Safeguarding at Thaxted Primary School

At Thaxted Primary School, safeguarding and child protection sit at the heart of our ethos. We work together—staff, governors, families and pupils—to create a safe, nurturing environment where every child can thrive.

Our Safeguarding Team

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mrs C Crompton (Headteacher)
• Deputy DSLs: Mrs E Dymond (Deputy Head) and Mrs N Black (Pastoral Care & Well‑Being Leader) 

How to Contact Us

• School office: 01371 830240 • admin@thaxted.essex.sch.uk
• Address: Bardfield Road, Thaxted, Essex CM6 2LW

If You’re Worried About a Child

• During school hours: Speak to the DSL/Deputy DSL via the school office (details above).
• Out of hours or for advice: Contact the Essex Children & Families Hub on 0345 603 7627 (ask for the Consultation or Priority Line as appropriate). Out of hours: 0345 606 1212. If a child is at immediate risk, call 999.

Our Approach to Keeping Children Safe

• We follow the school’s Child Protection Policy (2025) and related policies (e.g., Behaviour and Exclusions, SEND, Whistleblowing). These set out clear procedures for raising and responding to concerns, safer recruitment, staff training and information‑sharing. Policies are available on our website Policies page.
• Safeguarding is threaded through our curriculum and pastoral offer, so pupils learn how to stay safe, including online and in the community, and know how to seek help from trusted adults. (See our policies page for current documents.) 

Reporting and Confidentiality
We record and act on concerns promptly, sharing information on a need‑to‑know basis to protect children and comply with statutory guidance. Where appropriate, we work with external agencies (e.g., Essex Children & Families Hub) to ensure the right support at the right time. 

Anonymous Community Reporting

Thaxted Primary School is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every child in our community. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and both schools and members of the public have a legal and moral duty to report any concerns they may have about a child’s welfare—whether those concerns arise during the school day or outside of school hours. 

To support this important responsibility, the school has introduced a new anonymous online reporting link, enabling anyone to share information quickly, easily, and confidentially.

This new link provides a direct route to a secure online form, accessible at any time. Once submitted, the information is immediately directed to the school’s Safeguarding Team, who will review the details and decide on the most appropriate next steps. The goal is to ensure that concerns—no matter how small they may seem—are never overlooked and can be acted upon promptly.

The form can be used to report any safeguarding issue, including worries about a child’s safety, wellbeing, behaviour, or circumstances. Reports may relate to incidents witnessed in the community, worrying conversations or disclosures, concerns shared by other children, or any situation that raises questions about a child’s safety.

While the link does allow users to remain anonymous, we encourage anyone submitting a concern to consider including their name and contact details. Anonymous reports are still taken seriously; however, they can sometimes limit the school’s ability to fully investigate an issue, especially when more context or clarification is needed. If the concern is severe enough we may contact the police or social services.

If you do not know the child’s name, please include as much detail as possible. A clear description—such as approximate age, appearance, clothing, or other identifying information—helps the team make sure the right support reaches the right child.

This new tool strengthens our community’s ability to protect children and reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for all pupils. Thank you for playing your part in safeguarding our young people.

If you have a concern outside school hours, please use the new link and help us keep every child safe.

https://app.recordmy.software/anon/record/a14cc49e-d462-4733-9139-6af7ee3e7a96

Need More Information?

• Policies can be found on our website. If you require paper copies or have accessibility needs, please contact the office.

We are committed to continuous improvement in safeguarding and welcome feedback from parents and carers.