Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding is top priority and a topic that is discussed daily at Birchwood e.g. Senior Management Team, Senior Leadership Team, staff briefings, staff meetings. The DSL, Pastoral Lead, SENCO and Family Support Worker, ASLs and the Attendance Lead are constantly looking at ‘jigsaw pieces’ of information to keep children safe.

Purpose of our Safeguarding Policy

Birchwood Primary School's 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 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 Birchwood 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 childcentred. 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 Birchwood Primary School including:

• Teachers
• Teaching assistants
• Administrative assistants
• Students
• Wrap Around Care assistants
• Midday supervisors/Catering team
• Caretaking and Cleaning team
• Visitors/volunteers
• Adult helpers
• Governors

If in doubt, any one with concerns should seek advice from our Safeguarding team (see next tab).

At Birchwood

Safeguarding issues pertinent to our school are currently linked to County Lines and gang culture (including knife and gun crime), the effects of increased time online (knowing how to keep safe in this virtual environment) and children's mental health issues. The school enlists the help of outside agencies to run workshops for pupils and parents to address these issues.