Safeguarding at Boasley Cross Primary School
A guide for families, parents and carers
At Boasley Cross, nothing is more important to us than the safety, happiness, and wellbeing of your child. We want every pupil to feel secure, valued, and able to thrive. Safeguarding is something we do with families, not just for children—and we believe strong relationships with parents are central to keeping children safe.
Our approach is guided by the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust (DMAT) Safeguarding Policy, which sets clear expectations around safe practice, early help, listening to children, and effective partnership working with families and external agencies. It is also shaped by our Relational and Positive Behaviour Policy, which emphasises calm, caring, consistent adult behaviour and the importance of strong relationships in creating a safe environment.
What Safeguarding Means at Our School
Safeguarding covers everything we do to keep pupils safe—physically, emotionally, and online. This includes:
- Creating a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels safe to talk.
- Being alert to signs a child may need help or protection and acting quickly when needed.
- Teaching children how to keep themselves safe, including online safety and healthy relationships.
- Working closely with parents and carers, and keeping you informed whenever we can.
- Working with external agencies if concerns arise, always prioritising the child’s welfare.
These principles reflect national guidance such as Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Our Safeguarding Team
If you ever have a concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing, please come and speak to us. We are here to help.
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL):
Tom Lumby and Nicola hosking
You can contact the DSL via the school office at any time.
Our Safeguarding policy:
How We Keep Children Safe in Daily School Life
A Caring, Relationship‑First Approach
We believe behaviour is a form of communication. All staff are trained to respond with calmness, empathy and consistency, helping children feel safe, understood, and supported.
A Safe and Trusted Environment
Children know the adults they can talk to if something is worrying them. Staff listen carefully, take concerns seriously, and follow clear procedures to protect children.
Teaching Children About Safety
Safety is woven through our curriculum—for example through PSHE/RSE, online safety lessons, assemblies, and everyday conversations. We help children learn about:
- Healthy friendships
- Respect and kindness
- Staying safe online
- Consent and personal boundaries
- Who to talk to if they feel worried
These approaches come directly fromour ethos around building self‑esteem, teaching risk awareness and equipping children with safeguarding skills.
Working Together with Parents
We know children thrive when school and home work in partnership. This means:
- Keeping communication open and warm
- Sharing concerns early
- Working with families to understand children’s needs
- Offering pastoral support or signposting to Early Help where appropriate
- Celebrating positives and successes
If we ever have a safeguarding concern, we will usually discuss this with you unless doing so would put a child at further risk, in line with statutory guidance.
Online Safety
Children’s online experiences are a key safeguarding priority. Staff are trained in current online safety risks and filtering/monitoring expectations, and pupils learn how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly (including understanding misinformation, safe sharing, gaming, and privacy).
Useful guidance for families is linked one the online safety page.
Early Help and Additional Support
At times, every family needs a little extra support—or simply someone who will listen. Our team is here to help. If you or your child are experiencing any challenges, please know that you can talk to us. We can offer guidance, reassurance, and practical support with a range of needs, including:
- Wellbeing or mental-health concerns
- Attendance worries or barriers to getting into school
- Changes at home, such as separation, bereavement, or new family circumstances
- Friendship or social difficulties
- Emotional or behavioural needs
We work alongside families to find positive solutions and ensure children feel safe, happy, and ready to learn.
When additional support may be helpful, we can also make referrals to local Early Help services. These services work with families to provide timely, practical assistance so that small concerns do not become bigger challenges. Our aim is to ensure every family receives the right support at the right time.
If you would like to talk to someone, please get in touch—we’re here to help.
Report a Concern
If you are ever worried about a child, you can speak confidentially to any of our safeguarding staff. You can also use the following:
Devon Children’s Front Door: 0345 155 1071 (for urgent safeguarding concerns)
Police: 999 (emergency) or 101 (non‑emergency)
Useful Links for Parents
General Safeguarding Support
- NSPCC: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
- Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk/
- Devon Children & Families Partnership: https://www.dcfp.org.uk/
Online Safety
- Thinkuknow (CEOP): https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
- Childnet: https://www.childnet.com/
- UK Safer Internet Centre: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/
Bullying & Wellbeing
- Anti‑Bullying Alliance: https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
- Young Minds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
A Final Word
Safeguarding at Boasley Cross is about far more than policies—it’s about ensuring every child feels safe, loved, and able to flourish. We are deeply committed to building a caring, connected community where children’s wellbeing and safety are always at the heart of what we do.