In addition to our whole school ethos Whitehouse Primary School & Nursery Unit has a Safeguarding and Pastoral Care Team. This team is led by Miss Blain and Mrs Watson and they are supported closely by Mrs Clifford and Mrs Spratt.  Mrs Baillie (Chairperson of the Board of Governors) is also a member of the team and receives regular updates and attends meetings throughout the year. 

Pastoral Care Aims

• To create an environment where pupils are safe and contented;
• To ensure that each pupil feels valued, special and unique and a member of the school community;
• To instil a sense of personal worth and dignity through intellectual, moral and spiritual development;
• To empower pupils in building and monitoring good relationships with pupils, teachers and others;
• To assist individuals to develop their lifestyles, appreciate life and respect the world in which they live;
• To encourage a sense of personal accountability for their own learning and actions;
• To protect pupils from physical, social, emotional and intellectual harm and to provide them with the skills to cope with possible threats to their personal safety, both within and outside school;
• To promote warm and positive relationships between pupils, staff and parents.

Safeguarding & Child Protection Aims

• In all matters relating to Safeguarding & Child Protection procedures or policies, the best interest of the child is of paramount importance.
• Children have the right to be heard, listened to and taken seriously, and to be consulted according to their age and understanding about proposed action.
• Whitehouse Primary School & Nursery Unit has a pastoral responsibility towards the children in our care, and should take all reasonable steps to ensure that their welfare is safeguarded and their safety is preserved.
• There are clear procedures in place to be followed where the school has been alerted to possible abuse as outlined in the safeguarding and child protection policy.
• All teaching and support staff receive training annually and know what procedures need to be followed.
• Safeguarding & Child Protection arrangements should also seek to maintain the necessary balance between protecting children and respecting the rights of parents, families/carers and members of staff.
• A copy of the school’s Safeguarding & Child Protection arrangements is maintained. The full policy document is accessible within school and copies provided given 24 hours’ notice. Parents of all Y1 pupils and new starts will be issued with a copy of the school’s Safeguarding & Child Protection. All parents will receive a copy of the Safeguarding & Child Protection leaflet annually . Both of these documents are available to download at anytime from the school website.
• Safeguarding & Child Protection arrangements are also shared and understood by children so that they know what to do and who they can talk to.