Our Safeguarding Team
Southmead Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff, volunteers and governors and any adult visiting the school, to share this commitment. A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for everyone working or volunteering at our school.
We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our internal procedures to ensure that children receive effective support and protection.
Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures are consistent with those of the local safeguarding children board (DCFP). Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play in safeguarding children.
Safeguarding Team Staff
The Senior Designated Lead for safeguarding is Mr Nick Plumb.
The SEND Governor is Brad Bunyard.
The Governors for Safeguarding are: Anne Duthuit and Brad Bunyard.
The Senior Leadership Team have completed training in safer recruitment and implement rigorous recruitment processes for all posts connected to the school. Our School Business Manager, Mrs Allison Drescher, maintains a thorough and up to date single central record of DBS checks.
Southmead Primary School has an ongoing and continuing commitment to safeguarding which includes:
A written Whole School Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy with up to date child protection procedures which have been agreed with the governing body.
An identified senior designated officer together with deputies.
Nominated governors to champion child protection issues.
Training at the appropriate level for all staff and volunteers, this takes place at least annually for the whole staff group.
Robust staff recruitment and selection processes which safeguard children.
Distribution and understanding of the guidelines set out in Keeping Children Safe In Education.
MASH - The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub
The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is a partnership between Devon County Council (DCC) children's social care, education and youth services, Devon NHS health services, Devon and Cornwall Police and the Probation Service working together to safeguard children and young people. We have a duty of care to the children in our setting to report concerns in a timely manner and seek appropriate advice to ensure the safety of children and their families.
Remember - if you are concerned about a child or young person in Devon and want to speak to someone, contact the MASH on 0345 155 1071 and give as much information as you can.
The importance of the Prevent strategy
Schools can help to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same ways that they help to safeguard children from drugs, gang violence or alcohol.
The purpose must be to protect children from harm and to ensure that they are taught in a way that is consistent with the law and our values. Awareness of PREVENT and the risks it is intended to address are both vital. Staff can help to identify, and to refer to the relevant agencies, children whose behaviour suggests that they are being drawn into terrorism or extremism.
Schools of all kinds can play a role in enabling young people to explore issues like terrorism and the wider use of violence in a considered and informed way. Our Curriculum can facilitate understanding of wider issues within the context of learning about the values on which our society is founded and our system of democratic government. These are important for reasons which go far beyond Prevent but they connect to the Prevent agenda.
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announced a new definition of extremism and engagement principles for Government departments in England, together with accompanying guidance.
The new definition of extremism is set out as below:
Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to:
1. Negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or,
2. undermine, overturn, or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or
3. intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).
The definition also sets out the types of behaviour that are indicative of the kind of promotion or advancement which may be relevant to the definition.
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.
For more information, please click here.