The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Kathryn Thornburn (Principal)
The Deputy Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Clare Lawrence (Vice Principal), Mrs Rachel Douse (SENCO), Miss Mel Morris (Pastoral Manager) and Mrs Michelle Ashley (Inclusion Manager).
Dowson Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, both physical and emotional, of every pupil, both inside and outside the school premises. Our children have the right to protection, regardless of age, gender, race, culture or disability. They have a right to feel safe at all times.
Our school has rigorous policies and procedures in place to safeguard children and all staff have had relevant training in child protection, with specialist training undertaken by the safeguarding leads.
If staff have any concerns about a child then we follow the procedures outlined in our policy, which may include the involvement of other professionals. It may be helpful to know that the law places a duty on the headteacher and their staff to report any obvious signs or suspected cases of child abuse – which include non-accidental injury, neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. The procedures are intended to protect children at risk and all schools and academies nationally are expected to take the attitude that where there are grounds for concern, these must be explored. This may mean that staff risk upsetting some parents/carers by reporting a case which, on investigation, proves unfounded. However, it is hoped that parents and carers would accept that staff will always act in whatever way they believe to be best for a child.
In line with government requirements, the school maintains a central list of checks on appointed staff and adults who work in or visit the school. Any volunteer or parent working in the school is also subject to background checks.
The school has an agreed Safeguarding Policy which can be viewed below.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
On 21st January 2019 Dowson implemented a new project that will run jointly between schools and Greater Manchester Police. This project is called Operation Encompass. It aims to support children who are affected by domestic violence by ensuring that their school is informed. This allows the school to support the children. If you have any other questions about this project, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
You can find out more about Operation Encompass here: http://www.operationencompass.org/