Safeguarding and Wellbeing
We recognise that the welfare of the child is paramount and we take our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people in our care seriously.
An agreed definition of safeguarding is: "All agencies take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised. Where there are concerns, all agencies take action to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies" – Joint Chief Inspectors’ Report, 2002.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Please find the national Keeping Children Safe in Education paper here.
Safeguarding at Twynham Primary School
Please find here the details of our Safeguarding Arrangements. Paper copies of this leaflet are available from Reception. Should you require this leaflet in any other language, please click here.
Our Safeguarding Policy can be found here.
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse.
Operation Encompass means that the police will share information about Domestic Abuse incidents with our school PRIOR to the start of the next school day when they have been called to a domestic incident.
Concerns
If you have a concern about a child, particularly if you think s/he may be suffering or at risk of suffering harm, it is your responsibility to share information promptly with the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection (DSL) or one of the Deputies:
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Jennifer Hunter (Acting Headteacher)
Deputy DSLs: Mrs Rebecca Charlton, Mrs Miranda Long and Mr Wayne Davies
Safeguarding Governor: Mr Finn Wakeham
Please email us on safeguarding@twynhamprimary.com or phone us on 01202 026065 with any concerns and ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Jennifer Hunter, about a safeguarding matter. If she is unavailable, you will be directed to one of our Deputy Designated Safeguarding leads.
If reporting a concern, please provide as much information as possible.
If you have a concern during school holidays or out of school hours, please phone one of the numbers below.
If you have a serious concern because you think a child may be being abused, (physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect or sexual abuse) you should contact Children’s Services direct on 01202 735046 or if out of office hours, please contact the Out of Hours Service on 01202 738256.
For all emergency situations please call 999 and ask for the police.
Volunteers and Visitors
All volunteers and visitors to our school are introduced to the school’s policies and procedures for Child Protection and Safeguarding. As part of their visit they will be expected to read our summary of our Child Protection procedures.
We use the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to undertake criminal record checks. The School Staffing (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 make it mandatory for an enhanced criminal record check to be obtained for all newly appointed school staff. Parents, governors and other volunteers who help regularly in the classroom and with activities associated with the school will require a DBS check because of the frequency of their volunteering activity and the contact they have with children, but others will not.
Allegations against our staff
If there is an allegation of abuse about a member of staff, please contact our Acting Headteacher, Mrs Jennifer Hunter, on 01202 026065.
If you wish to contact one of our governors, please send your email to our Clerk.
If you still have an unresolved issue and are concerned about the welfare of a pupil then please contact the Chair of Trustees at governance.manager@twynhamlearning.com
Advice for Parents
We recommend the Family Information Service as an excellent starting point:
Other Useful Links
BCP Children's Services First Response
Telephone: 01202 123334 Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.15pm, Friday: 8.30am to 4.45pm or email.
Out of hours
The Children's Social Care Out of Hour's Service is the emergency response service for any child who is in crisis, needs urgent help or is at serious risk of significant harm. Hours of operation are 5.00pm to 9.00am from Monday to Friday, all day Saturdays and Sundays and all bank holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Their phone number is 01202 738256 or email childrensoohs@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Domestic Abuse
Additional advice on identifying children who are affected by domestic abuse and how they can be helped is available from the following:
NSPCC
SafeLives
National Centre for Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 9995 428
BCP Domestic Abuse Referrals and Support: 01202 710 777
Prevent
Educate against hate - help with radicalisation and extremism, and encouraging resilience in young people.
Criminal exploitation
NSPCC Criminal exploitation - this website contains information on how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and what support is available for children and young people.
Rail/road/water safety
Network Rail safety - raising awareness of safety on the railways.
The RNLI have a lot of information on offer about water safety.
Dorset Road Safe provides education resources regarding road safety.
Harmful sexual abuse
The link to the local procedures is here and the NSPCC is also useful.
Drugs and alcohol
Please click here to reach the EDAS service for mental health and addiction.
Anti bullying
The Anti-Bullying Alliance provides a lot of advice for parents and young people.
Dorset Police
The Dorset Police website contains information on child sexual exploitation.
