Safeguarding
We recognise that the welfare of the child is paramount and we take our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people in our care seriously.
An agreed definition of safeguarding is: "All agencies take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised. Where there are concerns, all agencies take action to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies" – Joint Chief Inspectors’ Report, 2002.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Please find the national Keeping Children Safe in Education paper Here.
Safeguarding at Stourfield Infant School
Please find the details of our Safeguarding Procedures Here. Paper copies of this document are available from the school office. Should you require this leaflet in any other language, please contact the school office on office@stourfieldinfants.com.
Our Safeguarding Trust wide safeguarding policy can be found here Governance - Twynham Learning
Concerns
If you have a concern about a child, particularly if you think s/he may be suffering or at risk of suffering harm, it is your responsibility to share information promptly with the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection (DSL) or one of the Deputies:
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Pauline Sweetman (Headteacher)
Deputy DSL: Alice Smith (Family Support Worker)
Safeguarding Governor: Gaynor Brown
Please phone us on 01202 424585 with any concerns and ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Pauline Sweetman about a safeguarding matter. If she is unavailable, you will be directed to our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Alice Smith.
If reporting a concern, please provide as much information as possible.
If you have a concern during school holidays or out of school hours, please phone one of the numbers below.
If you have a serious concern because you think a child may be being abused, (physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect or sexual abuse) you should contact Children’s Services direct on 01202 228866 or if out of office hours, please contact the Out of Hours Service on 01202 657279.
For all emergency situations please call 999 and ask for the police.
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse. Operation Encompass involves the police sharing information with key adults within the school about Domestic Abuse incidents. The key adults will ensure that all appropriate actions are taken within school and in line with confidential safeguarding and child protection procedures.
Please find more information here.
Volunteers and Visitors
All volunteers and visitors to our school are introduced to the school’s policies and procedures for Child Protection and Safeguarding. As part of their visit they will be expected to read our summary of our Child Protection procedures.
We use the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to undertake criminal record checks.The School Staffing (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 make it mandatory for an enhanced criminal record check to be obtained for all newly appointed school staff. Parents, governors and other volunteers who help regularly in the classroom and with activities associated with the school will require a DBS check because of the frequency of their volunteering activity and the contact they have with children, but others will not.
Allegations against our staff
If there is an allegation of abuse about a member of staff, please contact our Headteacher, Mrs Pauline Sweetman, on 01202 424585.
For any questions relating to governance at the school please contact: governance.manager@twynhamlearning.com
If you still have an unresolved issue and are concerned about the welfare of a student then please contact the Chair of Trustees at lynda.clarke@twynhamlearning.com
Advice for Parents
We recommend the Family Information Service as an excellent starting point:
- BCP Council Early Help Teams | BCP FID (bcpfamilyinformationdirectory.com)
- 01202 093131
- familyinformation@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Other Useful Links
BCP Children's Services First Response
T. 01202 123334 Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5.15pm, Friday: 8.30am to 4.45pm or email.
Out of hours
The Children's Social Care Out of Hour's service is the emergency response service for any child who is in crisis, needs urgent help or is at serious risk of significant harm. Hours of operation are 5.00pm to 9.00am from Monday to Friday, all day Saturdays and Sundays and all bank holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Their phone number is 01202 738256 or email childrensoohs@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Domestic Abuse
Additional advice on identifying children who are affected by domestic abuse and how they can be helped is available here and here.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000247
Poole Domestic Abuse Outreach: 01202 710777.
Prevent
Educate against hate - help with radicalisation and extremism, and encouraging resilience in young people.
Criminal exploitation
NSPCC Criminal exploitation - this website contains information on how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and what support is available for children and young people.
Rail/road/water safety
Network Rail safety - raising awareness of safety on the railways.
The RNLI have a lot of information on offer about water safety.
Here you can find out about education resources available regarding road safety.
Harmful sexual abuse
The link to the local procedures is here and the NSPCC is also useful.
Drugs and alcohol
The link to the YADAS service is here.
Anti bullying
The Anti-bullying Alliance provides a lot of advice for parents and young people.
Dorset Police
The Dorset Police website information on child sexual exploitation.
