Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our students. We have robust safeguarding procedures in place to ensure a secure and nurturing environment for every child under our care.
Our dedicated safeguarding team, led by Designated Safeguarding Lead Mr Luke Renwick (Headteacher), works tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of child protection. They are supported by our Link Governor, Mrs. Lisa Cardinali, who ensures that our policies and practices are regularly reviewed and updated.
If you have a safeguarding concern or query, please contact the school at safeguarding@walker.enfield.sch.uk
If a student discloses information that raises concerns, our staff are trained to respond promptly and sensitively. We use a secure online system (CPOMS) to record and escalate any safeguarding issues, ensuring that the appropriate authorities are notified without delay.
We believe in empowering our students to speak up and seek help when needed. Our staff are trained to listen without judgement, reassure the child, and take immediate action to address their concerns.
Confidentiality is of utmost importance, and information is shared strictly on a need-to-know basis, ensuring the privacy and dignity of our students and their families.
While we hope that such instances are rare, we are prepared to handle even the most sensitive cases, such as those involving Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Our staff are trained to recognise the signs and follow statutory reporting procedures, ensuring that the relevant authorities are notified immediately.
Maintaining accurate and secure records is essential to our safeguarding efforts. We keep detailed electronic and paper-based records, which are stored confidentially and retained until the child reaches the age of 25.
We work closely with external agencies, such as children’s social services, to provide additional support and resources for our students with special educational needs and disabilities. Our inclusion team plays a vital role in coordinating these efforts and ensuring that every child receives the care and attention they deserve.
At Walker Primary School, we take a zero-tolerance approach to any potential threats to our students’ safety. All visitors to our premises are required to display appropriate identification, and our staff are vigilant in challenging any unknown adults on the premises.
We encourage open communication and welcome any concerns or complaints regarding our safeguarding procedures. Our staff are trained to follow the Ivy Learning Trust’s Whistle-Blowing Policy, ensuring that any issues are addressed promptly and transparently.
Safeguarding is not just a policy; it’s a commitment that permeates every aspect of our school community. Together, we strive to create a safe and nurturing environment where our students can thrive, learn, and grow into confident, resilient individuals.
Safeguarding checks on Staff/Workers
Walker Primary School ensures that all relevant pre-employment checks are carried out on employees and workers engaged directly. In particular, the following specific safeguarding checks are carried out:
- All employees/workers appointed/engaged prior to March 2002 (and with no subsequent change to their employment arrangement requiring a further check) have been subject to a check against List 99; additionally, those appointed between 1989 and March 2002 would have been subject to a satisfactory police check;
- All employees/workers appointed/engaged since March 2002 have been subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. This check included a check against List 99;
- All employees/workers appointed/engaged since 12th October 2009 have been subject to a satisfactory Enhanced CRB check, including a check against List 99/Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) Barred List;
- All employees/workers appointed/engaged since 1st December 2012 have been subject to a satisfactory Enhanced with Barred List check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Walker Primary School also ensures that relevant employees, and workers engaged directly are not disqualified under the Childcare Act 2006 and the Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations 2009 from:
- Early Years provision – providing any care (inc. education) for a child up to and including reception age (from birth to 1st September following the child’s 5th birthday);
- Later Years provision – working in childcare provided by the school outside of school hours for children who are above reception age but who have not attained the age of 8.
- Management of any of the above provision.
Such employees and workers are required to sign an annual declaration to confirm that there has been no change to their criminal record and that they are not disqualified under the Childcare Disqualification Regulations.
Unsupervised, regular volunteers are also subject to the above safeguarding checks.
Supervised, regular volunteers are subject to the above safeguarding checks, with the current exception of the Children’s Barred List check.
All school staff and workers engaged directly are issued with photographic School ID.
As appropriate, visitors to the school are asked to provide Photographic ID wherever possible.
Third party organisations deploying staff or workers to the school are required to provide confirmation that pre-employment and safeguarding checks relevant to the role have been carried out.
Operation Encompass
The school participates in a project that will run jointly between schools and the Metropolitan Police. This is called Operation Encompass.
This means that if police are called out to a domestic abuse incident the school will be notified so that they can care for the child’s needs the following day.
Operation Encompass has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school, but which might have an impact on a child attending school the following day.
This information will be shared on school days during the school term. When incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday, the police will contact the relevant school the following Monday.
The information is only shared with the Designated and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.
The information that has been shared will be used, in confidence, to ensure that the school is able to support children and their families. Information will be shared where it is identified that a child or young person was present, witnessed or was involved in a domestic abuse incident.
We always endeavour to offer the best support possible to our pupils and believe that Operation Encompass is beneficial and supportive for all concerned.
If you would like more information about this new initiative, details can be viewed online at www.operationencompass.org
