SAFEGUARDING

& Child Protection

Summary of Child Protection Information for Visitors and Volunteers 

Mapledene is committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the children entrusted to our care. 

Mapledene will support all children by: 

• Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment 

• Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness 

• Effectively tackling bullying and harassment 

We recognise that some children may be the victims of neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Staff working with children are well placed to identify such abuse. 

At Mapledene in order to protect our children, we aim to: 

• Create an atmosphere where all our children feel secure, valued and listened to 

• Recognise signs and symptoms of abuse 

• Respond quickly, appropriately and effectively to cases of suspected abuse 

Everyone working with our children, their parents and carers should be aware that their role is to: 

• Listen and carefully note any observations which could indicate abuse 

• Not to attempt to investigate once the initial concern is raised 

• Refer to the Designated Senior Lead (DSL) immediately or a Deputy DSL if the Lead DSL is not available

• Remember disclosures of abuse or harm from children may be made at any time 

If anything worries you or concerns you, report it straight away.

As part of our whole-school approach, we work in partnership with NSPCC to deliver their trusted programmes Speak Out, Stay Safe and PANTS, helping children understand how to stay safe and where to seek help.

Speak Out, Stay Safe is delivered to all pupils in an age-appropriate way, empowering them with the knowledge and confidence to recognise abuse, understand their rights, and identify trusted adults they can talk to if they are worried. The programme encourages children to “speak out” about anything that makes them feel unsafe.

Alongside this, we use the PANTS rule to teach younger children important messages about body safety in a simple, memorable way:

• Privates are private

• Always remember your body belongs to you

• No means no

• Talk about secrets that upset you

• Speak up, someone can help

These key messages are introduced at the beginning of the academic year and are revisited regularly to ensure children retain and build upon their understanding.

Our approach is not limited to one-off sessions. Learning about personal safety is embedded throughout the curriculum, particularly within PSHE, Computing, and day-to-day classroom provision. This ensures that pupils develop a strong awareness of both online and offline safety, learn how to respond to concerns, and feel confident in seeking support.

By consistently reinforcing these messages, we aim to create a safe, open environment where every child feels listened to, respected, and protected.

To help keep children and their families safe online, the following link provides information,  helpful tips, training and online resources that can help you set-up parental controls, spot what to watch out for and more importantly, who to contact if you notice a problem.