Safeguarding

Safeguarding at Blackawton Primary School

At Blackawton Primary School, keeping children safe is the most important responsibility we have.

We want every child to feel safe, happy, valued and listened to. When children feel safe and secure, they are able to learn, develop confidence, build positive relationships and make the most of the many opportunities available to them.

Safeguarding is not something that only happens when there is a concern. It is part of everyday life at Blackawton – in our classrooms, playground, Nursery, Forest School, online activity, attendance, relationships with families and the way we listen and respond to our children.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility – Our staff receive regular safeguarding training and understand their responsibility to recognise, respond to and report concerns. We work closely with parents, carers and other professionals to make sure children and families receive the right help at the right time.

If you have a concern about your child, or another child at Blackawton Primary School, please contact us:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Liam Fielding – Headteacher

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs)
Charlotte Buckle – Deputy Headteacher
Vicky Llewellyn – Teacher & SENDCo

Telephone: 01803 712363
Safeguarding email: dsl@blackawtonprimary.org.uk

If you have an urgent safeguarding concern about a child, you can contact the Devon Front Door (formerly the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub – MASH) on 0345 155 1071 or email mashsecure@devon.gov.uk.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.Our Safeguarding Team

All our safeguarding documents can be found at the bottom of the page.

Safer Recruit Trained Staff:

Mr Liam Fielding (DSL) and Mrs Jude Muir (Administrator).

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is about protecting children from harm and creating the conditions in which they can thrive.

It includes:

• protecting children from abuse, neglect and exploitation
• supporting children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing
• helping children build safe and healthy relationships
• responding to bullying and child-on-child abuse
• keeping children safe online
• promoting good attendance and responding when children are missing education
• recognising when children or families may need additional or early help
• protecting children from exploitation and radicalisation
• ensuring the adults working with children are suitable and behave appropriately
• listening to children and making sure they know how to ask for help.

Online Safety

Technology provides children with fantastic opportunities to learn, create, communicate and explore. However, we also recognise the importance of helping children understand how to use technology safely and responsibly.

Online safety is taught throughout our curriculum and reinforced as part of our wider safeguarding work. Children learn about privacy, appropriate online behaviour, communicating safely, recognising content or contact that may worry them and, importantly, telling a trusted adult when something doesn’t feel right.

Parents and carers also play an important role in keeping children safe online. Regular conversations about the games, apps and websites children use, checking age requirements and privacy settings, and using appropriate parental controls can all help. The NSPCC recommends regular conversations alongside appropriate safety settings and parental controls.

NSPCC – Online Safety Advice for Families

Preventing Bullying

At Blackawton Primary School, bullying is not acceptable.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as the repetitive, intentional hurting of another person or group where there is an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological and can happen face-to-face or online.

We recognise that disagreements and friendship difficulties are a normal part of growing up and are not always bullying. However, they still matter. We support children to resolve difficulties, repair relationships and develop the skills they need to manage conflict positively.

Our approach to preventing bullying reflects our values of being Creative, Confident and Caring. We want children to have the confidence to speak up, care about the experiences of others and know that adults will listen and take their concerns seriously.

We work to prevent bullying by:

• building positive, respectful relationships throughout the school;
• teaching relationships, behaviour and online safety through our curriculum;
• maintaining clear expectations for behaviour;
• helping children recognise bullying and know how to respond;
• using assemblies and initiatives such as Anti-Bullying Week to reinforce key messages;
• teaching children how to seek help and report concerns;
• supporting positive friendships and peer relationships;
• providing opportunities for older and younger children to support one another;
• ensuring staff understand how to recognise and respond to bullying; and
• working closely with parents and carers when concerns arise.

Our approach reflects current Department for Education guidance on preventing and tackling bullying.

What Should Children Do if They Are Worried?

We are a STOP school.

Children should never feel that they have to deal with bullying, unkind behaviour or something that worries them on their own. We encourage children to talk and speak up:

Children can talk to:

• their class teacher or teaching assistant;
• another member of staff;
• Mr Fielding or another member of the safeguarding team;
• a parent or carer; or
• another trusted adult.

We also encourage children who see or hear something happening to somebody else to tell an adult. Being a good friend sometimes means speaking up for someone who needs help.

Working together gives us the best opportunity to bring about lasting change.

Useful Support and Advice

Childline — free, confidential help and advice for children and young people.

NSPCC Online Safety — practical advice for parents and carers about keeping children safe online.

Anti-Bullying Alliance — information and resources about understanding, preventing and responding to bullying.

Bullying UK / Family Lives — advice and support for children and families affected by bullying.

Kidscape — practical advice and support for families and children experiencing bullying.