Safeguarding

Willows is committed to safeguarding children and believes every child should have a safe and happy upbringing, where children are free to grow up with integrity and dignity. Anyone who joins our school will be expected to share this commitment and should any concerns arise, they will be proactive in following procedures and seeking advice from appropriate agencies as outlined in our safeguarding policy.

In school, our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Bagshaw-Ray; our Deputy Safeguarding Leads are Miss Leake and Mrs Lees,  and they can be contacted through the school office on 01543 421830. Our safeguarding governor is Mr Birds. Further information can be accessed via our Safeguarding Policy.

The school recognises the importance of early help for children and families experiencing any difficulties. With this in mind, we have our own inclusion team within school.  We have our own Family Support Worker and ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), Jodie Lees, who is available to discuss any worries or concerns and support children and/ or families. The Family Support Worker can also give families information about what support is available in the local area. Please contact our Family Support Worker by calling the school office on 01543 421830. In addition, we also have an inclusion teaching assistant - Stephanie Kelsall.

For Further Information

As a parent, carer, relative, neighbour, member of the public or a professional who has contact with children, you may be concerned about the welfare and safety of your own child or a child you know. These concerns could be about their appearance, behaviour, development or how they are being cared for. More information and advice can be found on the Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Board website and on the Childline website. 

If you have a serious concern about the safety of a child or young person up to the age of 18. You may think a child or young person is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed or worry that a child is living in circumstances where they are treated badly and not cared for properly. Then please call 

Staffordshire  Families Integrated Front Door (SFIFD) 

Phone: 0300 111 8007 - option 1 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30am-5:00pm and Friday 8:30am-4:30pm).

Emergency out of hours: 0345 604 2886

If you are worried a child is in immediate danger then please call the police.

Prevent Strategy - Guide for Parents

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.

Schools have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.

The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. However, it is about teaching children the British Values such as Rule of Law, Democracy, Individual Liberty, Tolerance and Mutual respect.

We do many age appropriate things in school to help children to be positive, happy members of society, which also contributes to the Prevent Strategy. These include:

  • Exploring other cultures, religions and promoting diversity; Challenging prejudices and racist comments;

  • Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity; Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students, as well as British values such as democracy.

  • Protecting students from the risk of radicalisation, for example, using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with students

Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss any issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

Children are spending more time than ever on social media and gaming platforms so it is no surprise that online grooming by extremists is on the rise. Young people are especially being targeted by groups and individuals promoting violence and hatred.

Helping your child to know how to stay safe online and knowing the signs of radicalisation will help keep them safe and protect them from potential risks.

If you have any concerns then please talk the safeguarding team at school 

You can also call the 

  • Police Prevent team on 01785 232054 website Prevent | Staffordshire Police

  • Staffordshire Police on 101

  • If it’s an emergency please call 999

  • National Police Prevent advice line call 0800 011 3764