Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy 2023 24

Keeping safe in education 2023: statutory guidance for schools and colleges

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

Purpose of our Safeguarding Policy

Our Child Protection and Safeguarding policy provides clear direction to all school stakeholders about expected practice in dealing with safeguarding issues.  It makes explicit the school’s commitment to the development of good practice and effective procedures, ensuring that safeguarding concerns and referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in a way that supports and protects the needs of the child.

There are three main aims to our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy:

Prevention: by creating a positive school atmosphere and providing high quality teaching and pastoral support to pupils;

Protection: by following agreed procedures and ensuring staff are appropriately recruited, trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns;

Support: by providing support for pupils and school staff and for children who may have been or are being abused.

All those working in education can contribute to the safeguarding and protection of the welfare of a child in need.

According to the DfE, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• protecting children from maltreatment;
• preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
• ensuring children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is a 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.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility at Blackfield Primary School.

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

This policy applies to all who come into contact with children at Blackfield Primary School including:

• Teachers
• Learning Support assistants
• Administrative staff
• Students
• Midday supervisors/Catering team
• Site and Cleaning team
• Visitors/volunteers
• Adult helpers
• Academy Councillors and Trustees

If in doubt, any one with concerns should seek advice from one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL).

Reporting a Concern

If you have a concern about a child, please contact a DSL. 
All school DSLs are contactable via: bps.dsl@ilpartnership.org or through calling the admin office on 02380893132, 8:00am - 4:00pm.

Alternatively, you can contact Hampshire Children's Services directly:

Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm & Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm:
0300 555 1384

Out of hours contact telephone number for Children's Services:
0300 555 1373  

Please note - in an emergency call 999

If your concern is about an adult working or volunteering in the school, you should contact the Executive Principal, Tariq Sasso. If your concern is regarding the Principal, please contact Rob Shaw, the Chair of the Trust Board. 

Alternatively you can report a concern about an employee working with children or young people, to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) - 01962 876364 or by completing the online form: LADO

Please click this link to visit the safeguarding page of the Inspire Learning Partnership.

Other Sources of advice and support