Safeguarding at our school

At Great Dalby Primary School we take Safeguarding and Child Protection very seriously. All members of staff attend safeguarding training annually and we have three Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in school who have additional training. DSLs are trained in dealing with child abuse and safeguarding children.

Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mrs. Hanks (Headteacher)

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mr Bryan (SENCo)

 

Safeguarding Children is everyone’s responsibility

If you are worried or concerned about a child’s safety you can contact the school’s DSL on 01664 562750. The school office is open 8.30-4pm and someone will be able to help you or you can email dsl@greatdalby.bepschools.org

Emergency Safeguarding Contact Out of Hours

Please follow this link for support outside school hours.

https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/child-protection-and-safeguarding

Phone 999 if a crime is being committed or if a child is in immediate danger.

Contact Leicestershire police on 101 if you think a crime has been committed but there is no immediate danger.

Contact the First Response Children’s Duty Team if you think a child is being:

  • neglected
  • physically abused
  • sexually abused

Telephone the First Response Children’s Duty Team if you have urgent concerns about a child who needs a social worker or police officer today:

Call 0116 305 0005 (This is a 24 hour phone line)

Operation Encompass

The founders of Operation Encompass, an information sharing and safeguarding initiative between the police and schools, have set up a Teachers’ Helpline to assist school staff in supporting children who may be experiencing domestic abuse. This means, if domestic abuse has been witnessed by a child and the police have been involved, a DSL will be contacted. If you need our support, we may be able to support you and your child/ren.

Policy

For our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, please see our policy page.

If you have any concerns, please do speak to any member of staff or the DSLs mentioned above.

Below is the link to Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025), a document everyone in school reads and refers to.

KCSIE 2025 For Information Version July 2025

EARLY HELP OFFER

All families can encounter times when day-to-day life becomes challenging. During these periods, extra support can make a real difference. Our School-based Early Help Support is designed to provide this assistance in a variety of ways. If you have any concerns, please reach out to a member of our team as soon as possible. We will respond promptly and arrange either a phone conversation or a meeting.

Who can provide support?
Our Early Help team includes Mrs Hanks, Mr Bryan, and Mrs Amodio. They are available to listen, offer guidance when appropriate, and direct parents to useful information or additional support services.

What kinds of concerns might parents raise?
Parents may seek help for a wide range of issues, including:

  • Behaviour management
  • Financial challenges
  • Housing concerns
  • Benefits and entitlements
  • Bereavement
  • Domestic violence
  • Health or medical issues
  • School attendance

This list is not exhaustive. All concerns are treated with confidentiality and sensitivity. If staff are unsure about a particular issue, they will consult other agencies to provide the best advice.

What types of support are available?
Sometimes sharing your worries over a coffee and a chat and sharing practical ideas is enough to begin addressing a concern. Within the School-based Early Help Team, we also offer specialist skills and training, including:

  • Safeguarding expertise
  • ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support)
  • SENCO support
  • Nurture and bereavement guidance
  • Financial advice

How is the support structured?
We begin with an initial meeting to discuss needs and offer informal guidance. Plans and suggestions are recorded for reference.

If necessary, we may liaise with other local schools, particularly if siblings are affected. In some situations, a Local Authority Family Help assessment may be required. This process is fully explained to parents, and consent is sought before proceeding. At this stage, formal meetings may be scheduled to set clear targets and support plans for the family and individuals. More information can be found here: Help for children and families | Leicestershire County Council

What happens if school support isn’t enough?
If progress is limited or issues remain unresolved, we will seek input from external professionals, which may include:

  • Public Health Nurses
  • Speech and Language Therapists
  • Behaviour Support Specialists
  • Educational Psychologists
  • Young Carers Services
  • Family GPs
  • The Family Help Team
  • CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
  • Counselling Services