Safeguarding at Thornton Primary School

At Thornton Primary School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that children learn best when they feel safe, valued, listened to and cared for. Our aim is to create a welcoming and inclusive school where every child can develop, achieve and belong.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, governors, volunteers and visitors have an important part to play in keeping children safe. We maintain a strong child-centred approach and encourage everyone to have the mindset that “it could happen here”.

This is particularly important at Thornton because we have a high level of SEND and disadvantaged pupils, including pupils with EHCPs and pupils accessing our specialist Orchard SEMH provision. We recognise that some children may face additional barriers to recognising, communicating or reporting concerns, and we ensure that safeguarding approaches take account of individual needs, communication and vulnerability.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

Every school must have a senior leader responsible for safeguarding, known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The school must also have appropriately trained deputy safeguarding leads who can provide cover and support.

At Thornton Primary School, our safeguarding leadership team is:

Mr David Ashcroft – Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs Shirley Young – SENDCo and Deputy DSL

Mrs Karen Brown – Family Learning Mentor and Deputy DSL

Our DSL and Deputy DSLs undertake appropriate safeguarding training which is updated at least every two years, alongside regular updates throughout the year to reflect changes in legislation, national guidance, local safeguarding procedures and emerging risks.

Prevent

Safeguarding also includes protecting children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism. Thornton Primary School has a designated Prevent Lead who has appropriate training and responsibility for ensuring that Prevent forms part of our wider safeguarding arrangements.

Mr David Ashcroft, Headteacher, is our Prevent Lead.

Our staff are supported to recognise potential concerns and know how to report them. Prevent training is updated in line with statutory expectations and local requirements.

Safer Recruitment

Keeping children safe begins before an adult joins our school.

Thornton Primary School follows safer recruitment procedures when appointing staff and volunteers. Appropriate safer recruitment checks are completed and at least one member of an interview panel is appropriately trained in safer recruitment.

At Thornton:

Mr David Ashcroft, Headteacher, and Mr John Creighton, Chair of Governors, are Safer Recruitment trained.

Safeguarding Training

All staff receive safeguarding and child protection training as part of their induction and through our annual whole-school safeguarding training programme. Staff are also provided with relevant safeguarding information, including Keeping Children Safe in Education, and receive regular updates throughout the year.

Training reflects the needs and context of Thornton Primary School and includes areas such as child-on-child abuse, online safety, harmful sexual behaviour, domestic abuse, exploitation, attendance, mental health, SEND and emerging safeguarding risks.

Staff are expected to report concerns promptly and to understand that information sharing and accurate recording are essential to effective safeguarding. KCSIE 2026 emphasises that safeguarding records should capture the concern, actions taken, decisions, rationale and outcomes.

How we record safeguarding concerns

At Thornton Primary School, all safeguarding concerns are recorded electronically using CPOMs (Child Protection Online Management System).

CPOMs allows staff to record concerns promptly and securely and enables our Designated Safeguarding Lead and safeguarding team to build a clear picture of individual and wider safeguarding patterns. Records can include concerns relating to behaviour, attendance, child-on-child abuse, mental health, online safety, family circumstances and other indicators of vulnerability.

Where appropriate, information is securely shared with relevant professionals and external agencies to ensure that children receive the right help and protection. CPOMs does not replace a referral to Children's Social Care or emergency services where this is required; safeguarding action will always be taken without delay.

Attendance and Safeguarding

Good attendance is an important part of safeguarding. Regular attendance enables children to access their education, develop friendships, build confidence and make the best possible academic and personal progress.

At Thornton, we recognise that absence, persistent absence and repeated lateness can sometimes be indicators that a child or family may need additional support. Attendance is therefore considered alongside safeguarding, SEND, behaviour, wellbeing and family circumstances.

Mrs Karen Brown, Family Learning Mentor, is our Attendance Leader.

We work closely with children, parents and carers to understand barriers to attendance and provide appropriate support. Where attendance concerns may indicate a safeguarding issue, these are shared promptly with the DSL and managed through our safeguarding procedures.

Operation Encompass

Thornton Primary School participates in Operation Encompass, a partnership between the police and schools which helps schools provide timely support to children who may have experienced domestic abuse.

Where the police attend a domestic abuse incident and there are children connected to the household, the police notify the child's education setting through Operation Encompass. This enables our safeguarding team to consider the child's needs and put appropriate support in place.

Operation Encompass notifications do not replace a safeguarding referral where a child is considered to be at risk of harm; where necessary, the school will follow the appropriate Lancashire safeguarding procedures and make referrals to Children's Social Care or other agencies.

Our commitment

At Thornton Primary School, safeguarding is not simply a policy or procedure. It is part of our everyday culture and our commitment to Love, Respect and Ambition.

We want every child to know that they are safe, that their voice matters and that there are trusted adults who will listen to them, take their concerns seriously and help them when they need it.

Information below from the National Crime Agency about sextortion and the importance of keeping children safe when online.