Keeping children safe. Helping them flourish.
At Horbury Primary Academy, the safety, wellbeing and dignity of every child are paramount. We are committed to creating a school where children feel safe, respected, listened to and confident to be themselves.
Safeguarding is not simply something we do when a concern arises. It is part of the culture of our school and the responsibility of every adult who works with our children. We maintain high standards of safeguarding practice, clear procedures and robust systems to ensure that concerns are identified, recorded and responded to appropriately.
Our staff are trained and supported to recognise signs that a child may be experiencing harm, abuse, neglect or other difficulties that could affect their safety and wellbeing. We take every concern seriously and act promptly, working closely with families and, where necessary, appropriate external agencies and professionals to ensure that children receive the right support and protection.
Helping children keep themselves safe
We believe that safeguarding is also about giving children the knowledge, confidence and skills to recognise risk and make safe choices.
Through our curriculum, assemblies, pastoral provision and wider school experiences, we provide age-appropriate opportunities for children to learn about issues including:
- Online safety and responsible use of technology
- Healthy friendships and relationships
- Bullying and unkind behaviour
- Personal boundaries and consent
- Recognising unsafe situations
- Managing risks and making safe choices
- Mental and emotional wellbeing
- How and when to seek help
We want every child to know that their voice matters, that it is okay to speak to an adult when something does not feel right and that there will always be someone who will listen.
We work hard to create an environment where children feel comfortable asking questions, sharing worries and seeking support. Our pastoral and safeguarding systems ensure that children know who they can turn to and how to access help.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
While we have a dedicated Designated Safeguarding Team, every member of staff has a responsibility to safeguard our children. This shared responsibility is fundamental to our culture.
We carefully follow safer recruitment procedures, provide regular safeguarding training and maintain clear systems for managing concerns. We work collaboratively with parents and carers and, when appropriate, with specialist services and partner agencies to ensure that children’s needs are understood and responded to effectively.
Our safeguarding approach is rooted in our wider commitment to creating a school where every child belongs, every child is valued and every child can flourish.
Working with families
Parents and carers play an important role in keeping children safe. We encourage open communication between home and school and welcome families raising questions or concerns about their child’s welfare.
If you have a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team. You do not need to be certain that something is wrong to share a concern. It is always better to speak to someone if you are worried.
Designated Safeguarding Team
Although safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, our Designated Safeguarding Team provides leadership and oversight for safeguarding across the academy.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr Tucker
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
Mrs Wynne
Mrs Sleight
Mrs Ashcroft
If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact a member of the team through the school office.
At Horbury, keeping children safe is at the heart of everything we do. We want every child to feel safe, know that they matter and have the confidence to speak up and seek help when they need it.
