Safeguarding

At Norton Infant School, we strive to provide a welcoming place for everyone in our school community. Children’s well-being, mental health and welfare are at the heart of everything we do, and keeping our children safe is our priority. We firmly believe that by working closely as a staff, as a community, and with our partner agencies, we can provide the safest environment for our children. 

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Louise Ponsonby, responsible for Safeguarding and Child Protection in school. Miss Andrea Tunney is our Deputy Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), deputising in the absence of Mrs Ponsonby. Our Trust Advanced Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Louise Ponsonby and our Trust Safeguarding Governor is Stephen Bielby.

Should you have a Safeguarding concern, please contact Mrs Ponsonby at school by either telephoning 01302 700743 or by email at [email protected].

Always call 999 immediately if someone is in specific or immediate danger. 

At Norton Infant School, we have policies and procedures in place to respond effectively to child protection and safeguarding issues. We carefully adhere to the procedures and guidance set out by the Doncaster Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (DCSP) and the statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education (in particular, ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023’). We have clear systems in place to share concerns about children’s welfare with our DSL, DDSLs, parents, and with the relevant external agencies. As part of our legal duty to safeguard children, we may consult specifically with and take advice from, the Police and Children’s Social Care as necessary.  

If you need to contact Doncaster Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, please follow this link https://dscp.org.uk/

Within school, we ensure that our selection and recruitment processes include all statutory checks of staff, directors and regular volunteers, including obtaining an enhanced DBS check for everyone. All staff are trained at a level appropriate to their safeguarding responsibilities and duties, and staff receive annual safeguarding training to remind them of the procedures and of protocols we adhere to. Staff have access to relevant legislation and guidance in relation to the working with and to the protection of our pupils, and demonstrate a commitment to promoting British Values within our curriculum offer. 

All staff understand the protocol for sharing concerns regarding staff conduct around children, which is detailed in our ‘Whistleblowing Policy’, and this has been discussed and adopted by all staff.

All staff are trained in basic first aid, with members of staff who work in the Early Years specifically trained in Paediatric first aid. Our named First Aider is Miss Jessica Tinker.