Introduction
Safeguarding is the single most important aspect of life in school. We will do everything within our power to ensure your child is safe and healthy at all times in school. If we have reason to believe that your child may be unsafe when out of school, we will speak to you about this and take advice from external agencies should this be deemed necessary and appropriate.
We are required to follow the child protection procedures as agreed by Oxfordshire County Council. We will keep a record of any concerns raised and share them with you if it is appropriate to do so. We do have a duty to refer to social care if we suspect a child is at risk of significant harm. If we make a referral to social care, we will inform the parents/guardians concerned; unless to do so would place the child at increased risk of significant harm. Our first concern will always be the welfare of the child.
We will also advise the designated officer of the local education authority (LADO) if there were concerns about the actions of an adult in a position of trust.
Designated Safeguarding Leads
The designated safeguarding lead is responsible for promoting a safe environment for children and young people. They are the first point of contact for all staff and volunteers to go to for advice if they are concerned about a child. They may also need to be available out of hours, so staff and volunteers always know how to contact them, or alternatively a deputy can be appointed.
The designated safeguarding lead has a higher level of safeguarding training and knowledge than the rest of the staff. Their role includes supporting staff to assist in information regarding concerns and support decision making about whether staff concerns are sufficient enough to notify children’s social work services or whether other courses of action are more appropriate, such as the completion of an Early Help Assessment.
It is not the designated safeguarding officer's responsibility to decide whether a child has been abused or not. That is the responsibility of investigative statutory agencies such as children’s social work services or the police. However, keeping children safe is everybody’s business, and all staff should know who to go to and how to report any concerns they may have about a child being harmed or at risk of being harmed.
The Southwold School Safeguarding Team
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Luke Graham | Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) |
| Mrs Mo McDonald | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
| Mrs Emily Holloway | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
| Sophie Thomas | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
| Andrea Hooton | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
Reporting Concerns
We will share any concerns we have with parents regarding the welfare of their children, as appropriate. If we suspect a child is suffering from or may be at risk of significant harm we have a duty to refer to social care. If we make a referral to social care, we will inform the parents/carers concerned, unless doing so could place the child at increased risk of significant harm. Our first concern will always be the welfare of the child.
We will advise the Designated Officer For Allegations (LADO) at Oxfordshire County Council if we have any concerns about the behaviour of an adult in a position of trust.
We will also contact our LADO if we are worried about any of the following:
- Child sexual exploitation (CSE)
- Cyberbullying
- Children missing education
- Domestic violence
- Substance misuse
- Fabricated or induced illness
- Faith abuse
- Trafficking
- Sexting
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- Forced marriage
- Gangs and youth violence
- Gender-based violence/violence against women and girls (VAWG)
- Hate
- Mental health
- Private fostering
- Preventing radicalism
Collection Procedures
As part of our policies and procedures to ensure that we can keep your child safe, we are introducing our child collection procedure. If you, the parent or guardian, are not collecting your child from school, then whoever you have given permission to will need to give a code word to the class teacher. The code word will also be needed if a supply teacher is dismissing children as they will not know who the child’s parents/guardians are.
You will choose the code word. It can be anything from a colour to a name to an animal or even a film. Just make sure it’s something you will remember.
For more information on safeguarding, please visit the Whistleblowing Advice Line website or the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board (OSCB) website.
Prevent Duty & Educate Against Hate
As a parent, you may be worried about how extremism and radicalisation might affect your child.
Messages of hate can take many forms. Extremist groups use them to recruit young people. There is a website where you will find information to help parents, teachers, and school leaders to understand the issues and protect children in our community.
For practical advice and information on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation, please see the following
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to procedures that intentionally alter, mutilate, or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is medically unnecessary and can have serious health consequences, both at the time it is carried out and in later life.
FGM is prevalent in 28 African countries and areas of the Middle and Far East, but it is increasingly practised in the UK in communities with larger populations of first-generation immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
FGM is deeply embedded in some communities and is performed for cultural and social reasons. It is usually carried out on girls before they reach puberty, but in some cases it is performed on newborn infants or on women before marriage or pregnancy. It is often justified by the belief that it is beneficial for the girl or woman, but FGM is an extremely harmful practice which violates basic human rights.
The most significant risk factor for girls and young women is coming from a community where FGM is known to be practised and/or where a mother, sister, or other female family member has been subjected to FGM. Practitioners should be aware of this and provide families with advice and information which makes it clear that FGM is illegal.
Please visit the FGM resource pack for more information and guidance.
Out of Hours Support
For out-of-hours support, you can call:
- Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 0345 0507666
- Childline 0800 111 (24 hours)
- Mind (01865) 263730
- Medical advice 111
- Non-emergency police 101
- Immediate danger? 999
- Samaritans 08457 909090 (24 hours)
- Samaritans Oxford (01865) 722122