Safeguarding and Wellbeing

Welcome to the safeguarding section of our website. At Hunslet Carr, we are clear that safeguarding children and young people is everyone’s responsibility.
We are committed to creating a safe, supportive environment where all children are protected from harm. We work proactively to minimise risk and collaborate closely with external agencies and partners to ensure effective safeguarding arrangements are in place. This enables us to identify, assess, and support any child who may be at risk, both within school and in the wider community.
We recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents and carers. Open communication is central to maintaining a strong safeguarding culture and ensuring the best outcomes for all children.

Leadership and Accountability

Our Governing Board takes its strategic safeguarding responsibilities seriously. Safeguarding is regularly reviewed, and governors receive termly updates from the Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to ensure effective oversight and accountability.

Paul Wray is the named Governor for Child Protection.

Designated Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding is led operationally by:

Andy Hinchcliffe – Safeguarding Lead

Andy oversees all aspects of safeguarding practice across the school, from day-to-day safeguarding practice to strategic leadership, ensuring that safeguarding systems are effective, robust, and consistently applied.

The school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), as named in statutory guidance and school policy, is:

Martin Lumb – Headteacher

As Headteacher, Martin holds overall responsibility for safeguarding and ensures that statutory duties are met.

They are supported by a team of trained staff, including:

• Charlie Sharpe - KS2 Assistant Headteacher
• Elisa Whitfield - EYFS Assistant Headteacher

In addition, the following staff are trained to DSL level and provide specialist safeguarding support through their roles:

• Lauren O'Sullivan – Parent Support Advisor
• Donna Bedlow – SENCo
• Polly Sidebottom – Rainbow Room Lead

This structure ensures that safeguarding leadership is both strategically led and operationally embedded across the school.

Supporting children to share concerns

We actively promote a culture where children feel safe, confident, and supported to share any worries or concerns.

Across the school, children are provided with a range of opportunities and systems to express their thoughts and seek help:

• Trusted Adults – Children are regularly reminded that they can speak to any trusted adult in school. This is reinforced through daily CREW sessions and the wider curriculum.
•  Worry Clouds and ‘Ask It’ Baskets – Available in all classrooms, enabling children to share concerns in a safe and accessible way.
•  Toot Toot Reporting System – A secure platform that allows children (and parents) to report concerns, including bullying and wellbeing issues, either named or anonymously.
•  Daily CREW Sessions – Provide structured opportunities for children to discuss feelings, wellbeing, and safeguarding themes, helping to normalise speaking up.
•  Therapeutic and Pastoral Support – Targeted support, including group and 1:1 interventions, ensures that more vulnerable children are supported appropriately.
•  Inclusive Communication Approaches – We use a ‘total communication’ approach to ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, are able to express their views, feelings, and concerns effectively.

These systems ensure that children's voices are heard, valued, and acted upon, and that concerns are identified and addressed at the earliest possible stage.

Training and Professional Development

The Designated Safeguarding Lead and wider safeguarding team receive enhanced training every two years, alongside regular updates, thematic training, and professional networking to remain informed of local and national safeguarding developments.

All staff, governors, and volunteers receive regular and comprehensive child protection training. This is continually reinforced through updates, briefings, and ongoing professional development to ensure safeguarding remains a consistent priority.

Multi-Agency Working

We work closely with external agencies to ensure that children receive timely and appropriate support.
As part of this, we are involved in Operation Encompass. This is a partnership between schools and the police, which ensures that the school is informed, prior to the start of the next school day, if a child has been exposed to or involved in a domestic incident.
This information is shared securely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead, enabling us to provide immediate and appropriate support to the child. All information is handled sensitively and in line with safeguarding and data protection requirements.

Risk Management and Safe Practice
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We are committed to maintaining a safe physical and procedural environment for all children and staff.

• Charlie Sharpe leads on the development of risk assessments and, as Educational Visits Coordinator, ensures that all visits are safe and well planned.
• Senior Leaders and the Inclusion Team are trained in completing robust risk assessments (BIPRA) and Intimate Care Plans, ensuring safe and appropriate support for pupils with additional needs.

Safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of school life. Through strong leadership, ongoing training, and a shared commitment across our community, we ensure that every child is safe, supported, and able to thrive.

At Hunslet Carr, safeguarding is our highest priority and underpins everything we do. We are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, secure, and supported.

If you have any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, it is essential that you take action immediately.

Contact the School

If your concern relates to a child at our school, please contact our Safeguarding Lead:

Andy Hinchcliffe – Safeguarding Lead

Call: 0113 2713 804

Email: safeguarding@hunsletcarr.co.uk

Our safeguarding team will respond promptly and take appropriate action.

Contact Children’s Social Work Services

If you believe a child may be at risk of harm, you can contact the Front Door Safeguarding Hub directly:

Call: 0113 2224 403

This service provides immediate advice and support regarding safeguarding concerns.

Additional Support

You can also contact the NSPCC helpline for confidential advice:

Call: 0808 800 5000 (available 24 hours a day)

In an Emergency

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, do not delay:

Call the police on 999

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If something doesn’t feel right, it is always better to report it.

Our safeguarding arrangements are underpinned by robust policies, procedures, and a culture of vigilance. All individuals working in or visiting school are required to familiarise themselves with, and adhere to, the relevant safeguarding guidance and statutory requirements.

Key Safeguarding Documents

The following documents outline our safeguarding procedures and expectations and should be read in conjunction with one another: .
 
HCPS Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Child-Friendly Safeguarding Policy for 2025 - 2026

HCPS Online Safety Policy (updated September 2025)

What is a Designated Safeguarding Lead Accessible - EYFS - SEND - Visual

Keeping Children Safe in Education  2025 (KSiE)
Working together to Safeguard Children 2026
Safer Working Practice document
HCPS Prevent risk assessment (updated September 2025)
HCPS AI Policy (updated January 2026)
HCPS  Online Safety Risk Assessment
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Additional policies referenced within the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be accessed via the Policies section of the website.

Safeguarding Audit

In January 2026, the school underwent a safeguarding audit conducted by the Local Authority. We are pleased to report that the findings were highly positive.
The audit identified a number of strengths in our safeguarding practice, with aspects of our provision and supporting evidence described as “exemplary”. This external validation reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining rigorous safeguarding standards and a strong safeguarding culture across the school

At Hunslet Carr, safeguarding is central to our commitment to ensuring that all children are safe, supported, and able to thrive. A key aspect of this is equipping children with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to safeguard themselves.

Our Approach

Safeguarding education is embedded across school life and is delivered through our curriculum and wider provision.

A central element of this is our school-wide CREW programme, which focuses on promoting children’s emotional wellbeing. Through daily CREW sessions, including weekly ‘Wise Wednesday’ sessions, children explore a wide range of safeguarding themes in a structured and age-appropriate way.

Safeguarding themes are revisited regularly to ensure that learning is progressive, age-appropriate, and securely embedded over time.

What children learn

Throughout the year, children develop their understanding of key safeguarding topics, including:
 

• Keeping safe and managing risk
• The NSPCC PANTS rule
• Emotional wellbeing and Zones of Regulation
• Online safety
• Identity and society
• Speaking out and seeking help
• Drugs and alcohol education
• Physical health and wellbeing
• Financial education
• Life changes and transitions
• Understanding and managing strong emotions

Enrichment and Partnerships

Our safeguarding curriculum is enhanced through a range of external partnerships and experiences. These include:
 

• Workshops and sessions delivered by organisations such as On the Verge

• NSPCC programmes, including in-school safeguarding sessions

• Visits from the Road Safety Team and Canal and River Trust

• Engagement with local policing teams to reinforce community safety

These experiences provide children with real-world context and reinforce key safeguarding messages.

Further Information
 

• Safeguarding Curriculum for 2025 - 2026

Our safeguarding curriculum is designed to ensure that all children feel safe, know how to seek help, and are prepared to navigate risks both in school and beyond.

Online safety is a key component of our safeguarding provision. We are committed to ensuring that all children are able to use technology safely, responsibly, and with confidence, both in school and at home.

This page provides guidance, resources, and information to support children and parents. 

Online Safety Education

Online safety is explicitly taught through our curriculum, including computing, PSHE/RSE, and our wider safeguarding provision.

A central part of this is our daily CREW programme, which takes place every morning. Through CREW, children receive regular, structured opportunities to explore online safety themes, discuss current issues, and reinforce key messages.

Children are supported to develop an understanding of:
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• Keeping personal information safe
• Recognising online risks and inappropriate behaviour
• Developing safe and respectful online relationships
• Knowing how and when to report concerns

This learning is reinforced through assemblies, themed sessions, and external visitors, and is revisited regularly to ensure children build a secure and age-appropriate understanding.

For a full overview of how safeguarding, including online safety, is taught across the school, please see:​

• Safeguarding Curriculum Overview

School Policies and Procedures

Our approach to online safety is underpinned by the following key documents:

• HCPS Online Safety Policy
• HCPS AI Policy
• HCPS Online Safety Risk Assessment

Supporting children

We provide clear, age-appropriate guidance to help children understand how to stay safe online:

• To read our KS1 online safety classroom rules
• To read  our KS2 online safety classroom rules, please click here

Supporting Parents and Carers

We recognise the vital role parents and carers play in keeping children safe online. The following guidance is provided to support safe use of technology at home:

• Is my child ready for a phone? 
• Who is your child talking to online? 
• Talking to your child about online sexual harassment
• Keeping safe online: key advice and considerations
• To read 8 steps to keep your child safe online
• Age ratings for TV, film, and gaming, please click here​

Weekly Safeguarding Support

All parents and carers receive regular safeguarding guidance through our weekly ‘Think Thursdays’ communications. These updates provide current online safety information, practical advice, and signposting to relevant resources, enabling parents to support their child’s safe use of technology.

Platform-Specific Guidance

• Roblox: A Parents Guide to Protecting Children from Harmful Content
• What Parents and Carers need to know about Omegle, 
• Step-by-step guide to reporting bullying and harassment online

Additional Support and Reporting Concerns

• Dangers of online image sharing - NSPCC video​

The CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command) provides a trusted reporting service for online abuse or inappropriate contact.

Concerns can also be reported directly to the school via the procedures outlined in the main Safeguarding section.

Online safety is a shared responsibility between school, home, and the wider community. By working together, we can help ensure that all children remain safe and confident in their use of technology.​​​​​​​​​

At Hunslet Carr, we are committed to supporting the emotional wellbeing of all children. We recognise that positive mental health is fundamental to children feeling safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Support in School

We provide a range of support to meet the needs of all children:

• CREW – Our daily CREW provision is central to supporting emotional wellbeing. Through regular check-ins and structured sessions, children are supported to share their feelings and build resilience.
• Pastoral Support – This includes friendship groups, targeted interventions, and after-school clubs to promote wellbeing and connection.
• Therapeutic Support – We work with Gareth Hobson, an Art Psychotherapist from Impact North, who provides weekly group and 1:1 sessions for pupils.
• External Support (JESS Cluster) – We can refer pupils and families to a range of services, including counselling, parent support, youth work, and MindMate.

Who to Contact

If you are concerned about your child’s emotional wellbeing, please contact a member of our team:

• Donna Bedlow – SENDCo
• ​Lauren O'Sullivan – Parent Support Advisor
• ​Andy Hinchcliffe – Safeguarding Lead

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We are here to listen, support, and work with you to find the right help.

Support for Pupils

• Kooth – Children in Year 6 can access Kooth, an NHS-commissioned service providing free, safe, and anonymous online mental health support.

Crisis Support

If a child or young person needs urgent support, the following services are available:

• Night OWLS (West Yorkshire)

    Call: 0300 200 3900 (8pm – 8am)

    Text: 07984 392 700

• Leeds CAMHS Crisis Call Service

    0800 953 050 (8am – 8pm, 7 days a week)​

Further urgent support services 

Supporting Your Child at Home

Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting children’s mental health. Some key approaches include:

Listening and Talking

Regularly check in with your child and encourage open conversations about how they are feeling. ​​

Supporting Through Difficulties

Help your child understand and manage their emotions, particularly during challenging times.

Encouraging Interests
Activities, creativity, and social connections all support positive mental wellbeing.

Taking Concerns Seriously
Listen without judgement and reassure your child that their feelings are valid.​

Further guidance and resources are available below:​

• Starting conversations about mental health​
• Managing behaviour and emotions​
• Benefits of child-led play​
• Supporting children who are worried

​Supporting mental health is a shared responsibility between school and home. By working together, we can ensure all children feel supported, valued, and able to thrive.

Children in Year 6 can also access Kooth. Kooth is commissioned by the NHS to provide anonymous and personalised mental health support for Children and Young People. 

Crisis support can be accessed at all hours via Night OWLS or the Leeds CAMHS Crisis Call, details below.

Night OWLS is a confidential support  line for children and young people in crisis. Helping them, their parents and carers living in West Yorkshire. They are available 8pm - 8am. Call their free phone number 0300 200 3900, text them on 07984 392 700, or chat at www.wynightowls.org.uk 

Leeds CAMHS Crisis Call  is a freephone service to support children, young people, parents, and carers whatever the circumstances by listening, supporting, advising, and signposting. The team will ensure that all callers receive an efficient and timely response for anyone up to aged 18 years in critical moments, so that you get fast access to  help when needed. They are open 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in Leeds, and their number is 0800 953 050.
 
Details of other organisations that provide urgent support for children in a crisis 

Below is some useful information on how to support your child's mental health at home.  

Listen...
Regularly ask how your children how they are doing. This will help them get used to talking about their feelings and to know you'll be ready to listen if they need or want to talk. 

Useful information about starting a conversation with your child about mental health

Support them through difficulties...
Pay attention to their emotions and behaviour, and try to help them work through difficulties. It's not always easy when faced with challenging behaviour, but try to help them understand what they're feeling and why.

Useful information on managing difficult behaviour and emotions.  

Encourage their interests...
Being active or creative, learning new things and being a part of a team help connect us with others and are important ways we can all help our mental health. Support and encourage them to explore their interests, whatever they are. 
Although organised activities help us connect, unstructured time, where children can control what, why and how they play, is vital for good mental health.  

Useful information resource on the benefits of child-directed play.  

Take what they say seriously... 
Listening to and valuing what children say, without judging their feelings help them feel valued. Consider how to help them process and work through their emotions in a more  constructive way. 

Useful resources for supporting children who are worried. 

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Useful Links

At Hunslet Carr, we recognise that children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) may face additional barriers in communicating their views, wishes, and concerns. Ensuring that every child’s voice is heard is central to our safeguarding practice.

What is a Designated Safeguarding Lead Accessible - EYFS - SEND - VisualSupporting Pupil Voice

All staff are trained to use a total communication approach to support children with SEND to express their thoughts, feelings, and any worries.

This includes supporting pupils with:

• Speech sound difficulties
• ​Language and communication needs
• ​Social communication and interaction differences

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Some children may experience difficulties understanding questions or expressing themselves clearly. These needs may be associated with conditions such as autism, learning disabilities, or Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

For children who are unable to communicate their concerns verbally, staff are highly attentive to behaviour, presentation, and changes over time. We adopt a curious and responsive approach, ensuring that any signs of concern are explored and acted upon appropriately.

Safeguarding Approach

We recognise that children with SEND can be more vulnerable to safeguarding risks. As a result, safeguarding for children with SEND is proactive, responsive, and tailored to individual needs.

This includes:

• ​Close collaboration between class teachers, the SENCo, and the safeguarding team
• ​Adapted communication strategies to ensure understanding
• ​Careful monitoring of behaviour and wellbeing
• ​Strong relationships with pupils and families

Further Support

If you would like further support or advice, please contact:

• Donna Bedlow – SENDCo
• ​Jen Camplin – Speech and Language Therapist
• ​Paula Passey – Lead Autism Practitioner

​Call: 0113 271 3804

Email: safeguarding@hunsletcarr.co.uk

We are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure that all children feel safe, understood, and supported.

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At Hunslet Carr, safeguarding is our highest priority. As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we fully implement the government’s Prevent Duty, which aims to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism.
We are committed to ensuring that all pupils feel safe, valued, and able to develop respectful and informed views of the world around them.

Our Approach

Prevent is embedded within our wider safeguarding culture. We work proactively to identify and support any pupils who may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

This includes:​

• Strong leadership and oversight from the safeguarding team
• Regular staff training to recognise and respond to concerns
• Clear procedures for reporting and managing concerns
• Close partnership with external agencies, including the local authority and police

Teaching and Curriculum

Prevent is delivered through our curriculum and wider school experiences. In particular:​

• CREW sessions provide regular opportunities to explore themes such as identity, respect, and belonging
• PSHE and RE promote understanding of different cultures, faiths, and beliefs
• Children are supported to develop critical thinking skills, enabling them to question and challenge information safely​

We actively promote fundamental British values, including:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance

Safeguarding and Support

We provide a safe environment where children feel confident to discuss concerns. Where necessary, the safeguarding team will work with external agencies to provide additional support.

If a concern is identified, it is reported to a Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will assess the situation and take appropriate action. This may include referral to external services such as the Channel programme.

Online Safety

We recognise that online content can present risks in relation to radicalisation. Our filtering and monitoring systems help to ensure that pupils are protected from accessing harmful material, and staff respond promptly to any concerns.

Key Information​​​​​

• Prevent Duty Guidance
• School Prevent Risk Assessment (updated September 2025)

Prevent is part of our wider safeguarding responsibility. Through education, strong relationships, and early intervention, we aim to ensure that all children are safe and supported.

This page provides additional support, guidance, and resources for children, parents, and carers.

Dedicated Helpline – Abuse in Education

The NSPCC provides a dedicated helpline for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse in an educational setting.

The helpline offers confidential advice and support to children, parents, and professionals, and can support with next steps, including contacting the police if appropriate.

Call: 0800 136 663

Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

Local Support – Leeds

Domestic Violence and Abuse Support

Safer Leeds provides information and support for individuals experiencing domestic violence and abuse, as well as guidance for those supporting others.

Leeds Domestic Violence Service (24-hour helpline)

Call: 0113 246 040

If someone is in immediate danger, please call 999.

Safeguarding Resources

The following resources provide guidance and support for discussing key safeguarding topics with children:

• ​​NSPCC Pantosaurus: Consent and Bodies (video)​
• ​Exploitation (Primary) – Alright Charlie (video)

Additional Guidance for Parents

The following resources provide practical support for helping your child stay safe online and manage digital risks:

• Simple 15-minute online safety activities – practical ideas to support safe online habits at home
• ​Steps to remove images online – guidance on how to report and remove inappropriate or harmful content
• ​Help and advice for parents in a digital world – wider support for managing children’s use of technology

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These resources are designed to support parents in having informed, confident conversations with their children about online safety.

Hunslet Carr Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff, volunteers, and visitors to share this commitment.
Our safer recruitment processes are designed to deter, identify, and reject unsuitable candidates, ensuring that all individuals working with children are appropriately vetted.
All appointments are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Recruitment Information
​
If you are interested in working with us, please review the following documents, which form part of our safer recruitment procedures:

Applying for a job at Hunslet Carr - Statement​Disclosure of a caution / conviction flowchart,Application form ​Privacy Notice for Job Applicants​​Safer Recruitment Policy

 Criminal Record Declaration

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a criminal record declaration form prior to interview:

Criminal record declaration form

​Candidates must disclose all unspent convictions and any other relevant information that would not be filtered in line with current guidance.

If appointed, this information will be verified through the Disclosure and Barring Service before employment is confirmed.

Important Information

• CVs are not accepted as part of the application process​
•  All roles are subject to satisfactory safeguarding checks
• ​Online searches are carried out as part of our safer recruitment processes, in line with statutory guidance, to identify any publicly available information that may be relevant to a candidate’s suitability to work with children

Further Information

For further information, please contact:

Andy Hinchcliffe – Safeguarding Lead

Email: safeguarding@hunsletcarr.co.uk

Safer recruitment is a vital part of our safeguarding culture, ensuring that all children are protected and supported.