Thornford School have a child Protection Policy in order to protect children from harm. We aim to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children, young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
Your Child’s Welfare
Our first priority is your child’s welfare and we will usually discuss any concerns we might have about your child with you. There might be occasions, however, when we have to provide information to or consult other agencies such as Children’s Services Social Care before we contact you. Part of our legal duty to safeguard our children, may also include us needing to consult specifically with, and take advice from, the Police or Children’s Social Care, should the need arise. We also seek advice from Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership Dorset – BCP Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership. If you want to know more about these procedures, please speak to our DSL: Mrs Kirsty Blencowe.
Keeping_children_safe_in_education_from_1_September_2025
Thornford CE Primary School & SAST Safeguarding Policy 2025-26
SAST Staff Code of Conduct V5Sept23
SAST AllegationsagainststaffpolicyV6Sept2023
Designated Safeguard Lead: Mrs Kirsty Blencowe
Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead: Mrs Rachel Saunders & Mr Ian Bartle
Contact email: office@thornford.dorset.sch.uk
Phone:01935 872706
School Security
The school building has been risk assessed for security. New gates have been installed for extra security. Adult access is through the main entrance through a controlled entry system and all other doors are locked at 8.45am to ensure the children’s safety. The children are never left unsupervised and members of staff on duty in the playgrounds are in contact with other staff. All volunteers, work experience students / adults and Governors are cleared by the Disclosure Barring Service when appropriate or required before being allowed in contact with children.
Child Protection (Staff in Charge of Safeguarding – Entitled – Designated Safeguarding Leads – DSL’s)
The school has two members of staff who follow up incidents of Safeguarding with appropriate action. They are Mrs Kirsty Blencowe (DSL) and Mrs Rachel Saunders ( Deputy DSL).They can be contacted via the office email (office@thornford.dorset.sch.uk) and on the telephone number: 01935 872706. Mrs. Ali Brazier is the Parental Support Advisor at Sherborne Primary School and we can arrange for her to visit and support parents and families, as necessary.
ALL our staff have been trained on safeguarding to the appropriate requirements. Please see the Office / Headteacher for further details. Tanya Burnham is the Designated Safeguarding Governor. Child Protection Procedures are available on request from the school office.
OPERATION ENCOMPASS
Please click below for further information:
10 key principles of Operation Encompass
OE Certificate – Rachel Saunders
OE Certificate – Kirsty Blencowe
Recruitment
Thornford Primary School is committed to protect our children. ALL POSTS will require an enhanced disclosure barring service check prior to appointment / working with our children.
Prevent Duty – delete what is there and put in new guidance The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation – GOV.UK
Worried about a child’s safety?
If you are concerned about a child in Dorset and want to speak to someone, contact the Children’s Advice and Duty Service on 01305 228558 and give as much info as you can.
More info can be found at: https://pdscp.co.uk/dorset/