Safeguarding

If you have any concerns about children attending St Matthew's then you should contact Ms S Iqbal - Safeguarding lead for the school.

In her absence contact Ms L. Hillier

If you are unable to contact them for any reason then please contact Bradford Children Services 01274433999

Keeping Children Safe

Our pupils’ welfare is our paramount concern. 

• We believe that St Matthew's should provide a caring, positive, safe, and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical, spiritual, and moral development of the individual child; enabling all children to thrive.
• We recognise the importance of providing an environment within our school that will help children feel safe and respected. We recognise the importance of enabling children to talk openly and to feel confident that they will be listened to.
• We recognise that both mental and physical health are relevant to safeguarding and the welfare of children.
• We recognise that all adults within the school, including permanent, supply staff, temporary staff, volunteers, parents, and governors, have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm.
• We will work pro-actively with parents to build a solid understanding of the school’s responsibilities to ensure the welfare of all children, including the need for referrals to other agencies in some situations.
• You can read/download St Matthew's Child protection and Safeguarding Policy at the bottom of this page. 

Safeguarding Policy 

This policy is reviewed in September each year and then is discussed and agreed by St Matthew's Full Governing Body at their first meeting of the academic year which takes place in October.  

Safeguarding Roles 

Our school is a community and all those directly connected, staff members, governors, parents, families, and pupils, have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure for all. 

The school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with overall designated responsibility for safeguarding is Shabnam Iqbal (Deputy Head Teacher).  We also have three deputy designated safeguarding leads Ms Hillier, Mr Jackson and Miss Keates

The school has a nominated governor, Josh Wadsworth, responsible for safeguarding to champion good practice, to liaise with the Head Teacher and the Deputy headteacher, and to provide information and reports to the Governing Body. 

Supporting Children

The wellbeing of the children in our care is of paramount importance.

Whilst safeguarding is the responsibility of every adult working in and connected with our school, we signpost to children some of our key members of staff as people who are available for children to talk to.

In addition to regular reminders from teachers and staff who work with in class, and in Collective Worship, we display a poster all around the school to remind children who to talk to about any worries or concerns that they may have.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Through PSHE, RSHE and other curriculum contexts, pupils are encouraged to talk about feelings and deal assertively with pressures, are listened to, and know to whom they can turn to for help and advice.

We regularly offer workshops to parents and carers who want some support and we also share regular information about similar support that is available locally. 

St Matthew's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy (see below) gives full details of the wide range of agencies with whom we work to safeguard our children and families; this includes working, where appropriate, with CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

Training

All staff have received safeguarding training and understand what they should do if they have concerns about any child. This training is updated regularly. 

Safeguarding Policy

child protection and safeguarding policy september 2024.pdf