Safeguarding of children is our main priority at school.  If you have any concerns about a child and are not able to speak to a Safeguarding officer at school, call the Multi Agency Safeguarding Team on 01392 383000 and ask to be put through to MASH.

Buckfastleigh Primary School is committed to providing a safe a secure environment for children, staff and visitors and to promoting a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns they may have about their own safety or the wellbeing of others. 

The lead safeguarding officers in this school are:

• Mr Eddie Brown - Schools Designated Safegaurding Lead (DSL)
• Miss Jess Alford - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Ms  Rosina Kellman - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

If any member of staff is concerned about a pupil's well-being, emotional or physical, and/or has worries about their safety either from their own or others’ actions (others include adults and young people in and out of school)

Remember - Never feel worried to share a concern.

It is always better to share a concern and find out later that there was nothing to worry about than not to share a concern and find out later that a child has suffered.

The school procedure is as follows:

• Discuss concerns with the School Designated Officer
• Concerns must be reported as soon as possible. It is much better to share a concern or worry than to keep it to yourself.
• The School Designated Officer will make a decision as to whether outside agencies should be involved. This will usually be following advice from the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
• Write down as soon as possible what the pupil has told you, including the time, date, and names of other people involved.
• Confidentiality should never be promised, you have a legal obligation to share any concerns that involve a child being harmed or at risk of harm
• The pupil's welfare is paramount.
• If the concern relates to the conduct of another member of staff this must be reported to the Chief Executive Officer or Chair of Governors.

All staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates. Staff are given a copy of the following documents each year and sign to say that they have read them.  Click below to access the documents.

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022
• WeST Child Protection Policy
• Staff Code of Conduct
• Whistleblowing Policy
• School Behaviour Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy

Where to get further information and advice:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• The booklet ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’
• Devon Safeguarding Children’s board - DSCB