Keeping safe

Learning to Stay Safe, Happy and Healthy

At Winford Church of England Primary School, keeping you safe is one of the most important things we do.

We want you to feel safe at school, at home, online and when you're out and about. We also want to help you learn how to recognise risks, make sensible choices and know when to ask for help.

Our school values of Aspire, Belong and Care remind us that we all have a part to play in looking after ourselves and one another.

Learning How to Keep Safe

We learn about safety in lots of different ways, including lessons, assemblies, visits, practical activities and conversations.

Throughout the year, we explore important topics such as:

Online safety – Keeping personal information safe, recognising online risks and knowing what to do if something worries us.
Friendships and anti-bullying – Understanding kindness, respect, healthy relationships and how to get help.
Mental health and wellbeing – Recognising our feelings, looking after our mental health and knowing who we can talk to.
Water safety – Understanding the dangers of water and how to stay safe around rivers, lakes and the sea.
Fire and firework safety – Learning how to prevent accidents and what to do in an emergency.
Road safety – Making safe choices when walking, cycling and travelling.
Personal safety and safeguarding – Understanding our right to feel safe, recognising unsafe situations and knowing which adults can help us.

We also learn about keeping safe through our Jigsaw PSHE curriculum, computing lessons, collective worship and everyday school activities.

Year 6 Visit to LifeSkills

Each year, our Year 6 children visit the LifeSkills Centre at the Create Centre in Bristol.

LifeSkills provides exciting, realistic activities that help children recognise risks and make safe decisions.

Working together in a specially designed indoor village, children experience different situations and learn how to respond safely.

They develop confidence, practise problem-solving and discover how to take greater responsibility for their own safety as they become more independent.

Visits from Our Local Police

Our local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) visit Winford and help children understand how the police keep people safe.

Year 6 also take part in sessions about crime and consequences, exploring important topics such as making safe choices, peer pressure and the risks associated with crime.

Children also learn about internet safety and how to recognise and respond to online risks.

These visits help pupils understand the importance of making responsible decisions and knowing where to turn for help.

Bikeability

Many of our Year 6 pupils take part in Bikeability, a practical cycle training programme.

Bikeability helps children develop the skills, awareness and confidence they need to cycle safely.

Children learn about road awareness, making decisions and taking responsibility when cycling.

Dog Awareness

We believe it is important to understand how to behave safely and respectfully around animals.

Through our dog awareness learning, children discover how to approach dogs appropriately, recognise when a dog needs space and understand the importance of responsible animal care.

Our school dog, Bella, also helps children learn about kindness and respect towards animals.

Visit Our Dog Awareness Page

Staying Safe in Everyday Activities

Learning about safety doesn't just happen in lessons!

We practise making safe choices during everyday school experiences, including:

Cooking and using equipment safely.
Forest Activities and outdoor learning.
Gardening and exploring our school grounds.
Walking through the village and visiting the church.
Learning about safe behaviour around animals.
Taking part in educational visits and school trips.

These experiences help us develop confidence, independence and an understanding of how to manage risks sensibly.

Feeling Safe at School

Everyone has the right to feel safe, listened to and respected.

At Winford, we work hard to make our school a place where children feel happy, included and supported.

Our school rules are:

Ready • Respectful • Safe

We talk regularly about what safeguarding means, who helps to keep us safe and what children can do if something doesn't feel right.

We want every child to know that:

You can talk to an adult if something is worrying you.
You will be listened to and taken seriously.
It is always okay to ask for help.
You should never feel that you have to deal with a worry on your own.
If the first person you speak to cannot help, you can speak to another trusted adult.

Who Can Help Me?

There are lots of adults at Winford who care about you and want to help.

If something is worrying you, please speak directly to an adult you trust.

This could be your class teacher, a Learning Partner, a lunchtime adult or another member of school staff.

You don't have to wait until a worry becomes a big problem. We would much rather you tell us about something that is bothering you so that we can help.

We also have adults with special responsibility for helping to keep children safe:

Mrs Campbell – Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs Tiernan – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Ms Adams – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

You do not have to know who the safeguarding leads are to ask for help. Any trusted adult in school can listen to your worries and help you get the support you need.

Remember…

If something makes you feel worried, frightened, uncomfortable or unsafe, tell a trusted adult.

You can always ask for help, even if you are not sure whether something is a problem.

We are here to listen, care and help you feel safe.

Together we Flourish

We look after ourselves. We look after each other. We help everyone feel safe.