Teaching Children to Stay Safe at St Mary’s

Our Vision

At St Mary’s, safeguarding is at the heart of our vision of aspiring, nurturing and flourishing together while shining our light.

We believe that children thrive when they feel safe, valued and confident to speak up. Alongside robust safeguarding systems and procedures, we place great importance on teaching children the knowledge, understanding and confidence they need to recognise risk, make safe choices and seek help when they need it.

Helping children learn how to stay safe is woven throughout our curriculum, relationships and the daily life of our school community.

Helping Children Recognise and Understand Risk

Children are taught, in age-appropriate ways, how to recognise situations that may be unsafe and how to respond if something does not feel right.

Through discussion, stories, reflection and practical learning experiences, pupils develop the ability to:

recognise safe and unsafe situations
understand the difference between safe and unsafe secrets
recognise when behaviour from others makes them feel uncomfortable
make safe choices in different environments.

As children grow, their understanding of risk and personal responsibility develops alongside them.

Teaching Children to Speak Up

At St Mary’s, we want every child to know that their voice matters and that they will always be listened to.

Children are explicitly taught that if something worries them, they should talk to a trusted adult. Children understand that there are no problems too small to share, and that adults in school will listen carefully and act to help keep them safe.

All children identify adults in school who they trust and know they can turn to if they need support.

Safe and Respectful Relationships

Through our curriculum and daily interactions, children learn how to build positive and respectful relationships.

This includes learning about:

kindness and friendship
recognising and responding to bullying
respecting differences
understanding personal boundaries
resolving disagreements in healthy ways.

These lessons help children develop empathy, confidence and respect for others.

Staying Safe Online

Children are taught how to use technology safely and responsibly.

Through computing lessons, assemblies and themed events, pupils learn how to:

protect personal information
recognise unsafe online behaviour
respond to online bullying or unkind behaviour
report concerns when using digital devices.

We work closely with families to promote safe technology use both in and outside of school.

Safeguarding Through Our Curriculum

Learning about safety is embedded across many areas of school life. Children explore important aspects of personal safety through subjects such as PSHE, computing, science and physical education, as well as through collective worship, assemblies and wider enrichment activities.

Through the curriculum, children learn about important aspects of personal safety including bullying, online safety, healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing and recognising situations that may place them at risk. These themes are taught in an age-appropriate and progressive way as children move through the school.

This ensures that safeguarding education is not limited to a single lesson but is part of a broad and balanced learning experience.

Learning Through Real-Life Experiences

Children also learn about staying safe through a range of enrichment opportunities and partnerships with external organisations.

Educational visits and visiting speakers help pupils understand how to apply their knowledge in real-life situations. For example, pupils in Year 3 visit Hazard Alley, where they explore everyday risks and learn practical strategies for staying safe in different environments, including online.

We also welcome visitors from organisations such as the NSPCC and other community services who support pupils in understanding personal safety, speaking up about worries and keeping themselves safe both in school and beyond.

These experiences help children develop confidence, awareness and practical strategies for staying safe in the wider world.

A Culture Where Children Feel Safe

The most important foundation for safeguarding is a culture where children feel secure, respected and confident to speak openly.

At St Mary’s we prioritise:

strong and trusting relationships between adults and pupils
a sense of belonging within the school community
opportunities for children to share their thoughts and concerns
clear expectations for kindness, respect and responsibility.

By creating an environment where children feel valued and heard, we help them develop the confidence to seek support when they need it.

Working Together with Families

We work in partnership with parents and carers to support children’s safety and wellbeing. Guidance, information and support are shared with families so that children receive consistent messages about staying safe both at school and at home.

Together, we help our children grow into confident individuals who can recognise risk, make wise choices and flourish in the world around them.