Safeguarding and Prevention

Safeguarding

Welcome to our school's dedicated Safeguarding section, where the safety and well-being of every child is our utmost priority. At Sandford St. Martin’s, we believe in creating an environment where our children can learn, grow, and thrive with confidence, free from harm or danger. These Safeguarding resources are designed to keep our children, parents, visitors and staff well-informed about the measures we have in place to ensure their safety and the important steps we take to foster a safe, secure and nurturing learning community. We understand that safeguarding is not just a responsibility; it's a commitment to protect, support, and empower every child in our care.

Safeguarding contacts

Everyone at Sandford St. Martin’s have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and keep their child protection and prevent training up to date. If you have any concerns about a child, a parent / carer, or a member of the school team, please contact one of the designated safeguarding leads below (in confidence) on 01929 552949 or email us at safeguarding@sandfordprimary.dorset.sch.uk

Name	Role
Mrs C Pampin	Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs E Roberts	Headteacher and Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Mr M Sampson	Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Mrs M Bolt	Safeguarding Governor mbolt@sandfordprimary.dorset.sch.uk

Security of Children, Staff, Volunteers and Visitors

All visitors must report to reception on arrival and sign in. All visitors will be issued with an identity badge which must be worn.

Our Safeguarding Policy

Our school Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found in our policies section here and also at the bottom of this page.

Prevent

As part of Sandford St. Martin's commitment to safeguarding and child protection, we fully support the government's Prevent Duty, and take guidance from Teaching Approaches to help build resilience to extremism.

What is The Prevent Duty?

It is a government duty designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The Prevent duty requires specified authorities such as education settings to also protect people from a range of other harms, such as substance abuse, involvement in gangs, and physical and sexual exploitation. The duty helps to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are supported as they would be under safeguarding processes. It:

responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health)

Government Prevent guidance

Dorset Child Protection and your school leaflet

The school has adopted the definition of the term ‘Safeguarding’ used in the Children Act 2004

In summary this is:

protecting children from maltreatment;
preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
undertaking the role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

The school’s safeguarding arrangements cover all aspects of life at school, in particular addressing these issues:

health and safety;
bullying;
other harassment and discrimination, including racism;
physical intervention;
meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions;
provision of medical first aid;
drug and substance abuse;
off site visits;
intimate care;
internet and communications safety;
physical security of the school site;
protection from maltreatment; and
recruitment and vetting of staff and visitors to the school.

Our Safeguarding policy is in line with the new guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' 2026.

Please see the links below to see our school policies

To view a copy of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 please click here

To view a copy of Keeping Children safe in Education Part 1 2026 please click here

Working together to safeguard children 2026: statutory guidance

What to do if You're Worried a Child is Being Abused

Guidance for safer working practice

To view a parent information pamphlet on the Prevent Strategy please click here.

What is Bullying?

Children at Sandford St Martin’s CE VA School talk about bullying being 'Several Times on Purpose' STOP. Here is a great link to help parents understand what bullying can look like and how to help their children. Bullying: What is it and how to stop it | UNICEF Parenting If you are ever worried about bullying, please speak to your child's class teacher.

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