Safeguarding

Keeping Our Children Safe

At St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of our children is at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to creating a school where every child feels safe, valued, respected and listened to. We have a strong culture of safeguarding and work closely with children, families, staff, governors and external agencies to protect children from harm and promote their wellbeing.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We believe that children learn best when they feel safe, secure and cared for, and we work hard to ensure that our children know there are trusted adults they can talk to if they are worried about anything.

Our positive relationships with families are an important part of this work. We encourage parents and carers to talk to us whenever they have a concern about their child or another child.

Our Safeguarding Team

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is:

Mrs C. Stevenson – Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) is:

Mrs R. Schauer – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child in our school, please contact us:

Telephone: 01270 875770
Safeguarding email: safeguarding@stgabriels.cheshire.sch.uk

Our Governor responsible for Child Protection is:

Mrs K. Poole – Safeguarding Governor

She can be contacted through the school office.

If your concern relates to a member of staff or volunteer, please contact the Headteacher/Designated Safeguarding Lead. Where appropriate, concerns about adults working with children will be managed in line with local safeguarding procedures, including referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

Our Safeguarding Policies

Our safeguarding arrangements are supported by a range of policies and procedures.

Please see:

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 2026
Child-Friendly Safeguarding Policy
Anti-Bullying and Child-on-Child Abuse Policy
Child-Friendly Anti-Bullying Policy
Online Safety Policy
Behaviour Policy
Attendance Policy
SEND Policy
Whistleblowing Policy
Prevent Policy / information
Health and Safety Policy

Our policies are reviewed regularly to ensure that they reflect current legislation, national guidance and local safeguarding arrangements.

Reporting a Concern About a Child

We all have a responsibility to protect children and young people from harm.

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please share your concern. You do not need to be certain that abuse or neglect is taking place before asking for advice.

If you are concerned about a child who attends St Gabriel's, you can speak to a member of our safeguarding team.

You can also contact Cheshire East Consultation Service (ChECS) directly.

Cheshire East Consultation Service (ChECS)

ChECS is the main point of contact for advice, support and referrals concerning children and families in Cheshire East, including safeguarding and child protection concerns.

Telephone: 0300 123 5012 – select Option 3

You can contact ChECS if you are worried about:

a child's safety or wellbeing
neglect
physical, emotional or sexual abuse
a child's care or supervision
domestic abuse affecting a child
exploitation or risks outside the home
a child who may be at risk of significant harm

If you are unsure whether your concern meets the safeguarding threshold, you can still contact ChECS for advice.

Out of Hours

For urgent child protection concerns outside normal working hours:

Emergency Duty Team: 0300 123 5022

Immediate Danger

If a child is in immediate danger or at immediate risk of significant harm, call:

999 – Police

For non-emergency police matters:

101

Please do not wait for school or social care if a child is in immediate danger.

Cheshire East Safeguarding Children’s Partnership

St Gabriel's works within the local safeguarding arrangements established by the Cheshire East Safeguarding Children's Partnership (CESCP).

CESCP brings together partner organisations to promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people across Cheshire East.

The CESCP website contains information and advice for parents, carers and professionals, including information about:

child protection
neglect
child sexual abuse
domestic abuse
exploitation
online safety
contextual safeguarding
harmful sexual behaviour
missing children
Prevent
safeguarding in education
local safeguarding practice reviews
local safeguarding procedures and guidance

Early Help and Family Support

Sometimes families need some extra support before a situation becomes a safeguarding concern.

Asking for help is a positive step and does not mean that you have done anything wrong.

Cheshire East provides Family Help and Early Help for families who may need additional support with issues such as:

parenting and family relationships
children's behaviour
emotional wellbeing
school and attendance
housing
finances
family circumstances
relationships and domestic abuse
accessing local services
children's additional needs

The Family Help Front Door Team can help families identify what support may be available.

Telephone: 0300 123 5012 – Option 3, then Option 1

Email: familyhelpfrontdoor@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire East Family Hubs

Family Hubs provide support, information and activities for children, young people and families.

They offer a wide range of support from the early years through to young adulthood, including support with parenting, relationships, health, emotional wellbeing, SEND, activities and community services.

Cheshire East has a Family Hub network covering local communities, including the Sandbach, Alsager and Middlewich locality.

Families can find their nearest Family Hub and discover local activities and services through the Cheshire East Family Hub website.

Local Community Support in Alsager

We are fortunate to have a range of community organisations providing practical and emotional support to families in our local area.

Alsager Community Support

Alsager Community Support is a free and confidential local service supporting people in Alsager and surrounding communities.

They can provide information, advice and practical support including:

benefits and welfare advice
budgeting and money support
housing and health information
help with forms and applications
food and essential items
school uniform support
befriending
practical support
signposting to specialist services

Telephone: 01270 876605

Email: info@alsagercommunitysupport.org.uk

Address: 19–21 Crewe Road, Alsager, ST7 2EW

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

We recognise that children's emotional wellbeing is an important part of safeguarding.

If you are concerned about your child's emotional wellbeing or mental health, please speak to someone early. This could be your child's teacher, our safeguarding team, your GP, school nurse or another trusted professional.

Healthy Young Minds – Cheshire East

Healthy Young Minds provides early advice and support for children and young people and their families around emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Support is available across Cheshire East through local organisations including Visyon and Just Drop-In.

Cheshire East Mental Health Support

Cheshire East Council provides information about local mental health and emotional wellbeing services for children and young people aged 0–25.

Urgent Mental Health Support

If you are worried that your child is experiencing a mental health crisis or is at immediate risk of harming themselves or someone else:

NHS 111 – select the mental health option

If there is an immediate emergency:

999

You can also attend Accident and Emergency (A&E).

Support for Children and Young People

Children and young people may sometimes prefer to talk to someone outside their family or school.

Childline

Childline provides free and confidential support for children and young people.

Telephone: 0800 1111

Children can also access support online.

NSPCC

The NSPCC provides advice and support for adults who are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child.

NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000

Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm

Domestic Abuse Support

Domestic abuse can have a significant impact on children and young people, even when they are not directly involved in an incident.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, support is available.

Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit

Telephone: 0300 123 5101

Text: 07777 941464

Email: dafsu@cheshireeast.gov.uk

The service can provide support and advice to people experiencing domestic abuse, those concerned about someone else and professionals.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

0808 2000 247

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are in immediate danger:

999

Operation Encompass

St Gabriel's is an Operation Encompass school.

Operation Encompass is a partnership between the police and schools which aims to provide early support to children who may have experienced domestic abuse.

Where the police attend a domestic abuse incident involving children, information can be shared with the child's school so that appropriate support can be provided as early as possible.

Our safeguarding team will work sensitively with children and families following an Operation Encompass notification.

Online Safety

Children increasingly use technology to learn, communicate and socialise. Keeping children safe online is an important part of our safeguarding work.

We teach children about:

safe use of the internet
online relationships
respectful communication
cyberbullying
gaming and in-app purchases
privacy and personal information
inappropriate content
online grooming and exploitation
reporting concerns
healthy screen use

Parents and carers are encouraged to talk regularly with children about what they are doing online.

If your child tells you about something that has happened online, listen, reassure them and report the concern.

Further advice and support can be found through CEOP, Childline, NSPCC and Internet Matters.

What Children Can Do If They Are Worried

At St Gabriel's, we teach our children that:

It is okay to speak out.

If something is worrying you:

Tell a trusted adult.
Keep telling until someone listens.
Remember that it is never your fault if someone hurts or worries you.
If you are worried about a friend, tell an adult who can help.
If you are in immediate danger, get help straight away.

Children can speak to any member of staff they trust.

Safeguarding in Our School

Safeguarding is embedded throughout school life.

Our safeguarding arrangements include:

a trained Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy DSLs
regular safeguarding training for all staff
safer recruitment and appropriate DBS checks
robust visitor procedures
safeguarding supervision and monitoring
online safety education
anti-bullying work
child-on-child abuse awareness
attendance monitoring
contextual safeguarding
Prevent awareness
support for children's mental health and emotional wellbeing
appropriate information sharing with partner agencies
regular review of safeguarding policies and procedures
close partnership working with parents, carers and external agencies

We also listen carefully to our children and provide opportunities for them to talk about their worries, relationships, friendships, safety and wellbeing.

Remember – If You Are Worried, Speak to Someone

You do not have to deal with a safeguarding concern on your own.

School: 01270 875770
Safeguarding: safeguarding@stgabriels.cheshire.sch.uk
ChECS: 0300 123 5012 – Option 3
Emergency Duty Team: 0300 123 5022
Police: 999 in an emergency / 101 for non-emergency
Childline: 0800 1111
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000

If you are worried about a child, please don't wait. Sharing a concern could help to keep a child safe.

This page provides general information and signposting. Services and contact arrangements can change, so please use the linked official service websites for the most up-to-date information.