The welfare and safeguarding of our children is paramount in all we do at Orchid Vale Primary School.

What is Safeguarding and Child Protection?

Safeguarding is the action that people take to keep all children safe and is defined as:

· Protecting children from maltreatment;

· Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development;

· Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;

· Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes;

Child Protection is part of the safeguarding process and is defined as:

• A situation where a child is suffering significant harm, or is likely to do so, and action is required to protect that child.

Reporting a concern:

If you have any concerns regarding a child in our school, please report this to one of our safeguarding team.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Helen Willcox

Our Deputy Designated Leads are:  Mrs Lee, Mrs Rao, Mrs Ponting, Mrs Dipple and Miss Lager.

If you are concerned a child or young person is in immediate danger, call the Police on 999.

If you have a concern outside of school hours, please call ‘Contact Swindon’ on 01793 464646 during normal office hours, 8.30am to 4.40pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 4.00pm Friday).  The Emergency Duty Service is available on 01793 436699​​