Safeguarding

We safeguard children by…

• creating safe environments for children and young people through robust safeguarding practices

• ensuring that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, don't pose a risk to children

• making sure staff are trained, know how to respond to concerns and keep-up-to-date with policy and practice

• teaching children and young people about staying safe

• maintaining an environment where children feel confident to approach any member of staff if they have a worry/problem.

The Designated Safeguarding Leads for Ponteland Primary School are:

Mrs C Johnson (Head Teacher & DSL)

Miss Dinning (Deputy Head Teacher and Deputy DSL)

Mrs A Wright (Parent and Behaviour Support Advisor & DDSL) 

Child Protection

In cases where the school has reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill- treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse, the Designated Safeguarding Lead may report this concern to Children’s Services and/or other appropriate agencies.

Please remember that when the school refers a concern about a child to Children’s Services, it is not accusing the parents of abuse but requesting that further investigation takes place to establish whether a child is at risk.

The School has a Designated Safeguarding Governor: Pam Hopley

What We Teach

We offer a secure and nurturing environment where children feel safe and their moral and cultural development is enhanced through the delivery of our whole school curriculum, our work with external agencies, charities and the local community.

Recruitment

Staff who are involved in recruiting are Safer Recruitment Trained and regularly attend update sessions.

We carefully check that all staff and volunteers are safe to work with our children. A number of checks are made including DBS checks, references, ID and employment history. We keep a Single Central Record of all this information and this is regularly monitored.

Visitors and volunteers are rigorously checked in much the same way staff are before they can have any unsupervised access to our children. Any contractors on site have to read the Safeguarding Information Leaflet before being signed into the building. All adults in school wear an ID badge.

We have Safeguarding Information for Visitors and Volunteers available upon request.

Report Abuse

If you have concern that a child is being harmed as a result of abuse or neglect, you must not keep these concerns to yourself.

Keeping Children Safe is Everyone's Responsibility

If you live in Northumberland, these are the numbers that you can ring for advice and to make a referral:

• During office hours (8.30am – 5pm Monday to Thursday, 4.30pm on Friday) call Children’s Social Services Initial Contact Point on 01670 536400

• At all other times, Social Services Emergency Duty Team on 0345 6005252

• If you have reason to believe that a child is at IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM, contact the police on 999

• For all general enquiries, please contact Children’s Specialist Services on 01670 536400

• The following links will allow you to make an immediate online referral to Specialist Services in Northumberland:

Report a concern about a child

Report a concern about an adult

Report a concern about a hate crime, domestic abuse or antisocial behaviour

 

If you live in Newcastle, these are the numbers that you can ring for advice and to make a referral:

• During office hours (8.30am – 5pm Monday to Thursday, 4.30pm on Friday) call Children’s Social Services Initial Response Team on 0191 2772500

• At all other times, Social Services Emergency Duty Team on 0191 2787878

• If you have reason to believe that a child is at IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM, contact the police on 999

• The following link will allow you to make an immediate online referral to Specialist Services in Newcastle:

Report a concern about a child

You need to ensure that you speak to the appropriate organisations who can listen to and record your concern, and then take appropriate action.

 

Stay safe this summer

Being aware of online safeguarding risks

The letter and document below provide support for parents around risks prevalent over the summer holidays.

Early Safeguarding Letter from Detective Superintendent Matthew Davison 

ACT Website

 

Child Exploitation and Online Protection

Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you/your child online?

- Should I make a report to CEOP?

- What happens when I make a report?

- How can CEOP help me?

Click on the link below to find out more information or to make a report.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Website

 

Operation Endeavour

This is a joint operation between Northumberland County Council Children's Services, Northumbria Police and the Police and Crimes Commissioner to safeguard children and young people at risk of harm from going missing.

Click on the link below for more information.

Operation Endeavour

 

Operation Encompass

This is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse. 

Click on the link below for more information.

Operation Encompass

 

Northumberland PREVENT Pathway

PREVENT is about working together to safeguard and support people who might be vulnerable to radicalisation.

Clink on the link below for more information.

Northumberland PREVENT Pathway

 

 

USEFUL WEBSITES