Our Safeguarding Curriculum

Child Protection and Safeguarding are taken very seriously at Royal Park Primary Academy. All procedures and expectations are outlined in our child protection policy which you can find in our policy section under Our School. 

Safeguarding Curriculum

At Royal Park Primary, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our children. Our safeguarding curriculum is designed to empower children with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe in a variety of contexts. We believe that a proactive approach to safeguarding is essential in creating a secure and nurturing environment for learning. We are sensitive in our planning and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age-appropriate level, or at a small group or 1:1 level where a more urgent need arises. 

PSHE education has a crucial role in our safeguarding provision, equipping children with the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe and to seek help when needed.

Through PSHE, children learn to:

• Recognise when relationships or situations are unsafe

• Understand that abuse is never their fault

• Know a range of trusted adults they can talk to

• Develop vocabulary to express concerns clearly

• Build confidence to keep asking for help until they are heard

• Understand their rights over their own bodies and personal information

• Recognise emotional, physical and sexual abuse

• Identify risks online and in the physical world

• Develop resilience and strategies for managing difficult situations

Managing Disclosures and Concerns

PSHE lessons, particularly those addressing sensitive topics, may lead to disclosures from children. All staff are trained to:

• Respond calmly and supportively to disclosures

• Never promise confidentiality (explaining that some concerns must be shared to keep children safe)

• Listen carefully without asking leading questions

• Record concerns accurately and immediately

• Report all concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or deputy DSL) without delay

Children are informed via the Jigsaw Charter at the start of PSHE lessons how confidentiality works - that personal information shared by others during discussions will be treated with respect and care, but if a teacher is worried about a child's safety, they will need to share information with people who can help.

All staff delivering PSHE education are familiar with our safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures. Where external visitors contribute to PSHE delivery, they are briefed on safeguarding procedures before working with children.

Signposting to Support

We actively encourage children to talk with their families about their worries and concerns, recognising that parents and carers are often the first and most important source of support. At the same time, we understand that for a small number of children, there may be times when they want or need to seek support from other trusted adults, and we ensure children know how to do this when needed.

Within PSHE lessons and through displays, assemblies and other communications, children are regularly informed about sources of support both within school and externally:

• Named trusted adults within school

• How to access pastoral support

• External helplines relevant to their age (e.g., Childline)

• Basic first aid knowledge and understanding of when and how to seek medical help

• Emergency services and how to access them

It is positive and healthy for all children to have a range of trusted adults they can turn to for support - within their family, at school, and in the wider community. Our PSHE curriculum emphasises that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that support is always available.

Key Areas of Curriculum Focus  

  1. Understanding Personal Safety

    • Educating children about their bodies and personal boundaries.

    • Recognizing safe and unsafe situations.

    • Encouraging children to speak up if they feel uncomfortable.

  2. Digital Safety

    • Teaching children how to navigate the internet safely.

    • Understanding the importance of privacy and responsible online behavior.

    • Recognizing and reporting cyberbullying.

  3. Emotional Well-being

    • Promoting mental health awareness and resilience.

    • Providing strategies for managing emotions and building self-esteem.

    • Encouraging empathy and understanding of others’ feelings.

  4. Healthy Relationships

    • Discussing the importance of respectful friendships and relationships.

    • Identifying healthy vs. unhealthy relationship dynamics.

    • Encouraging open communication with trusted adults.

  5. Awareness of Risks

    • Identifying potential risks in everyday situations (e.g., strangers, substances).

    • Understanding emergency procedures and how to seek help.

Curriculum Implementation

Our safeguarding curriculum is integrated across all subjects and year groups. It is embedded within our curriculum and taught through our PSHE curriculum Jigsaw, as well as half-termly discussion topics that follow recent community and national safeguarding updates that we believe are important to share with our pupils and staff. We utilise engaging teaching methods, including discussions, assemblies, and interactive activities to make learning about safeguarding relevant and impactful. 

Jigsaw Safeguarding curriculum coverage overview:

Safeguarding Curriculum planned opportunities:

We have planned safeguarding opportunities incorporated into the curriculum throughout the academic year, including:

• Road Safety: Integrated into out-of-school visits, "Bikeability" training, and collaborative work with local community police officers.

• Water Safety: Taught through termly swimming lessons and dedicated summer safeguarding discussion topics.

• Fire Awareness: Including educational visits and workshops from the local fire service.

• Medical & Health Support: Regular visits to the school from medical professionals to support pupil well-being.

• Charity Partnerships: Focused projects delivered by specialists from national charities such as the NSPCC.

• Community Awareness: Police workshops for Upper Key Stage 2 (KS2) covering community trends, street safety, gang culture, and drug and alcohol awareness.

• Secondary Transition: Working alongside Local Authority specialists to support our Year 6 pupils in their transition to secondary school.

• Independent Travel: A dedicated Year 6 TfL (Transport for London) workshop focused on the safe use of public transport and the Underground.

• Digital Citizenship: An annual Internet Safety Week covering the safe use of technology and AI, including password security and privacy settings.

Targeted Workshops & Awareness Days

Throughout the year, we deliver specific workshops and events to deepen pupil understanding:

• NSPCC: The "Speak Out, Stay Safe" programme.

• Consent Education: "Talk Consent" workshops delivered to pupils from Year 3 to Year 6.

• Young Carers: An annual Imago Young Carers assembly delivered by a representative to support and identify young carers within our community.

• Anti-Bullying: In partnership with the Anti-Bullying Alliance, we deliver tailored activities for EYFS, KS1, and KS2 during Anti-Bullying Week.

• Safeguarding Ambassadors: Our pupil ambassadors lead the "Childhood Mile" NSPCC fundraising event and run "Stand Up to Bullying" day.

• Half-Termly Assemblies: Dedicated safeguarding assemblies are held every half-term, led by our Safeguarding Ambassadors to raise awareness of current trends.

Working with Families and the Community

Safeguarding is a partnership. We work closely with Knowsley city schools to share monthly online newsletters, providing parents with the tools and resources needed to navigate the ever-changing online world safely.

Additionally, we offer workshops in collaboration with specialist support teams within the borough. These sessions are designed to support parents and guardians in understanding and managing safeguarding issues at home throughout the academic year.

Reporting and further Support

At Royal Park we have clear policies and procedures in place for reporting concerns. Our dedicated safeguarding team is always available to provide support to children, families, and staff.

For any immediate concerns, please contact dsl@royalpark-tkat.org.

 

Safeguarding progression curriculum map