What we do in School to keep your children safe
Who can help?
We have a team of Designated Safeguarding Leads led by Assistant Head Teacher Ms Patel who help keep everyone in our school community safe.
School Safeguarding Team
What does safeguarding in school mean?
Schools play an essential role in protecting children from abuse and neglect. Our school keeps all its children and families safe by:
- creating safe environments for children and young people through robust safeguarding practices
- ensuring that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, don't pose a risk to children
- making sure staff are trained, know how to respond to concerns and keep-up-to-date with policy and practice
- teaching children about staying safe
- Maintaining an environment where children feel confident to approach any member of staff if they have a worry or problem.
- being proactive against bullying and racist behaviour
- protecting our children from harassment and discrimination
- maintaining a positive approach to behaviour management including the use of physical intervention, safely, when necessary
- meeting the needs of children with medical conditions
- providing first aid
- protecting children from drug and substance abuse
- enabling children to enjoy safe educational visits
- children are safe when using the internet and making sure they are aware of cyber bullying.
- Ensuring our school site is secure and safe
Types of abuse:
- Domestic abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Online abuse
- Physical abuse
- Child sex exploitation
- Female genital mutilation
- Bullying and cyber bullying
- Child trafficking
- Grooming
- Harmful sexual behaviour
- Extremism and radical behaviour
An abused child will often experience more than one type of abuse, as well as other difficulties in their lives. It often happens over a period of time, rather than being a one-off event. And it can increasingly happen online.
Our main priority is to keep your child safe and healthy so that they can learn effectively and enjoy their school experiences.
We are an Operation Encompass school
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced any domestic abuse.
To find out more, please click link below:
What to do if you are worried about a child
Belmore Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all children and expects all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.
We are aware that child abuse can happen to all children regardless of gender, culture, religion, social background or disability.
If you become concerned about:
- something a child says
- marks, bruises, cuts or other physical injuries
- changes in a child’s mood, demeanour or behaviour
Please inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or one of the members of the Safeguarding team.
If you feel a child may be at risk of harm but you are not sure then inform the DSL who will provide advice and take appropriate action.
All concerns are retained in order to determine patterns and provide detailed information as well as evidence of action taken.
What do I do if a child discloses they are being harmed?
- React calmly—if possible, send another member of staff to inform a member of the Safeguarding Team
- Listen carefully to the child—especially what is said spontaneously
- Do not promise confidentiality. Explain to the child that you may need to pass on the information if you are worried about their wellbeing or safety
- Do not ask leading questions—you can ask clarifying questions or ask them to explain what they have said. Questioning children is a specialised role and incorrect questioning may compromise later investigations
- Reassure the child that they have ’done the right thing’
- As soon as possible, after the disclosure, record what the child has said in their own words, including date, time, place, how the account was given and other circumstances.
Types of harm
Everybody has a responsibility to keep all children under 18 safe. Harm can be identified in the following ways:
Physical
When a child is deliberately hurt or injured. This includes female genital mutilation. Any person who expects that a child has been subjected to FGM has a legal responsibility to report this to the Police and must also inform the DSL immediately.
Sexual
This is when a child is influenced or forced to take part in a sexual activity. This could be a physical activity or non physical e.g. being influenced, exposed to or made to look at an inappropriate image. This includes child sexual exploitation.
Emotional
This is when a child is made to feel frightened, worthless or unloved. It can occur through intimidation (e.g. shouting at), using threats or making fun of someone. It might also occur when children see their parents, families or visitors to the home, fighting, arguing or using other forms of violence.
Neglect
This is when a child is not being taken care of by their parents/carers. It can relate to poor hygiene, poor diet, not keeping appointments for health or additional needs, not coming to school or being left without supervision by a suitable adult.
Extremism and radicalisation
The holding of extreme views which do not reflect British Values:
- democracy
- the rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith
Cyber
Where the internet is used to coerce, bully or exploit a child. Where children are allowed access to unsuitable images, references or articles.
Security
All external doors and gates have access controls or locks. This is to ensure that no-one can get into school without speaking to a member of the office team. All staff members have identity badges and visitors are asked to wear a lanyard when they sign in at the school office. Anyone seen in school without identification will be challenged as to the purpose of their visit. CCTV cameras around the school ensure we can see who is in the grounds.
DBS checks
Anyone who works with children requires an enhanced DBS check. All staff and regular volunteers undergo an enhanced DBS check before they can work with children in the school or on visits etc. Temporary staff and contractors are checked in accordance with nationally agreed procedures. DBS checks are not always required if volunteers are with children in a supervised situation i.e. another DBS cleared adult is present, so you may find that you will be able to help without a check for a one off school visit etc.
Child protection
All our staff have regular child protection training where they are told what to do if they have a concern. If you have a concern about a child then please talk to a member of the Safeguarding. Child protection concerns may have to be shared with other professionals. The school has a clear Safeguarding/Child Protection Policy which can be viewed on our website or you can obtain a paper copy from the school office.
First aid
We have a large number of staff trained as paediatric first aiders and staff who have completed a full two day fully certified First Aid Training Course. First Aid incidents are recorded on our online system Medical Tracker and parents are notified when needed.
Social media
Be aware of social media and how your children use it. Please ensure you have age appropriate filters on devices and that you are monitoring what they are accessing.
- 13+: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, X, Discord, YouTube (with parental consent).
- 16+: WhatsApp.
Travelling to and from school
There are no official guidelines about how old children should be to walk to school on their own however we would prefer this only to be considered for children in years 5 and 6. At this time the children are developing their independence and some are ready for this level of trust. This decision will be made by their parents or guardian who will know their child well enough to know whether they are ready, as they prepare their child for secondary school. If your child walks to school on his/her own we would ask you to consider a few things. Do they know how to be safe? Do they know how to cross the road, who to talk to, who not to talk to and where to go if they are worried? We also ask you to inform the school office that you allow your child to walk to or from school.
Anti-bullying
Our school has an anti-bullying policy which is available on our school website. We cannot say that bullying will never occur but we will do our best to resolve any incidents and ensure the children know who to talk to and where to find help. If you have any concerns about bullying please talk to your child’s teacher, Year Group Leader or any member of the Senior Leadership.
Contact us
This is a brief overview of how we ensure your child is safe, if you feel we could do more or you want to know more please get in touch with a member of the Safeguarding Team via school office email: enquiries@belmore.school
