At Meldreth Primary School, we are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in line with our statutory duties under:

• Section 175 of the Education Act 2002

• The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014

• The Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015

• The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009

We strive to provide a safe and welcoming environment where every child is respected, valued, and supported.

Our Safeguarding Responsibilities

• We follow the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Children Partnership Board’s procedures to ensure effective protection for children at risk.

• All staff are trained to be alert to signs of abuse or neglect and are required by law to pass on concerns about a child’s welfare.

• Where concerns are raised, we will aim to discuss these with parents/carers unless doing so would put the child at greater risk.

Information Sharing and Consent

• We will seek parental consent before sharing information with Children’s Social Care unless doing so could place a child at risk of harm or interfere with an investigation.

• Under the Data Protection Act 2018, safeguarding is a lawful reason to share information without consent when necessary.

• All information is shared securely and sensitively, in line with local protocols, and only when it is proportionate and necessary to keep a child safe.

Working with Other Agencies

• If we have reasonable cause to suspect that a child may be at risk of significant harm, we are legally required to contact Children’s Social Care.

• On rare occasions, this may include holding a child in school while concerns are investigated, in line with Section 3(5) of the Children Act 1989.

Our Commitment

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSLs act in accordance with the law and always in the best interests of the children. We ask for your understanding and support in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all pupils at our school.

Our Prevent Duty of Care

At Meldreth Primary School, we are committed to safeguarding all members of our community. As part of this commitment, we follow the principles set out in The Prevent Duty (DfE, 2015), which forms part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities.

The Prevent Duty requires schools to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. It is not about spying on individuals or policing thoughts — it is about ensuring we are alert to potential risks and able to take appropriate action to protect our pupils.

Our Aims Under the Prevent Duty

We aim to:

• Raise awareness within our school of the threat posed by violent extremist groups and the potential risks for young people.

• Provide information on the causes of violent extremism, the preventative work happening both locally and nationally, and where to access further advice and support.

• Empower staff to recognise the positive role they play in supporting pupils to build strong, inclusive communities that are resilient to extremism.

• Protect the wellbeing of any pupils or groups who may be particularly vulnerable to extremist influences or radicalisation.

• Provide guidance on managing risks and responding appropriately to local, national, or international incidents that could impact the school community.

At Meldreth Primary School, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Our Prevent Duty is one part of a wider culture of vigilance, care, and community building.

If you have any questions about our Prevent Duty or safeguarding practices, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead.