West Hill Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all our children in school and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and follow our Child Protection Policy and procedures. Parents and carers are welcome to read our safeguarding policies which can be found on our Safeguarding Policies page.

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.

For further information please see devonsafeguardingchildren.org which will help you to understand what ‘safeguarding’ is, who is responsible for keeping children safe and what will happen if your family needs professional help.

At our 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 the/our safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.

If you are ever concerned about the safety or well‐being of a child at our school please talk to one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs).

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. If a member of staff is concerned about a child’s welfare, they will record their concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the safeguarding team as soon as possible.

Our school is part of Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.

Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.

Our 2 Key Adults (The Designated Safeguarding Lead and The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) have attended Key Adult training and they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other school staff and Governors.

As a staff we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification.

If you have serious concerns about a child or young person call

Devon Safeguarding Hub: 0345 155 1071
Out of hours please call (Devon) 0845 6000 388
Or email mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk