Safeguarding
Harper Green School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and work together to ensure every student is safe, supported and able to thrive.
Safeguarding is the process of protecting children from harm, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they grow up in safe and supportive environments. This enables children to have the best possible life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.
We work in partnership with parents, carers and external agencies to support our students both in school and in the wider community. There may be occasions where we have concerns about a student’s welfare and, in these situations, we may consult with external agencies in line with statutory safeguarding guidance.
We follow the Department for Education’s safeguarding guidance, including:
- DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2025)
- DfE Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026)
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact your child’s Pastoral Year Lead in the first instance or speak to a member of the safeguarding team.
Safeguarding Policy
Our safeguarding policies and procedures are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain up to date and reflect current national guidance and best practice.
View our Safeguarding Policy >
Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mr S Walsh
(Please refer to the safeguarding poster above for full team details, including Deputy DSLs.)
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact the school and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team.

Concerns About a Child
If you have a concern about a child or a member of the Harper Green community, please contact the school and ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team (as identified on the poster above).
You can also contact the school via email at: head@harpergreen.net
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, you should contact the police on 999 or your local safeguarding team directly.
You can also contact:
- Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership
https://www.boltonsafeguardingchildren.org.uk/
Operation Encompass
Harper Green School is part of Operation Encompass, a national police and education partnership supporting children who experience domestic abuse.
Through this partnership:
- The police share information with the school about domestic abuse incidents involving our students
- Information is shared prior to the start of the next school day
- This enables us to provide timely and appropriate support
All information is handled confidentially and in line with safeguarding procedures.
The Safeguarding Governor receives anonymised updates through termly reports
More information can be found here - https://www.operationencompass.org/
Safeguarding resources
We have provided a range of trusted resources below to support parents, carers and students.
Department for Education Guidance
- Keeping Children Safe in Education
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 - Working Together to Safeguard Children
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2 - Prevent: Protecting Children from Radicalisation
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance - Educate Against Hate
https://educateagainsthate.com/
Other Useful Websites for Parents and Carers
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NSPCC – guidance on safeguarding and online safety
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Thinkuknow (CEOP) – advice on staying safe online
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Childline – support for children and young people
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Barnardo’s – guidance on child exploitation
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Spot the Signs – recognising exploitation
