Designated safeguarding team
- Joy Mounter, Headteacher
- Debbie Trotman, Learning Mentor
- Lindy Allen, Assistant Headteacher
Bridge Farm Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. We believe that:
- All children have the right to be protected from harm
- Children need to be safe and to feel safe in school
- Children need support which matches their individual needs, including those who may have experienced abuse
- All children have the right to speak freely and voice their values and beliefs
- All children must be encouraged to respect each other’s values and support each other
- All children have the right to be supported to meet their emotional, and social needs as well as their educational needs – a happy healthy sociable child will achieve better educationally
- Schools can and do contribute to the prevention of abuse, victimisation, bullying, exploitation, radicalisation, extreme behaviours, discriminatory views and risk taking behaviours
- All staff and visitors have an important role to play in safeguarding children and protecting them from abuse.
Safeguarding is defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
- Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.
Policies relating to safeguarding can be found in our policies section.
Bridge Farm Primary School continues to treat safeguarding as a high priority to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of all children, staff and visitors is given due consideration.
The single central record (SCR) is a document maintained by the school to demonstrate that staff have undergone appropriate recruitment and police checks. The SCR is updated as and when new staff are recruited and when they leave their service at Bridge Farm Primary. Governors, volunteers and regular visitors to the school are also recorded on the SCR.
Visitors to the school are required to sign in at the main reception area and are issued with a visitors badge and safeguarding information leaflet. Visitors who do not have appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance will not have sole access to children.
Child protection training is provided regularly for existing staff and forms part of the induction process for all newly appointed staff. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) attends briefings and forums organised by the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to receive up to date local information about child protection and safeguarding issues. The DSL also attends training and conferences provided by experts in the field including the NSPCC and the DfE.
All staff are familiar with the DfE’s keeping children safe in education document which forms the basis of our child protection and safeguarding policy. You may also wish to view the current working together to safeguard children guidance.
Please see our child protection and safeguarding policy. This is updated annually in line with revisions to Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance.
What is child protection?
Child Protection is part of Safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm. All staff are made aware of the Governments Guidance on Keeping Children Safe in Education. Part 1 has been thoroughly read and understood by all staff.
Safeguarding and child protection policy
Please see the policies section to access the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy.
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation is a form of child abuse and as such is dealt with under the schools Child protection and safeguarding policy. All parents requesting holiday leave for trips to countries where FGM is practised are reminded that it is illegal to remove a child from the UK for this purpose. You will be asked for assurance that this will not happen. It is mandatory for teachers to report to the police if they find, or are told, someone under 18 has undergone FGM.
E-Safety
Bridge Farm Primary School recognises the benefits and opportunities which new technologies offer to teaching and learning. We encourage the use of technology in order to enhance skills and promote achievement. However, the accessible and global nature of the internet and variety of technologies available mean that we are also aware of potential risks and challenges associated with such use. To find out more please read our E-Safety policy.
The Prevent Duty
The Prevent duty is the requirement of schools to build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views. All staff have undertaken online Prevent training.
Referrals to Children’s Social Care
If anyone has a concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing they should make a referral to First Response. Within school there would first be a discussion with a member of the designated team. We aim to work with families when we have concerns and rarely make a referral without first discussing the need for help with the parents. On occasions though this is necessary and whilst we recognise this can be upsetting for families, it is always our judgement about what is best for the child that will drive our actions.
Procedure for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff/headteacher
The procedure is outlined in the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy. The policy (in line with statutory guidance from the DFE) is designed to ensure that all staff, students and parents or carers are aware of the procedure for the investigation of allegations of abuse in order that all complaints are dealt with consistently, and as efficiently as possible.
- Make a referral to First Response as a member of the public
- Make a referral to First Response as a professional
Parents can also access information to support their children and families via these websites:
Prevent strategy
What is the Prevent strategy?
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people, including pupils, from becoming radicalised.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of radicalisation.
Educate Against Hate
Educate Against Hate an important government website that provides advice and information about protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.
How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?
From July 2015 all schools have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from all other forms of abuse.
The Prevent strategy enables staff to teach children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.
Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss any issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.
