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.

Designated Senior Lead for Child Protection:

Hannah Sutton

If either of these people are not available please contact a deputy safeguard lead:

Deputy Designated Senior Leads for Child Protection

Amy Atherton, Laura Noldy, Claire McKendrick, Ross Flanagan, Claire McCaskie, Andrew Raven, Freya Wright or Sophie Smallshaw

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.

The Safeguarding Curriculum

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.

Operation Encompass

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.