Safeguarding
Safeguarding Support At Elm Tree Primary School
We have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and at our school we take this responsibility seriously. We believe very strongly that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility.
At Elm Tree Primary School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We have a range of policies and procedures in place that help us protect and support all children in our care. There may be occasions when we have concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing. In these circumstances, we may work in partnership with Suffolk Children's Services to discuss our concerns. Wherever possible, we will discuss any concerns with parents and carers first, unless doing so is considered contrary to the child's welfare. If you have any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person in our school, you must share this information immediately with a member of our Safeguarding Team. 01502 562930 You can also call Suffolk Social services (Customer First) on 0808 800 4005. For further details, click on the link.
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
If there is an immediate threat to someone's life, please call 999.
Signing in and wearing of lanyards
All adults and visitors who have undergone a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check wear a green lanyard. Visitors who have not had a DBS check will be issued with a red lanyard and must be accompanied by a member of staff at all times while on the school site. All visitors are required to report to the school office on arrival. Access to the school premises is restricted to authorised adults only. If parents or carers wish to speak to a member of the teaching staff, they should report to the school office in the first instance.
Early Help Offer At Elm Tree Primary
We recognise that families can face challenges from time to time and may need additional help or support. If this is the case, please speak to us. We are here to help and can work with you to identify the most appropriate support for your family. School Early Help referrals may include:
Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
Supporting Smiles
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
School Nursing Team
Attendance support through school meetings and the Education Welfare Officer (EWO)
In addition, the Just One Norfolk website provides a wide range of information, advice and resources to support families, including guidance on emotional health, mental wellbeing and other areas of family life.
Just One Number support line 0300 300 0123
Early Help Support
In addition to the support and referrals available through school, we can help families complete an Early Help Assessment. This process enables us to identify what is working well within the family, as well as any concerns or challenges that may be affecting family life. Working together with parents and carers, we can identify the support that may be needed and develop an appropriate plan. Where additional support is required, a member of the Lowestoft Family Support Team may be allocated to work with the family. This support is typically provided over a period of six to eight weeks, depending on the needs of the family. For further information with this, please click the link below.
Suffolk also run a parenting support programme which is free and easy to sign up for. The Solihull programme runs for 10 weeks as focuses on parent and child relationships including behaviour management.
Solihull Programme
Prevent
At Elm Tree Primary School, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils, including protecting them from the risks of radicalisation and extremism, in line with the government's Prevent Duty. The Prevent Duty aims to safeguard children and young people from being drawn into extremist ideologies or behaviours, both online and within the wider community. We support this through a broad and balanced curriculum, including Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, online safety learning, and opportunities for pupils to develop respect, tolerance and an understanding of different beliefs and cultures. We work hard to create a safe and inclusive environment where children feel confident to express their views, ask questions and discuss issues appropriately. For further information and guidance, parents and carers can visit Educate Against Hate and the NSPCC websites, which provide advice on keeping children safe from radicalisation, including online safety guidance, tips for discussing difficult topics at home, and information about recognising potential risks.
Please speak to Mrs Baker (Prevent Lead) for more information about these resources or any concerns you may have.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Keeping Children Safe in Education KCSiE 2025
Working Together to Safeguard Children
Working Together to Safeguard Children Working together to Safeguard Children 2026
A family guide to film age recommendations.
The British Board of Film Classification symbols are a familiar reference most of us use when considering the suitability of a film for our children. These age recommendations are provided to help you decide what is appropriate viewing content for your child or for children in your care.
Further guidance is available by following this link: Film Age Recommendations
A guide to gaming age recommendations.
The Pan European Gaming Information (PEGI) rates games according to age, content and suitability for young children. They also offer visual content descriptors that add additional information about the games (for example, violence or bad language).
Further guidance is available by following this link: Gaming Age Recommendations