year 3 a voice to stand up for change and raising money for the Anna Freud Centre. Through the teaching year they will also be working with Year 5,6,7 and 8 on a 'Sound Minds' 6 week programme focusing on Mental health through music, art, drama and physical exercise.
In conjunction with Merseyside Police, our school is involved in an initiative called Operation Encompass. The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, heard or witnessed a domestic abuse incident. Following such an incident, children will often arrive at school distressed, upset, worried and unprepared.
Operation Encompass aims to ensure that appropriate school staff (called Key Adults) are made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe and included.
At our school, the Key Adults are Hannah Sutton (Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head Teacher), Freya Wright and Sophie Smallshaw (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads )
This is a valuable initiative that means we can continue to support and help children and families within our school community when they need it most. If you have any questions about Operation Encompass please do not hesitate to contact our Key Adults.
Online Safety - Parent and carer advice
In today's digital age, the internet plays an integral role in our children's lives, offering both educational and recreational opportunities. However, it also presents potential risks that we must be vigilant about. Our collective effort is crucial in ensuring that our students are safe online.
To help safeguard your children online, here are some essential tips:
1. Open Communication: Encourage open and honest discussions with your child about their online experiences. Make them feel comfortable coming to you with any concerns or questions.
2. Privacy Settings: Ensure that privacy settings on social media accounts and other online platforms are appropriately configured to limit exposure to strangers.
3. Age-Appropriate Content: Monitor the content your child accesses and ensure it is age-appropriate. Utilise parental control tools if necessary.
4. Online Friends: Advise your child to only accept friend requests or communicate with individuals they know in real life.
5. Cyberbullying Awareness: Educate your child about the harmful effects of cyberbullying and encourage them to report any incidents.
6. Screen Time Balance: Promote a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Set limits on screen time when needed.
7. Online Etiquette: Teach your child about responsible online behavior, including being kind and respectful to others.
8. Reporting Concerns: In case of any online safety concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to school. We are here to support you and your child.
9. Stay Informed: Keep yourself informed about the latest online trends, apps, and games your child may be using.
10. Educate Yourself: Consider attending workshops or sessions on online safety to better understand the digital landscape.
Remember, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of your children at school and online. By working together as a community, we can create a safer online environment for all.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe online. If you have any questions or need further guidance, please don't hesitate to contact a member of the safeguarding team