Safeguarding
At Bedford Drive Primary School we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of our pupils and we expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment. We believe that pupils have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment, which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse. At Bedford Drive, staff are vigilant for all signs of any pupil in distress and are confident about applying safeguarding processes .
Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe form harm, safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment and that we all feel safe in our environment.
If you are ever concerned about the safety or wellbeing of someone in our school please talk to one of the school’s safeguarding team.
Our Safeguarding Team
At Bedford Drive we listen to our pupils and we take anything they tell us very seriously. All school staff are trained at least annually in safeguarding processes and procedures, and children are made aware that they can talk to any adult in school if they have any worries or concerns. Staff are trained to look out for signs of abuse or neglect and are required to report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) immediately. We also use a system in school called CPOMS which enables us to log incidents and concerns.
The procedures we follow have been set out by the Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership and we take account of all guidance issued by the Department for Education (DfE). The school has adopted a robust Safeguarding Policy which is available at the bottom of this page or you can request a paper copy.
Our first priority is your child’s welfare and school is required to take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its pupils. There may be times when we have reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse and we will ensure that these concerns are discussed with the child’s parents or carers in the first instance, unless we have reason to believe that such a conversation would be contrary to the child’s welfare. In such a case, the school is required to follow the Child Protection procedures established by the Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership and inform the Integrated Front Door of the concern.
If a member of staff has concerns which relate to the actions or behaviour of another member of staff (which could suggest they are unsuitable to work with children) then they must report this to the Headteacher who will seek advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
We endeavour to maintain an ethos in school where children feel secure and where they are encouraged to talk and are listened to. Through the curriculum, opportunities are created to equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from harm.
Safeguarding Curriculum
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do here at Bedford Drive. Great importance is placed on identifying opportunities in the taught curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding.
Our broad curriculum gives pupils opportunities to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding, and skills that significantly impact personal development, behaviour, and welfare, and equips every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding.
Our curriculum covers all areas of Safeguarding including; anti-bullying, online safety, drugs and unhealthy behaviours, road safety, SRE, British values and keeping safe. We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age-appropriate level, or at a small group or 1:1 level where a more urgent need arises.
We plan to constantly challenge children to think deeply about safeguarding matters and their own personal physical and mental wellbeing. We value pupils’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
We give pupils’ opportunities across the curriculum to explore values, personal rights, responsibilities, and equal opportunities that develop moral concepts that impact positively on safeguarding, promote British values and prevent radicalisation and extremism. There are many opportunities throughout our learning in school to explore safeguarding issues.
Practical safeguarding opportunities are planned into the curriculum, more information about which can be found in our PSHE / SRE and SMSC curriculum.
Safeguarding Newsletter
Every half term we send a safeguarding newsletter to our parents and carers covering relevant and/or topical information. The buttons below will become active when the newsletter is issued for that half term.
Early Help
Early Help means taking action as soon as a problem emerges. It can be required at any stage in a child’s life from pre-birth to adolescence and applies to any problem or need that the family can’t deal with alone. Early Help means better outcomes for children and families. Effective Early Help will resolve problems before they become overwhelming.
We understand just how complicated family life can be. From time to time there may be situations where you need some extra help and support. If things aren’t right at home then please come and talk to us. We can help in many different ways. Bedford Drive Primary works hard to provide Early Help to those children and families in the school community who need support to assist them at a difficult time in their life.
As an alternative to seeking help from school, Wirral have launched the Wirral Family Toolbox - a useful resource for parents and carers to seek out advice and support for themselves. Click here to take a look, or click on the logo below.
There are a large amount of other organisations who can help you if you’re struggling. These include, but are not limited to, Involve NorthWest, Ferries Families, Cre8ing Community, Koala North West and Family Hubs. By clicking on the logos below you will be taken to each of their pages to see what they offer.
The most important message to remember is that if you are struggling, you are not alone. There is always someone who can help you or support you and there is no shame in saying you can’t do it alone. Come into school and speak to Mrs Major or Mrs Gee, or email safeguarding@bedforddrive.wirral.sch.uk and we will get back to you.
Advice and Support
If you need help or advice with a specific problem such as concerns around internet safety, bullying, self harm or sexualised behaviour then there are lots of different agencies available. Clicking on the logos below will take you to the relevant websites of just some of those out there. Alternatively you can speak to us for guidance.
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) are an organisation dedicated to protecting children from harm online. They have some really useful information for parents and carers and say that talking regularly to your child(ren) about relationships and sex can help develop shared understanding, trust and support between you. They say: Talk little. Talk often. Ask the Awkward.
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a UK-wide charity that exists to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. They protect children by working with people who pose a risk and diverting them from causing harm. They support individuals and families who have been affected by abuse and they help professionals create safer environments for children.
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation runs a service called Stop It Now. This is confidential help and support for people who are concerned about their own behaviours, or behaviours of another person, including a child or young person.
PACT is a website that support families of children who have a parent or carer in custody. Recent statistics shows that on any given day there are around 100,00 children in the UK who have a parent in prison.
Childline isn’t just a phoneline for children - parents and carers can also seek advice and support from their website around a realm of different issues.
The NSPCC website also contains useful help and advice for parents.
We actively support the Government’s Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism. Click here if you would like more information about this.
Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership website has a section for parents and carers. Click here for further information.
Operation Encompass
At Bedford Drive Primary School, we are committed to providing the very best support and care for our children.
Operation Encompass is an initiative to safeguard and support children in education where domestic violence occurs in their home and was originally launched in 2011. All Wirral schools participate in the scheme which is run in partnership with Merseyside Police.
Following a domestic violence incident attended by Merseyside Police, at which children from our school were present, Merseyside Police will notify one of our trained Key Adults prior to the start of the next school day. This enables us to provide the most effective support for our children.
The trained KEY ADULTS at Bedford Drive Primary school are:
Mrs Major
Mrs Ritchie
Useful Documents
Please take the time to read our policies and additional information, and do not hesitate to contact Mrs Ritchie (Designated Safeguarding Lead) or Mrs Major (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) should you have any questions.
All of our school policies can be found in the Policy section of our website by clicking here.
If you would like more information about the legislation that school’s have to follow then please click the following links:
SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
If a child or young person is at risk of harm, abuse or neglect then please report it to the Wirral Integrated Front Door 0151 606 2008. This line is open Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm. Outside of these times please phone the Emergency Duty Team on 0151 677 6557. In an emergency, always dial 999.
The NSPCC are trying to encourage all adults in the UK to sign up for their Listen Up Speak Up 10 minute training. They say that it’s up to all of us to keep children safe. The free 10-minute digital training teaches you what to do if you’re ever worried about a child or their family.
