Safeguarding

All staff at St Thomas's C.E. Primary are committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our children in school. We believe that pupils have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse; where staff are vigilant for signs of any pupil in distress and are confident about applying safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.

Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm – safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment – and that we all feel safe in our environment.

Parents should be aware that the school will take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its pupils. In cases where the school has reason to be concerned about a child, staff follow Bury Integrated Safeguarding Partnership's procedures.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

If you have a safeguarding concern please raise this with Caroline Haughton (Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school) or one of our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Safeguarding Team

Child Protection in the Community

• Have you got a serious concern about the safety of a child or young person up to the age of 18?
• Do you think a child or young person is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed?
• Are you worried that a child is living in circumstances where they are treated badly and not cared for properly? 

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, please contact the MASH Team immediately on 0161 253 5678

Support should you have concerns about an 'extremist' matter: https://educateagainsthate.com/

Bury Encompass

St. Thomas's is working with other schools across Bury and Greater Manchester Police on an initiative called Encompass. The purpose of Bury Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or who witness a domestic abuse incident. The police will contact our Safeguarding Team regarding any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of the school day, but which may have had an impact on a child attending our school. Domestic abuse impacts on children in a number of ways. Children are at increased risk of physical injury during an incident, either by accident or because they attempt to intervene. Even when not directly injured, children are greatly distressed by witnessing the physical and emotional suffering of a parent.

Following the report of an incident of domestic abuse, by 9.00am on the next school day the school’s Key Adults will be informed. (Our Key Adults are listed above). This notification allows Key Adults to sensitively support children whilst they are at school.