Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Amy Goodwin
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads: Mrs Nichola Tobin and Mr Karl Barron
Our Designated and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads can be contacted by calling 0191 386 9494 or by emailing cheveleypark@durhamlearning.net

At Belmont Cheveley Park  Primary School, we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that we all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn. We all have the responsibility to make this happen. 
  

We will ensure that: 

• The welfare of the child remains paramount. 

• All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm. 

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and 
  appropriately. 

• All staff and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to the  Designated Leads for Safeguarding: Mrs Goodwin  (Headteacher) or Mrs Tobin (Deputy Head Teacher) 
    

Areas of Safeguarding 

Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include: 

• Staff & Visitors - ensuring they are vetted, informed & trained. 

• Children’s Behaviour - promoting safer & happier behaviours & lifestyles. 

• Parents & Carers - promoting links & supporting families. 

• Premises - keeping them safe, pleasant & fit for purpose. 

• Curriculum - providing positive, life affirming learning experiences. 

• Outside School - ensuring safer activities and environments outside school. 

We have a duty to ensure that we safeguard children across wide and varied aspects of children and families needs. These are set out in the government publication; Keeping Children Safe in Education, and are detailed as: 

Abuse 

• physical Abuse 

• emotional abuse 

• sexual abuse 

• neglect 
   

Plus the Specific Safeguarding Issues of: 

• child missing from education – and see page 13 

• child missing from home or care 

• child sexual exploitation (CSE) – and see page 14 

• bullying including cyberbullying 

• domestic violence 

• drugs 

• fabricated or induced illness 

• faith abuse 

• female genital mutilation (FGM) – and see page 14 

• forced marriage 

• gangs and youth violence 

• gender-based violence/violence against women and girls (VAWG) 

• mental health 

• private fostering 

• preventing radicalisation – and see page 15 

• sexting 

• teenage relationship abuse 

• trafficking 

Members of Staff Responsible 

We are  all responsible for ensuring that each child remains safe, however the Designated Leads for Safeguarding  are Mrs Goodwin  (Headteacher) or Mrs Tobin (Deputy Head Teacher) 
  

Safer Recruitment 

We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. At least one senior member of staff is qualified in Safer Recruitment Procedures and oversees all recruitment processes. 
  

Staff Training 

• Staff are trained in child protection issues and they are aware of the procedures to follow. Staff training is delivered via a variety of means: face to face in and out of school training (including the Local Safeguarding Children's Board specialist courses) , online refreshers and information raising, document sharing and on-going professional dialogues during staff meetings. 

• Staff are encouraged to be vigilant in order to maintain the safety of our children and their concerns are discussed and handled appropriately. 
    

Child Protection with Safeguarding Policy 

All staff have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children issues and are able to implement the safeguarding children policy and procedure appropriately. Policies are in line with current guidance and procedures. A copy of the policy is at the bottom of this page. 

Staff are able to respond appropriately to any: 

• significant changes in children’s behaviour; 

• deterioration in their general well-being; 

• unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse; 

• signs of neglect; 

• comments children make which give cause for concern. 
   

All staff are aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality. Parents are informed via the school brochure, website and through newsletters in relation to our duty and procedures to protect their children. 
  

Information Sharing 

We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including: 

• emergency contact numbers; 

• the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have; 

• the child’s special health requirements; 

• information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child. 
   

Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future. 
 PARENTS & CARERS MUST TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS. 

We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis. 
  

Links with External Agencies 

Because our first concern must be the well-being of your child, there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures, which are included as part of our policy below. 
  

We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Support, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs. 
  

Reporting Concerns or Complaints 

Further to the above procedures, we have in place a concerns and complaints policy. A copy is detailed on our Policies page. This enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is of concern. 

Concerns should be raised in the following order. 

1. To the Class Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution; 
2. To the Head Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution; 

3. To the Chairman of Governors. Then, if there is no resolution; 

4. To the Local Authority. 
 

Contact details are available from the school office. 

If you have a safeguarding concern, then this should be brought to the attention of Mrs Goodwin , Mrs Tobin or Mr Barron in the first instance. 
  

Review of Policy and Practice 

In order to ensure that best practice is maintained, our policies are reviewed at least regularly to incorporate the latest statutory guidance emerge. 

If you would like more information on safeguarding, please contact Mrs Goodwin, who will be happy to discuss matters further with you. 

If you have any concerns outside of school hours, or feel it more appropriate to make a referral to Social Services directly, please contact the Local Authority 'First Contact' service - a 24 hour helpline: 03000 26 79 79 

You can also contact the Police service, who have designated Safeguarding Officers, by calling 999, or 101 for less urgent information. 
 

Follow the link below to see our key policies, including safeguarding. 
 

Key Policies