Children are at the centre of everything we do at St Elizabeth’s.  We are committed to providing an environment in which children feel welcomed, safe, valued and respected.  Adults in our school know that keeping children safe is everybody’s responsibility and that all children, regardless of age, gender, culture, language, race, ability, sexual identity, religion or lack of religion have equal rights to protection and opportunities.

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding means the process for protecting children from harm and abuse.  This includes:

● taking action to ensure that children have the best outcomes

● making sure that the way children grow up is consistent with providing safe and acceptable care

● preventing barriers to children’s mental and physical health or the way they develop

Child Protection means the processes carried out to protect children who have been identified as suffering, or being at risk of suffering significant harm.

St Elizabeth’s school policy for Safeguarding and Child Protection can be viewed below.  Paper copies, if you prefer, can be obtained from our school office on request.

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 - Statutory guidance for schools and colleges can be viewed here.

If you have any concerns about a child at our school who you feel needs additional help and support, please contact Mrs Samantha van den Driessche, who is our Designated Safeguarding Lead or Mrs Jane Hines, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

You can also contact Richmond Single Point of Access (SPA) team if you are concerned about a child.

Richmond SPA (Single Point of Access)

• Call 0208 547 5008 during office hours.

• Call the out of hours Duty Team (evenings and weekends) on 0208 770 5000.

• Report your concerns online with Single Point of Access.

• In an emergency, if you think a child is in immediate danger, you should call 999.

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

Every local authority has a statutory responsibility to have a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who is responsible for co-ordinating the response to concerns that an adult who works with children, may have caused them or could cause them, harm.  In Achieving for Children there is a LADO service which provides this role and support, across Richmond and Kingston.

You can contact the LADO on email: LADO@achievingforchildren.org.uk

Phone: 07774 332675

Kingston and Richmond SPA: 0208 547 5008

The Designated School Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection is Mr Paul Webb.  The role of the Designated School Governor is to meet regularly with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to monitor that appropriate policies and procedures are in place and that they are being implemented correctly.  The Vice Designated School Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection is Dr Oona Stannard. 

The School Designated Safeguarding Lead, the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Designated School Governor can be contacted via school, by email: admin@st-elizabeths.richmond.sch.uk or by telephone via the school office on 0208 940 3015.  

Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Partnership 

The Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Children Partnership KRSCP is a statutory body which is responsible for ensuring that all agencies working with children, young people and families work well together to promote children’s safety and welfare. 

The school works with the Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Partnership and Achieving for Children for the safeguarding of children. 

Operation Encompass

The school is part of Operation Encompass.  Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.

Sources of Information

Childline offers free, private and confidential advice and support for children and young people.  The Childline helpline number is 0800 1111.

NSPCC is the UK's leading children’s charity.  NSPCC's trained helpline counsellors are available 24 hours a day by email or online.  The NSPCC helpline number is 0808 800 5000.  The helpline is open Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm, and 9am – 6pm at the weekend. 

CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) - On the CAMHS website, you will find a collection of websites and resources that provide information and support to young people and families.

Refuge is the national helpline for victims of domestic abuse.  The National Domestic Abuse helpline number is 0808 2000 247.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Key Personnel