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Safeguarding

Safeguarding our children is of paramount importance to us at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School. This page is designed for parents and families to help us to work together. It is important to remember that safeguarding is EVERYONE's RESPONSIBILITY and every adult in a child's life should do what they can to ensure children are (and feel) safe, loved and respected, in order for them to flourish.

Safeguarding is woven into our curriculum through PSHCE lessons, Computing and Online Safety, Collective Worship, Communication and Debate lessons, dedicated Well-being time and through special events and external visitors.  

Operation Encompass

As part of the school’s commitment to keeping children safe, the school has signed up to implement the principles and aims of the Operation Encompass model. The purpose of the Encompass model is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or a witness to a domestic abuse incident and is the implementation of key local partnership working between police and schools.  Following the report of an incident of domestic abuse, and by the next school day, the school’s DSL will be informed that the child or young person has been involved in a domestic incident. This knowledge, given to schools through Operation Encompass, allows the provision of immediate early intervention through silent or overt support dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) are here to keep children safe; offer confidential support to parents; keep up-to-date with all safeguarding matters; monitor the effectiveness of policies and procedures; and provide training, advice and guidance to staff. 

These staff attend regular update meetings and training in all aspects of Safeguarding and Child Protection, including Prevent, Online Safety, Domestic Abuse, Early Help and Safer Recruitment.

However, every member of staff and governor, regardless of their role in school, have achieved Level 1 Safeguarding Training as a minimum, which is updated annually, with many team members having furthered their training in other aspects of safeguarding children. 

  • Mrs Draper (Head of School/DSL)

  • Mrs Anderton (Pastoral Manager/ Deputy DSL)

 

  • Miss Aspinall (Attendance Officer/ Deputy DSL)

  Mrs Edwards (Assistant Headteacher/ Nominated Deputy DSL)

  •  Mrs Rebecca Handley (Deputy Nursery Manager/ EYFS Nominated Deputy DSL)

 

If any parents, families or visitors have concerns about the welfare or safety of any children at Bedford Hall, please contact any of our safeguarding leads without delay.

If your concern is outside school hours or regarding a child not at our school, please follow the process below.  KEEPING ALL CHILDREN SAFE IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

REPORT ABUSE

If you have concern that a child is being harmed as a result of abuse or neglect, you must not keep these concerns to yourself. 

If you live in Wigan Local Authority, these are the numbers that you can ring for advice and to make a referral:

  • Monday-Sunday (24hours) call Children’s Social Services Initial Contact Point on 01942 828300
  • If you have reason to believe that a child is at IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM, contact the police on 999

As well as speaking to Wigan Authority, you can also contact:

  • Police: 0161 872 5050 or 999 in an emergency
  • Parentline Plus: 0808 8002 222
  • NSPCC: 0808 8005 000

Further reading for parents to keep your own child safe can be found on the following websites:

Internet Matters
From age-specific online safety checklists to guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices.

Net-aware
Support for parents and carers from the NSPCC.

NSPCC 
Information for parent and carers for setting up parental controls.

Parent info
Parent info provides support and guidance for parents.

Thinkuknow 
Thinkuknow is an education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.

Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media enables parents to review apps, games, movies, books, etc that children may be interested in