Our school is a Safeguarding School.

St Matthew's C of E School recognises the importance it gives to all pupils' welfare and safeguarding.

The Children's Act 2004 states: Every Child Matters

All children have the right to:

• Stay Safe

• Be Healthy

• Enjoy and Achieve

• Achieve Economic Well-being

• Make a Positive Contribution

The school takes safeguarding very seriously. We have a signing in book for all people who enter the building, and badges for visitors. There are key-pads on the entrance and junior exit doors, and the playground is fenced and padlocked, as is the path to the dining hall. We also have a new fire alarm system, and encourage visits from local fire services and PSCO to talk to the children about topical issues/occurances. Our School Visits Co-ordinator works alongside Kym Allan (our Health and Safety consultants) to complete risk assessments. Furthermore, we have a filtering system set up by Cumbria County Council, and parents/carers fill in a consent form at the start of the year allowing the use of children’s images/names to be used on the school website.

At St Matthew's C of E School, Every Child really does Matter. Staff in school are in a good position to keep a watchful eye on children and their safety, and to protect them from harm.

If staff have concerns, they have a duty to inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Miss H Harrison (Headteacher)

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads: Mrs K Johnston and Mrs L Harrison

Governor Safeguarding Officer: Mrs K Windross and Mrs P Sanderson are our nominated Governors

Out of hours contact: head@stmatthews.cumbria.sch.uk (Headteacher)

Operation Encompass

What is Operation Encompass?

Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), prior to the start of the next school day, after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved. 

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.

The information is given in strict confidence to a school’s DSL to enable support to be given dependent on the needs and wishes of the child.

St Matthew’s CE School engages with the Operation Encompass scheme.

To find out more click here.

Useful documents

Other Useful Websites

Click on the links below to visit these online safety websites.