All staff in school are focussed on keeping pupils safe and well, whether that is part of our proactive work in keeping our children safe through our Safeguarding practice and our Safer Recruitment procedures, or our responsive work through Child Protection policy actions. 

If you have a concern about the welfare or safety of a child, then you can speak to any staff member who you feel comfortable with and they will act accordingly. Our Senior Leadership Team for Safeguarding will ensure that all concerns are acted upon appropriately. Mrs Rebecca Martin is our Executive Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), alongside Miss Amanda Crompton.  Mrs Martin provides a lead role in the supervision of safeguarding throughout school. Mrs Abida Aslam and Miss Jodi Bennett are our Deputy Designated Senior Leads (DDSL).  

The school will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their children if a concern has been raised. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Duty and Assessment and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Kirklees Safeguarding Children Procedures).

The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents.

Click here to view the school’s Safeguarding Policy.

Click here to read the 2023 vesion of the Goverment’s Keeping Children Safe in Education document.

Click here to read our crisis plan to respond to the death/suicide of a pupil.

On line safety

At Heckmondwike Primary School, we work hard to ensure the safety of all our children and staff when using electronic devices and when carrying out web-based searches/research. We have adopted the Kirklees Model On-line safety Policy and adapted it to ensure our children and staff are as safe as possible. We also abide by the Kirklees Electronic Communication guidance. To further help us keep our children safe on-line, we also insist on each child’s parent/guardian, signing an acceptable use policy . Please click the links below for the on-line policy and acceptable use policies.

On-line safety Policy

AUP EYFS

AUP KS1

AUP KS2

AUP Staff

AUP Supply Staff / visitors

Electronic Communication Guidance

Please click on the links below for further help/advice on how to ensure your child stays safe online.

Smoothwall Safety Hub

Qustudio App

There is further information and advice on our Online Safety Page

We recognise that children have the opportunity to have an extensive online life through the use of games. Playing collaborative online games is something that the majority of children will want to do, and this requires parents to have greater knowledge in how to keep children safe when playing online. 

In July 2022 we had a session for parents to discuss and learn more about keeping children safe when playing online at home. Below are tsome resources which offer advice and support in how to keep your child safe when they are playing online games at home.

Positives about Gaming

Kids and Screens

Using Social Media Safely

Prevent: Radicalisation and Extremism 

Click here for a parents’ guide to Radicalisation and Extremism

Click here for a Teacher’s guide to Radicalisation and Extremism

Click here for a School Leader’s guide to Radicalisation and Extremism

Operation Encompass: Safeguarding and support for families

Heckmondwike Primary is committed to safeguarding children and offering support to our families. We work with Operation Encompass and the police to support families who have experienced domestic violence.

Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, before the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has been involved or exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous evening.

The information is given in strict confidence to the DSL or Headteacher to enable support to be given, dependent on the needs and wishes of the child.

Please use the links below to find out more information about support available to families.

Please click here to access athe Encompass website, which provides key information.

Please click here for the National Domestic Abuse helpline.

Please click here for the Women’s Aid website which offers information and advice on domestic abuse.

Please click here for the Domestic Abuse Helpline for men.