Worried about a child's safety?

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead or one of our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads using the contact details below.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mr Joseph Green

Deputy DSL: Mrs Debbie Wallen & Mrs Emma Dennis

Contact telephone number: 01335 360 261

Please do not use email to report an urgent safeguarding concern.

If a child is in immediate danger, telephone 999.

If you are concerned that a child is suffering, or is at risk of significant harm, contact Derbyshire Starting Point/Call Derbyshire immediately on 01629 533190. This number should be used whether or not the school is open.

If you are unable to contact a member of our safeguarding team, you should contact Derbyshire Starting Point directly rather than delay reporting your concern.

You do not need to be certain that abuse or neglect is occurring to raise a concern.

For non-urgent safeguarding queries, please email

safeguarding@mugginton.derbyshire.sch.uk.

This email is checked each school working day by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. It is not monitored continuously during weekends or school holidays.

Key national documents related to Safeguarding:

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026

Mugginton Church of England Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We believe that safeguarding risks can happen everywhere and remain ‘professionally curious’ at all times. We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. All school staff are trained in Child Protection, and children are made aware of the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns. Staff are trained to look out for signs of physical/emotional harm or neglect and are required to report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The procedures which we follow have been laid down by the Derby and Derbyshire Area Safeguarding Team and work in accordance with current statutory guidance and local safeguarding arrangements.

We aim to work openly and collaboratively with parents and carers whenever possible. However, there may be circumstances where sharing information with parents before taking action could place a child at greater risk or compromise safeguarding enquiries. In these circumstances, we will follow the advice of relevant safeguarding professionals and act in the child's best interests.

Thank you to Kerry Chisnall and colleagues from Derbyshire County Council for delivering an excellent online safeguarding update to staff in December 2024.

And to Stuart Revill and colleagues for delivering an excellent Safeguarding update to staff in September 2025

Child-on-child abuse

We recognise that children can cause harm to other children, and that this behaviour is never acceptable.

We take all concerns about child-on-child abuse seriously and respond promptly, sensitively and appropriately.

This includes bullying, discriminatory behaviour, physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual violence, inappropriate language, online abuse and other harmful behaviours.

We teach children about respectful relationships, personal boundaries, consent, kindness and how to recognise and report behaviour that makes them or others feel unsafe.

We provide appropriate support to children affected by harmful behaviour and take proportionate action to protect everyone involved.

We recognise that harmful behaviour can sometimes be difficult for children to report. We provide opportunities for pupils to raise concerns in a safe and supportive environment, ensuring that their privacy is respected and that information is shared appropriately with those who need to know.

All concerns are managed in accordance with our Child Protection Policy and relevant statutory guidance.

Online safety

We recognise that children can be exposed to safeguarding risks both inside and outside school, including through the use of digital technology.

We teach children how to use the internet and digital devices safely, responsibly and respectfully.

Our curriculum addresses online relationships, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online grooming, sharing personal information and knowing how to report concerns.

We have appropriate filtering and monitoring arrangements to help protect pupils from harmful online content. These arrangements are reviewed regularly and concerns are acted upon promptly.

Staff receive appropriate training to recognise and respond to online safeguarding risks, and we work with parents to promote safe and responsible technology use at home.

Children Missing from Education and Attendance

We recognise that changes in attendance, persistent absence and children going missing from education can sometimes indicate wider safeguarding concerns.

We monitor attendance carefully, follow up unexplained absences promptly and work with families and relevant agencies where concerns arise.

We take appropriate action when children are absent from school or when there are concerns about their whereabouts or welfare.

British Values and the Prevent Duty

We recognise and celebrate the fact that we are held together by the shared human values of Respect & Tolerance, Individual Liberty, Democracy and Rule of Law.

At Mugginton CE Primary School, we support initiatives to reinforce ownership of these values. All staff are trained to recognise signs of radicalisation and extremism in line with the requirements of the Prevent Duty and Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Prevent Duty is available here.

A parent information leaflet concerning the Prevent Duty is available here .

Safeguarding concerns about adults (Whistleblowing)

We maintain an open culture in which everyone is encouraged to raise concerns about the behaviour of adults working in or associated with our school.

All concerns, including low-level concerns, are taken seriously and managed in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.

Any concerns or allegations about the conduct of a member of staff, volunteer or other adult working with children should be reported immediately to the Headteacher.

Where a concern relates to the Headteacher, it should be reported to the Chair of Governors.

We have a clear procedure for referring allegations to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), where appropriate.

We actively promote a culture in which speaking up about safeguarding concerns is encouraged and never discouraged. Please see our Whistleblowing policy (link on the right) for further information.

If an individual feels unable to raise a safeguarding concern internally, they can contact the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line on 0800 028 0285.

Medical Needs and Allergies

We are committed to ensuring that children with medical conditions and allergies are safe and appropriately supported throughout the school day.

We work with parents, carers and relevant healthcare professionals to ensure that individual medical needs are understood and appropriate arrangements are in place.

We maintain appropriate healthcare plans where required and follow our medical needs and allergy safety procedures to reduce risks and ensure that staff know how to respond to medical concerns.

Safer Working Practices

Safeguarding is central to our recruitment and selection procedures.

We follow the Department for Education's statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education (2026), and undertake all appropriate pre-appointment checks before adults begin working at our school.

These checks are appropriate to the individual's role and responsibilities and include relevant Disclosure and Barring Service checks, identity verification, references, right-to-work checks and other statutory checks where applicable.

We maintain an up-to-date Single Central Record of the required recruitment and vetting checks.

All visitors, volunteers, contractors and visiting professionals are subject to appropriate safeguarding arrangements, including identity checks, supervision and clear expectations about conduct.

Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure that safeguarding is prioritised at every stage.

The school has a range of safeguarding documents: policies, procedures and recommendations. The school completes the Local Authority's Section 175 safeguarding audit annually. All visitors are required to sign in and follow the school's safeguarding procedures. Visiting professionals are asked to show appropriate photographic identification and wear their employer's identification badge while on site.

Domestic Abuse & Operation Encompass

We recognise that domestic abuse can have a significant impact on children's safety, emotional wellbeing and development.

Mugginton CE Primary School participates in Operation Encompass, a partnership initiative between police and schools designed to ensure that children affected by domestic abuse receive timely support.

Where the school receives an appropriate notification from Derbyshire Police, this information is shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who considers the child's individual needs and ensures that appropriate support is provided.

Information is handled sensitively and confidentially, with the child's welfare remaining our priority.

We work with relevant agencies to help protect and support children and families experiencing domestic abuse. 

Early Help and Family Support

We recognise that early intervention can make a significant difference to children's safety, wellbeing and outcomes, and we work alongside families rather than waiting for concerns to escalate.

Where necessary, we work in partnership with local authority services, health professionals, social care and other safeguarding partners to ensure that children receive the right help at the right time.

Parents can speak to the school at any time if they feel their family needs support.

We share information appropriately and make referrals to children's services whenever concerns indicate that additional statutory support or protection may be needed.

Training

Staff and Governor Training

All staff receive safeguarding training as part of their induction and regular refresher training and updates throughout the year.

All staff are required to read and understand Part One of Keeping Children Safe in Education and are regularly updated on emerging safeguarding risks, changes to statutory guidance and local safeguarding procedures.

Staff understand their responsibility to recognise signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation, maintain professional curiosity and report any concerns immediately to the DSL or Deputy DSL.

The DSL and Deputy DSLs undertake additional specialist safeguarding training and regular updates to ensure they can fulfil their responsibilities effectively.

Governors receive appropriate safeguarding training to enable them to provide effective oversight and challenge. Staff and governors involved in recruitment receive appropriate safer recruitment training.

Our Anti-Bullying Governor and our Safeguarding/Child Protection Governor, Dr Katharine Shelley, undertakes a rigorous audit of practice and policies each year to ensure that all our safeguarding work is up to date.

Children will be supported with curriculum content suited to their age and ability. Some of this is identifiable from the curriculum plans, and other aspects come into areas such as Citizenship and Online Safety as well as national initiatives such as Anti-Bullying Week in November each year.

Roles and Responsibilities

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr Joseph Green (Headteacher). Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Emma Dennis (SENCO) and Mrs Debbie Wallen (Infant Lead).

The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Dr Katharine Shelley (Chair of Governors). Our Safeguarding Governor provides support and appropriate challenge to school leaders, monitoring the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements and ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority across the school.

Governors receive regular updates on safeguarding, undertake appropriate monitoring activities and ensure that leaders are held accountable for meeting their statutory responsibilities.

Our Designated Teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children is Joseph Green.

The Designated Teacher works closely with the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, SENCO, relevant professionals and other agencies to ensure that these children receive appropriate support, achieve well and have their individual needs met.

Joseph Green is our Pupil Premium Champion, working in partnership with our SENCO, Emma Dennis.

The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (DDSCP) can be contacted on 01629535353 or email ddscp@derby.gov.uk 

Photographs and Videos

We want to celebrate the special experiences we offer our children at Mugginton. We are mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images. Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days, church services or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet including social networking sites. This is emphasised before concerts and productions.

We understand that in exceptional circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way. If this is the case then please contact the headteacher to discuss how this can be best achieved or complete the Permissions document given to all parents at the beginning of the school year.

A copy of our Parental Permissions Document and our Safeguarding Leaflet for Visitors are available here:

Key Policies relating to safeguarding are available below

Child Protection Policy

Low Level Concerns Policy

Looked After Children Policy 

Online Safety Policy

Safeguarding work and discussion topics with pupils

The children have regular work in Online Safety, which feeds into other areas of the curriculum, and in Road Safety and Health Education.

Several children produced the following Online Safety advice booklet which was sent home to parents and is available on this page. Also, a letter written to parents after Safer Internet Day is also available.

We want every child at Mugginton to feel safe, valued, listened to and respected.

We encourage children to speak openly about their worries and concerns and make sure they know which trusted adults they can approach for help.

Children are regularly taught how to recognise situations that may make them feel unsafe, how to establish appropriate personal boundaries and how to seek help for themselves or others.

We take children's concerns seriously, listen carefully to their views and take appropriate action to ensure they receive the support they need.

We recognise that some children may be particularly vulnerable to harm or may find it more difficult to communicate their concerns. We adapt our approaches to ensure that children with additional needs, including those with SEND or communication difficulties, are listened to, understood and appropriately supported.

We were pleased to welcome our friends from Derbyshire Fire Service in to school on 12th October to give us advice on how to stay ‘fire safe’.

We enjoyed a visit from the NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe programme in early 2025.

Here is what the leading Safeguarding Manager had to say about our procedures:  

"I am hoping that all schools can reach the levels you have in looking after your pupils, staff and reassuring parents/carers you are working hard to help children feel safe and happy".