At Ovingham we work to two key phrases around safeguarding:

  • Safeguarding is Everybody’s Responsibility
  • It can happen here

We have many procedures and rules in place to safeguard our school community which are embedded in our everyday practices and through our policies. Staff and Volunteers are carefully checked, these checks include (but are not limited to) DBS checks, references, ID, risk assessments, employment history and children’s barred lists. We maintain a Single Central Record which is monitored closely. Visitors are signed in at the School Office, provided with a red lanyard/visitor badge and escorted by a member of staff at all times. Contractors are provided with policies/safety information and are closely monitored by School staff. Wherever possible work is carried out when there are no children in school. All adults in school wear appropriate ID badges to state who they are and what their role is.

Below is our safeguarding policy, which we use to help the children in our school stay safe.

Safeguarding Policy 2023/24

As a school we also have a child friendly version of our policy and encourage pupils to share any concerns with the understanding that they will be taken seriously. This version has been shared with the children in our school and is visible in every classroom, it is placed alongside photographs of our key Designated Safeguarding Leads in school.

Child Friendly Safeguarding Policy

We are always looking for ways to ensure safeguarding is at the forefront of what we do and have a yearly Safeguarding plan in place that is carefully planned from the latest National updates, contextualised local updates and from our staff training needs. We also carry out an annual safeguarding audit with our Safeguarding Governor.

If you have any queries or concerns please get in touch with any of the safeguarding lead team below. The team are made up of the Designated Safeguarding Lead, two Deputy DSLs and our Safeguarding governor [email protected]

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling educational settings to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or electronic notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead /Officer (known as Key Adult) prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved.

Information is shared with a school’s Key Adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead or Officer) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

What is the Prevent Duty?

At our school, keeping your children safe is our absolute priority. We work strictly in line with the Department for Education’s (DfE) statutory guidance, Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE). 
Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from physical harm; it is about providing a safe environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. We treat all vulnerabilities—including the risk of online harm, grooming, child exploitation, and radicalisation—with the same high level of care and professional seriousness.
As a primary school, we have a legal duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 called the Prevent Duty. This requires all schools to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism”.
In a primary school setting, Prevent is simply a core part of our everyday safeguarding work. It is about protecting children from being exposed to extremist ideologies, hateful views, or online radicalisation. Just as we protect children from online bullies or physical neglect, we protect them from radicalising influences.
How We Put This Into Practice:
    • Building Resilience: We teach our pupils to think critically, ask questions, and treat others with kindness. Through our standard curriculum, we actively promote Fundamental British Values: Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, and Mutual Respect and Tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.
    • Safe Digital Environments: We maintain strict internet filtering and digital monitoring systems to ensure that while children are at school, they cannot access harmful, extreme, or age-inappropriate content.
    • Staff Training: All of our teachers and support staff receive regular safeguarding training so they can spot early signs of distress, behavioural changes, or vulnerability and intervene early to support families.

Further Reading & Resources for Parents and Carers

If you would like to read the official guidance that governs our school policies, or if you are looking for practical advice on how to keep your child safe at home, please explore the trusted government and national links below:
Official Government Guidance
Practical Advice & Support for Families
  • Educate Against Hate: A fantastic, government-supported website filled with practical advice, tools, and resources specifically designed for parents to help protect young people from radicalisation and extremist views.
  • ACT Early – Share Concerns: If you are worried that someone you care about is being targeted or influenced by online extremism, the ACT Early initiative provides confidential support, signs to look out for, and a safe space to get advice.
  • NSPCC – Keeping Children Safe: General safety advice for parents covering everything from online safety and mental health support to recognizing signs of abuse.