Chipping Sodbury School

Chipping Sodbury School

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Safeguarding

The Safeguarding Team

  

Introduction

At Chipping Sodbury School safeguarding is our number one priority and all staff play a significant role in safeguarding the young people in our care.  Students who feel safe and supported are more likely to achieve their potential, thus it is essential we are able to act on any concern swiftly to put support in place and prevent or reduce the risk of harm.  We have a highly qualified and experienced team of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads led by our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Kevin Milburn.  The team work closely with a number of external agencies to support students with a range of issues alongside formal child protection concerns.  These include anxiety, Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), mental health, self harm, loss and bereavement, health and hygiene, substance misuse and online safety.

The school expects all staff and volunteers to share the commitment to keeping children and young people safe.  All post holders and regular volunteers are subject to employment and an enhanced check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

 

Types of abuse

As a parent or carer, you may find yourself having concerns about a child.  An awareness of child protection procedures will support you in taking the right course of action to help protect a child from harm.

Safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label.  In most cases, multiple issues will overlap with one another.

Abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child.  Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm.  Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others.  Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse.  Children may be abused by an adult or adults or by another child or children.

There are four categories of abuse:

  1. Physical Abuse
  2. Sexual Abuse
  3. Emotional Abuse
  4. Neglect

 

How to respond

You may be approached by a child who wants to talk to you about an incident or you may be concerned about something you have witnessed.  Child protection concerns can develop slowly over time and they can reveal themselves through a single incident.

Responding to a disclosure can be an alarming situation to find yourself in and there are some useful things to consider during the disclosure –

  1. Be prepared to listen and comfort.
  2. Do not make promises that you cannot keep.
  3. Explain to the child that you will need to pass the information on to someone who can help to protect them.
  4. Make them aware that their disclosure will be reported only to those who need to know and can help.
  5. Write down everything that the child tells you.
  6. Do not show shock, revulsion or distress.
  7. Stay calm.
  8. Reassure the child that they are right to tell.
  9. Do not question the child; try to limit your involvement to listening.
  10. Do not delay, report the disclosure.

 

Reporting concerns

If you have a safeguarding concern please email the safeguarding team at safeguarding@chippingsodburyschool.com or speak to a member of the Senior Leadership Team or Pastoral Progress Leads.

Alternatively you can contact the South Gloucestershire Access and Response Team via: 

If risks are not immediate, but significant phone the police using the 101 number.  If there is an immediate, significant child protection matter please phone 999.

 

Further information

All policies relating to safeguarding can be found here.

 

Ofsted feedback

Here are some wonderful quotes taken from our most recent Ofsted reports in June 2018 and November 2022.

"Pupils are safe in the school and staff take good care of their physical and emotional wellbeing."

"There is a culture where risks are assessed so that pupils are safe and secure.  All the necessary checks on staff are completed thoroughly.  The designated safeguarding leads are vigilant in their oversight of any child protection issues."

"Records of any safeguarding issues are of high quality and detailed."

"Chipping Sodbury is a nurturing and inclusive school.  There are strong relationships between staff and pupils.  Pupils enjoy school and feel safe.  Parents agree that staff will go the 'extra mile' for pupils."

"Leaders quickly identify pupils who need additional help or support.  They work effectively with external agencies when required.  This secures the help that pupils need."

"There are robust processes in place for the safe recruitment of staff."

"Leaders ensure that all staff and governors receive appropriate safeguarding training.  As a result, staff are confident in how to report any concerns."

"Through the curriculum, pupils receive clear guidance about how to keep themselves safe.  This includes online safety.  They know where they can go for further support.  There are appropriate school-wide policies in place to recognise and tackle any harmful sexual behaviours."