Safeguarding
Safeguarding, Child Protection and Prevent Is Everyone's Business
Every school must have a Child Protection Policy - often referred to as the school's Safeguarding Policy. The aim of the policy is to ensure that our school has effective measures in place to safeguard your children from the potential risk of harm and that the safety and well-being of the children are of the highest priority in all aspects of our school's work. Having the policy in place ensures that all members of your school community:
- Are aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and child protection
- Know the procedures that should be followed if they have a cause for concern
- Know where to go to find additional information regarding safeguarding
- Are aware of the key indicators relating to child abuse
- Fully support the school's commitment to safeguarding and child protection.
If you have any concerns about a child, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead at Flitwick Lower School -
- Mrs Tatford - Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Mrs New - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
It is the responsibility of the Designated Safeguarding Lead, supported by the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, to ensure that any concerns about a child are recorded accurately and referred to the appropriate agency quickly to ensure that necessary actions are taken to keep the child is safe. It is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead's responsibility to ensure that all staff and volunteers are trained to an appropriate level and are confident in sharing concerns they have with the DSL. This training takes place each year.
Each term the Designated Safeguarding Lead meets with the Safeguarding Governor to ensure that they are kept up to date with the developments in Safeguarding. The Designated Safeguarding Lead also produces a termly report to Governors regarding Safeguarding at Flitwick Lower. At no point during these meetings, or in the Governor's report, are individual cases discussed.
Mrs Mallhams - Governor responsible for Safeguarding
Key Documents
Working together to Safeguard children
Reporting Safeguarding Concerns:
Please contact any of the staff members above on 01525 755444 if you have concerns about a child. You can also speak to any member of staff in school who will refer the concerns to either the DSL or DDSL as Safeguarding is Everybody's Responsibility.
Alternatively, anyone can refer concerns about a child to the Local Authority Children's Social Care through Central Bedfordshire's Access and Referral Hub:
Access and Referral: 0300 300 8585
Out of Hours Number: 0300 300 8123
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced or been exposed to any domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been experienced a domestic abuse incident
Find out more : Information for parents
Additional Support can be obtained from:
- CBC Access and Referral (including Early Help): 0300 300 8585
cs.accessandreferral@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
- CBC Social Care out of hours: 0300 3008123
- Local Safeguarding Children's Board: 0300 300 8585
safeguarding in Central Bedfordshire
NSPCC: 0800 800 5000
Childline: 0800 1111
Kidscape anti bullying parent helpline: 0207 823 5430
‘Together, we can tackle child abuse’ – Department for Education campaign which aims to encourage members of the public to report any concerns of child abuse and neglect
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, by a partner, ex-partner, a family member, or carer.
If you are experiencing any abuse or need support please use the links below to access support or come and speak to Mrs New who is trained Domestic Abuse Responder and will be able to listen and signpost you to other professionals who will be able to help.
Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership
24 Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for Women 0808 2000 247
LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 999 5428
Flitwick Lower is a a BDAP support hub . We can offer you
- offer a safe space for someone to go to who needs to access support
- offer a safe space for someone to contact a support service to help them safely end an abusive or controlling relationship