Safeguarding

Children learn best when they are happy and healthy.

At Blakesley Hall Primary School, we do our utmost to ensure that our pupils feel safe and enjoy coming to school. Child Protection and Safeguarding are a priority to everyone at Blakesley Hall Primary.

All children have a right to protection against abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence and we have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. If you have any concerns at all about the well-being and safety of anybody in our school community, please contact a member of our safeguarding team. Any information shared will be treated sensitively.

If it is felt that a child is at risk in any way, the designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) will take the necessary action. All DSLs have up to date training and it is their duty to take action depending upon the information shared with them. On rare occasions when a child is at risk it may be necessary to consult with other agencies prior to contacting parents. The procedures we follow have been laid down by the Birmingham Safeguarding Children’s Board.

Also see: DfE: Keeping Children Safe in Education - September 2023

Who to contact

If you need to report a safeguarding concern, please ask to speak to Pamela Key (Assistant Headteacher and Lead DSL) or Tina Bates (Senior Learning Mentor and DSL) in the first instance.

The safeguarding team of DSLs (Designated Safeguarding Leads) at Blakesley Hall Primary is:

• Mrs Key
• Mrs Reid-Leonard
• Ms Phillips
• Mrs Smith
• Ms Hack
• Mr Allen
• Mrs Bates (Tina)
• Miss McCreedy (Leanne)

During school holidays, if a safeguarding issue arises contact Birmingham Children’s Trust on 0121 303 1888 (Emergency out-of-hours 0121 675 4806).

Some families need support from more than one professional. If you are a parent and would like support for a child, young person, or a family, you can complete a Family Connect form for self-identification from Birmingham Children’s Partnership

Other services

These free, private and confidential services may also be useful to you:

• West Midlands Police 999 (Emergency) 101 (Non-emergency)
• Crimestoppers: 0800 555111 or dial 101
• Childline 0800 1111
• Samaritans 116123
• NSPCC 0808 800 5000
• Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid for Domestic Abuse: 0808 800 0028
• National FGM Support Clinics
• Support for Carers: 0333 006 9711
• Emergency Community Response Hub for vulnerable citizens: 0121 303 1116
• Forward Thinking Birmingham 0300 300 0099
• Pause Drop in Service 21 Digbeth, Birmingham 0207 841 4470
• Young Minds Charity
• Kooth Support for Young People aged 11-25
• Talk to Frank: 03001236600

Prevent

We are fully committed to the Prevent Strategy as part of our safeguarding and child protection duties. All staff have received WRAP training. Key elements of the Prevent Strategy are reflected in our Anti-Radicalisation Policy, Safeguarding Policy and our commitment to building resilience against extremist views amongst children and young people.

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared with DSLs prior to the start of the next school day after police officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables us to provide appropriate support to children as soon as possible.

Parent Safeguarding Survey

See the results from our latest parental survey below

• Parent Survey - October 2023
• Parent Survey - October 2022

Worried about FGM?

Call the FGM helpline if you’re worried a child is at risk of, or has had, FGM. It’s free, anonymous and they are available 24/7. Call them on 0800 028 3550, or email them at fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk

• Female genital mutilation (FGM): NSPCC

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