Keeping Children Safe at Flakefleet
At Flakefleet Primary School, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
We are committed to providing a safe, caring and supportive environment where every child is valued, listened to and protected.
We want our children to feel confident that there are adults in school who will listen to them, take their concerns seriously and help them when they need it.
Safeguarding is not simply a policy or procedure at Flakefleet. It is part of our everyday culture and is reflected in the relationships we build with children, the way we work with families and the high expectations we have for everyone in our school community.
Our Safeguarding Team
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Karen Pratt, Pastoral Support Manager.
She is supported by our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:
- Mr David McPartlin – Headteacher
- Mrs Lucy Burnett – Deputy Headteacher
- Mrs Suzanne Moore – Family Support
Our safeguarding team works closely with staff across school to ensure that concerns are identified, recorded and acted upon appropriately.
All staff receive safeguarding training and understand their responsibility to recognise and report concerns about children’s welfare.
If We Are Worried About a Child
Sometimes a child may tell us that something is worrying them. At other times, a member of staff may notice a change in their behaviour, appearance, mood or circumstances.
We take all concerns seriously.
Where appropriate, we will work with parents and carers to understand what is happening and identify the best way to support the child. There may, however, be circumstances where we need to share information with other professionals without first informing parents or carers because doing so could place a child at greater risk.
Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of the child.
Early Help and Family Support
Safeguarding is also about providing support before difficulties become bigger.
Our Pastoral Team works closely with children and families and can provide guidance, practical support and signposting to other services.
Because of the strong partnerships we have developed with local and specialist agencies, we are often able to help families identify the right support.
If you are worried about something affecting your family, please talk to us.
You don’t need to wait until a situation becomes a crisis. Asking for help early can make a real difference.
Working with Other Agencies
Keeping children safe sometimes means working closely with professionals outside school.
We have established relationships with a range of services and agencies and will work with them whenever this is necessary to safeguard and support our pupils.
This may include children’s services, health professionals, the police, mental health services and other specialist organisations.
We believe that effective safeguarding depends on strong partnerships and good communication.
Operation Encompass
Flakefleet Primary School works closely with Lancashire Police through Operation Encompass.
Operation Encompass enables schools to receive information from the police when there has been a domestic abuse incident involving one of our pupils.
This means that, where appropriate, we can provide timely support to a child when they arrive at school.
Our aim is to ensure that children affected by difficult experiences at home are met with understanding, care and appropriate support.
Preventing Extremism and Radicalisation
We support the Government’s PREVENT duty and are committed to protecting children from the risks associated with extremism and radicalisation.
We promote an environment where children can ask questions, discuss different ideas and develop an understanding of different beliefs and perspectives.
Our work around British Values, respect, tolerance and inclusion helps children develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills they need to participate positively in society.
We actively challenge prejudice, discrimination and intolerance.
Online Safety
Children’s lives extend well beyond the school gates, and keeping children safe online is an important part of our safeguarding work.
Online safety is taught throughout the year rather than as a one-off lesson. Children learn how to:
- Recognise potential risks online
- Make safe and responsible choices
- Protect their personal information
- Respond to inappropriate content or contact
- Report concerns and ask for help
- Treat others respectfully online
Our Online Safety Team works with staff, pupils and families to promote safe and responsible use of technology.
We also use filtering and monitoring systems to help protect children when they are using technology in school.
For more information, please visit our Online Safety page.
Listening to Children
We believe that children should feel able to speak openly about anything that is worrying them.
Our staff build positive relationships with pupils so that children know who they can turn to if they need help.
We encourage children to:
- Speak up.
- Ask for help.
- Tell a trusted adult.
- Keep telling until someone listens.
We also teach children that safeguarding is not about keeping secrets that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
The Huge Bag of Worries is a reassuring picture book encouraging children to open up about their fears and anxieties to help manage their feelings. It’s the perfect book to soothe worries during stressful times.
Wherever Jenny goes, her worries follow her – in a big blue bag. They are with her all the time – at school, at home, when she is watching TV and even in the bathroom! Jenny decides they have to go, but who will help her get rid of them?
Safeguarding and Pastoral Support
Our safeguarding work is closely linked to our Pastoral and Nurture provision.
We recognise that a child’s emotional wellbeing, mental health, relationships and wider circumstances can all affect their ability to feel safe and succeed in school.
Our Pastoral Team provides support to children and families and works closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead when concerns arise.
You can find out more about the support we offer on our Pastoral Support page.
Useful Support for Families
If you or your child needs additional help, there are a number of organisations that can provide advice and support.
- Children’s safeguarding services Safeguarding children – Lancashire County Council
- YoungMinds YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | Young Minds
- NSPCC NSPCC | The UK children’s charity
- CAMHS Children and young people’s mental health services – NHS
- Children and Family Wellbeing Service Children and Family Wellbeing Service – Lancashire County Council
- Fylde Coast Women’s Aid Fylde Coast Women’s Aid – Fylde Coast Women’s Aid – FCWA
- Counselling services
- Drug and alcohol support
If you are unsure where to turn, please speak to us. We will do our best to help you find the right support.
If You Have a Safeguarding Concern
If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child at Flakefleet, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team or contact the school office.
Flakefleet Primary School
Northfleet Avenue
Fleetwood
FY7 7ND
Telephone: 01253 872884
Email: officestaff@flakefleet.lancs.sch.uk
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services on 999.
Safeguarding Is Everyone’s Responsibility
At Flakefleet, we want every child to know:
- You matter.
- You are listened to.
- You are valued.
- You deserve to feel safe.
- And there will always be someone here to help.
We work together — children, families, staff, governors and our wider community — to create an environment where every child can feel safe, thrive and achieve their potential.