Safeguarding
The NSPCC describes safeguarding as the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. It is a top priority at Southfield.
Key People
Our Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL) is Mrs. O'Sullivan, Head of School.
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leader (DDSL) is Mrs Spencer, Class Teacher.
The governor responsible for safeguarding is Abbie McNally.
If you are ever concerned about the safety or wellbeing of any child, please speak directly to:
- One of the named safeguarding leaders above
- Any member of Southfield’s staff team
- A member of the NSPCC safeguarding helpline on 0808 800 5000
- A member of Swindon's Family Contact Point on 01793 466903
Safeguarding means:
- Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
- Preventing harm to children’s health or development
- Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes
Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
Information during school closures
During the time whilst our school is closed, you may feel worried, anxious or unsafe.
Don’t forget there are many organisations you can contact for support.
Childline
Free telephone number: 0800 1111
Calling this number will connect you to a one to one counsellor, who you can talk to about your worries.
Or you can email via the website:
Childline.org.uk
SamaritansFree telephone number: 116 123
The Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk anytime you like in your own way.
Or visit the website:
Young Minds
Youngminds.org.uk
If you need support in a crisis or just need to talk to someone
Young Minds are there to offer support.
Please also see the PDF below for online support that is available to children.
Our Duty of Care
All staff have a duty of care to report concerns when they arise.
Parents and carers will be informed of such concerns unless to do so would increase the risk to the child.
A written record of any concern will be kept on file and shared with other safeguarding professionals as necessary. Written records will be transferred to the children's new schools when they leave Southfield. Copies will not be kept on site.
Our Policy
Click here to access our current Safeguarding and Child Protection policy.
What do we do?
To keep up-to-date with local and national statutory guidance, training, serious case reviews and best practice, we employ the services of an independent consultant, Sarah Turner.
Sarah has supported us with an annual review of safeguarding and has provided outstanding, bespoke training for all members of staff here at Southfield.
Training:
- All members of staff receive Level 1 safeguarding training annually.
- Every member of staff is expected to read and understand Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education
- All members of staff are expected to undertake online Prevent Duty training annually
- All members of staff are expected to read and follow Safer Working Practice guidance
- All designated leads have attended Level 3 training
- Mrs O'Sullivan have attended Safer Recruitment training
- In staff meetings, we regularly review safeguarding scenarios and share termly safeguarding updates from Swindon Safeguarding Partnership (SSP), Family Contact Point and Sarah Turner Consulting.
Domestic Violence and ENCOMPASS
Southfield is part of a project that runs jointly between schools and Wiltshire Police: ENCOMPASS.
This is the way in which Wiltshire Police will report to schools, by the next school day, when a child or young person has been affected by a domestic incident.
ENCOMPASS will ensure that a member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, will be shared the information in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been involved in, affected by or exposed to a domestic abuse incident.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our children and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
The Wider Context of Safeguarding at Southfield
First Aid and Medicines
Please visit our policies area to read our policy on Supporting Children with Medical Conditions.
We have a dedicated team of First Aiders here at Southfield who receive paediatric first aid training regularly.
Health and Safety
A dedicated team of senior staff works hard to keep our premises safe and secure. We undertake fire drills regularly and we also have an emergency plan. The Health and Safety team is also responsible for ensuring that all trips that the children attend are properly risk assessed. When on site, all visitors are expected to sign in and out and must wear a Southfield identification badge.
Safer Recruitment
We expect all staff and volunteers to share our commitment to safeguarding. All staff and volunteers are expected to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We also carry out identity, professional qualification and disqualification by association checks before any person undertakes any role within our school.
E-Safety
Through the South West Grid for Learning, we apply strong filters and safety systems on all our school computers and tablets. All internet use by children is overseen by a member of staff and we actively teach children about keeping safe online through our cross-curricular Computing curriculum.
Web Links for Families
NSPCC Pants: The Underwear Rule
Think U Know: A Guide for Parents About Online Safety
Online Safety
Just like in real life, children need our help to stay safe online.
Teach your child to be #ShareAware with @NSPCC and @O2 by clicking here.
Please click here for a parents' guide to keeping safe online and help with parental controls and restrictions.