Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our young people and require all of the school community to demonstrably share this commitment. This webpage provides key information about our child protection procedures and guidance on what you should do if you have any concerns.
Visitor Procedures : Please sign in on arrival and collect your visitors badge. Please wear the badge at all times to avoid being challenged by staff. Visitors may be asked to remain under the supervision of a designated member of staff whilst on site. Visitors must ensure that mobile phones are switched off or on silent, stored away safely and only used for emergency purposes in the presence of a school staff member. Visitors should not take any pictures / films of children. On departure please sign out and return your badge.
If, whilst on site, you witness something that concerns you or a pupil makes a disclosure to you please inform a member of the designated safeguarding team immediately. Please ask for assistance at the office if you cannot find a member of the team.
If you have concerns that are urgent when the school is closed, please contact the police on 999.
You can also make a referral directly to Children's Services via Bedford Borough Children's Services Integrated Front Door (IFD) by calling 01234 718700 (office hours) or online here. For out of office hours you can call the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 300 8123 or contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
Contact details for the Local Authority Designated Officer are TEL: 01234 276693 lado@bedford.gov.uk
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of the Operation Encompass initiative. We are informed by the police, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced or been exposed to any domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the school staff is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been experienced a domestic abuse incident.
Key Safeguarding Documents:
Our safeguarding policy is enclosed below. Children are the central focus of this policy. It is based the principal safeguarding legislation:
Children Act 1989
Children Act 1989: Section 47
Children Act 2004
The Children and Social Work Act 2017
Working Together to Safeguard Children
Keeping Children Safe in Education
and the four core principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Non-discrimination
- Best interest of the child
- Right to survive and develop
- right to be heard
This policy is supported by the
Brook Sexual Behaviour Traffic Light Tool
We have also provided information on how to support children to stay safe online
Also know as 'Whilstle Blowing'. This policy outlines the reporting process for staff, contractors and their workforce, volunteers or members of the public who the school deals with, who have serious concerns about any aspect of the school’s work.
A link to our online safety page.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023)
A key safeguarding document we use in school.
Dealing with Disclosure:
Whilst this can be an alarming situation, it is important that you know what to do in such an eventuality and for you to be able to stay calm and controlled.
- Listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief. Accept what is being said.
- Do not promise to keep it a secret but let the child know you will have to tell their teacher or head teacher so that they can help them.
- Allow the child to talk freely, do not ask leading questions.
- Re-assure the child that it is not their fault. Stress that it was right to tell.
- Record details of the disclosure immediately, including wherever possible the exact words or phrases used by the child. Sign and date the record.
- Report your concerns and give your written record to the Designated Safeguarding / Headteacher to enable the matter to be dealt with in the most appropriate way. DO NOT investigate yourself.
- Consider how best to manage your own feelings after a disclosure.
- It is important to remember the children’s details and names must remain confidential and any discussion that you feel you need to undertake does not allow the child to be identified to anyone else.