Keeping Children Safe at Forest View

At Forest View Primary School, the safety, welfare and wellbeing of every child are at the heart of everything we do.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. All members of staff have an important role in identifying concerns, listening to children and ensuring that children and families receive the right help at the right time. Our approach is always child-centred and guided by what is in the best interests of the child. This reflects the principles of the Department for Education's current Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance.

All staff receive safeguarding and child protection training appropriate to their role, together with regular updates throughout the year. Staff are trained to recognise the signs that a child may need help or protection and know that concerns must be acted upon without delay.

Our safeguarding arrangements are supported by our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, which can be found on the policies page of the website.

Our Safeguarding Team

The school's safeguarding team is:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• Mr Ben Lyons, Headteacher

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs)

• Miss J Woskett
• Mrs G Lyons
• Mr K Law-Eadie
• Mrs M Ennis
• Mrs S Anderson

Online Safety Leader

• Miss A Pickett

Children can speak to any trusted adult in school if they are worried about themselves or somebody else.

Parents, carers and members of our community are also encouraged to contact us if they have a concern about a child's safety or wellbeing.

Contact our Safeguarding Team

Email: safeguard@forestview.gloucs.sch.uk

Alternatively, contact the school office and ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team.

If you believe that a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Gloucestershire's safeguarding guidance similarly directs anyone concerned that a child is in immediate danger to contact the police.

Reporting a Concern

We take all concerns about children seriously, however small they may initially appear.

If a member of staff has a concern about a child's welfare, safety or wellbeing, they must report it promptly in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures. Concerns are recorded securely using the school's safeguarding recording system and reviewed by the safeguarding team.

Staff know that they should never assume somebody else will take action. Current statutory guidance requires staff to act immediately on safeguarding concerns and report them to the DSL or a deputy without delay.

Where necessary, the school will work with other agencies including Children's Social Care, Early Help, health services and the police to ensure that children receive appropriate support and protection. Schools form part of this wider multi-agency safeguarding system.

At Forest View we also want children to know that they can talk to us. If a child is worried about something, they can speak to any adult they trust in school. We will listen, take them seriously and help them to get the support they need.

What is Early Help?

Sometimes children and families experience difficulties and need some additional support.

Early Help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, rather than waiting for difficulties to become more serious. Gloucestershire describes its aim as improving children's lives by providing support to a child or family when a problem emerges or preventing further problems in the future.

This could involve support with:

• family relationships or changes in family circumstances;
• emotional wellbeing or mental health;
• attendance or difficulties coming to school;
• behaviour or changes in a child's behaviour;
• parenting or family routines;
• housing, financial difficulties or poverty;
• bereavement or loss;
• domestic abuse;
• substance or alcohol misuse within the family;
• SEND or additional needs;
• caring responsibilities;
• online safety;
• exploitation or risks outside the home;
• difficulties accessing services; or
• any other issue affecting a child's wellbeing, development or ability to thrive.

This is not an exhaustive checklist. Every child and family is different and support will always be considered according to their individual circumstances.

How We Support Families

Families do not need to wait until things have become extremely difficult before asking for help.

Often, a conversation with a member of our pastoral, inclusion or safeguarding team is the best place to start.

Depending upon the needs of the child or family, support might include:

• advice, guidance and practical support from school;
• pastoral support for a child;
• support with attendance;
• SEND or inclusion support;
• help in accessing health or wellbeing services;
• signposting to community and family services;
• support from Gloucestershire's Family Hubs;
• an Early Help Assessment;
• coordinated support involving other professionals; or
• referral to specialist or statutory services where this is necessary.

Where a family requires help from a number of professionals, an Early Help Assessment can help everyone understand what is going well, what the family needs help with and what actions might make things better. A lead professional can then help coordinate the support and work alongside the child and family.

Our aim is always to work with families rather than simply doing things to families.