Safeguarding at Parkside Community Primary School

At Parkside Community Primary School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every pupil is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where all children feel protected and supported to thrive.

Our safeguarding leadership team is led by designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) who have the appropriate status, authority, and training to take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the school. They ensure that all concerns are managed promptly, effectively, and in line with statutory guidance.

Our designated safeguarding leads are:

• Emma May-Finnegan, Headteacher, Lead DSL and Prevent Lead
• Leanne Williams, SENDco and DSL
• Zoe Moon, Teaching Assistant and Deputy DSL

The DSLs provide expert advice and support to all staff on safeguarding matters, including child welfare, online safety, and understanding the school’s safeguarding systems and processes. They work closely with external agencies, safeguarding partners, and families to ensure a coordinated approach to protecting children.

Key responsibilities of our DSLs include:

• Managing referrals to local authority children’s social care, the Police, and other relevant agencies when there are concerns about abuse, neglect, or radicalisation.
• Ensuring child protection records are accurately maintained, confidential, and securely stored, and transferred promptly when pupils move schools.
• Leading safeguarding training and awareness for all staff, ensuring everyone understands their role in keeping children safe.
• Supporting pupils who have or have had a social worker, promoting their educational outcomes by ensuring staff are aware of their needs and providing additional support where necessary.
• Acting as a point of contact with the local safeguarding partners and contributing to multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
• Overseeing the Prevent duty as the school’s Prevent Lead, ensuring staff are trained to identify and respond to risks of radicalisation.

All staff at Parkside Community Primary School are trained to recognise signs of harm and understand the procedures for raising concerns. We maintain a culture of vigilance and open communication to ensure every pupil’s safety and well-being.

For further information about our safeguarding policies or to raise a concern, please contact the school office or speak directly with one of our designated safeguarding leads.

The Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) has been set up so that all agencies and organisations who work with children and young people work together to keep children safe.

Call 0300 123 4043 if you are worried about a young person. 

Call 999 if you're in immediate danger or a crime is being committed.