St James CE Primary School is committed to safeguarding all of our pupils, staff and families, and this is very important to us.  Children who are safe and happy at school thrive and are able to learn.

At school, it is the responsibility of all staff, governors and volunteers to ensure the safeguarding of our children and report any concerns to our designated safeguarding team. We have designated safeguarding officers who lead on ensuring any concern is followed up and dealt with immediately.

• Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Lucy Ottaway (Headteacher) office@sja.cambrianlt.org 01235 868232
• Deputy DSLs are Louise Potter, Mandy Richardson & Sarah Hatcher office@sja.cambrianlt.org 01235 868232
• Our Safeguarding Governor is Chris Palmer - cpalmer@gov.cambrianlt.org who oversees that policies and procedures are followed.
• Oxfordshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub 0345 050 7666

We make sure that any visitors or volunteers to school read our Safeguarding overview to ensure that all children are kept safe. All staff  have a DBS check and undertake the general safeguarding training.

If at any time you have a concern then please raise it with any member of staff or email: office@sja.cambrianlt.org 

PREVENT STRATEGY

As part of St James CE Primary School's commitment to safeguarding and child protection we support the government’s Prevent Strategy. All staff have received training covering the Prevent Strategy.

The Prevent Strategy is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. It is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

INFORMATION SHARING WITH OTHER AGENCIES

At St James we consider that a child’s safety and welfare is of paramount importance for their emotional, social and academic progress.  In some circumstances decisions have to be made about sharing personal information with other agencies where the needs of children in our care are compromised.  The most important consideration in sharing information with other agencies is the need to safeguard and protect children.  We follow the following guidelines about information sharing:

• The Data Protection Act provides a framework for appropriate sharing of information.
• We are open and honest with the individual about whom the information will be shared with.
• We seek advice from other practitioners, if in any doubt, and will try to do so without disclosing an individual’s identity.
• We share information with informed consent, where possible, and share without consent if a child’s safety is at risk.
• We base information-sharing decisions on the safety and well-being of the individual or others.

Young carers

At St James CE Primary school, we believe all children deserve a full education, regardless of their home circumstances. We recognise that some of our pupils are Young Carers—children under 18 who help look after a family member who is ill, disabled, has a mental health condition, or struggles with substance misuse.

We are committed to ensuring Young Carers are identified and supported so they can enjoy school and reach their full potential. We understand that caring responsibilities can sometimes impact a child's attendance, wellbeing, or schoolwork.

How We Support Young Carers

• Designated Lead: We have a Young Carers' School Lead, Mandy Richardson, who is the main point of contact for students and families.
• Confidentiality: Any information shared is treated sensitively and only shared with staff on a "need to know" basis to support the pupil.
• Flexibility: We offer flexible arrangements for homework or school activities if home life affects the school day.
• A Safe Space: We provide opportunities for Young Carers to talk to trusted staff.
• External Referrals: We work closely with local charities and services to help families access extra support.

Who is a Young Carer?

A Young Carer may help with:

• Practical tasks: Cooking, cleaning, shopping, or managing budgets.
• Physical care: Helping someone get dressed, move around, or take medication.
• Emotional support: Providing a "listening ear" or staying close to ensure someone is safe.
• Sibling care: Looking after younger brothers or sisters because a parent is unwell.

Get in Touch

If you think your child is a Young Carer, please let us know so we can work together to support them. You can contact Mandy Richardson via the school office or email at mrichardson.sja.cambrianlt.org

ONLINE SAFETY INFORMATION

Children at our school use the internet on a regular basis as part of their learning. In school, we have regular eSafety activities to remind children of the importance of keeping themselves safe online.

Report online abuse by clicking the button below:

Below are a few links to some very useful information regarding e-safety for parents, carers and children:

• Think U Know – containing internet safety advice for those aged from 5 to 16, along with parents and teachers, this site is produced by CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).
• Kidscape – An organisation which helps to prevent bullying and child abuse.
• Childline – ChildLine is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK.
• BBC Stay Safe – Test your Internet safety knowledge with Hacker and help the Horrible Histories gang stay safe online
• Childnet International – website to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children”.