Safeguarding
AND WELLBEING
We recognise that the welfare of the child is paramount and we take our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people in our care seriously.
An agreed definition of safeguarding is: "All agencies take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised. Where there are concerns, all agencies take action to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies" – Joint Chief Inspectors’ Report, 2002.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Please find the national Keeping Children Safe in Education paper here.
Click here to read a summary of changes to the Department for Education’s document Keeping Children Safe In Education.
Should you require information in any other language, please click here.
Operation Encompass
Twynham Learning schools are part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse.
Operation Encompass means that the police will share information about Domestic Abuse incidents with our school PRIOR to the start of the next school day when they have been called to a domestic incident.
Volunteers and Visitors
All volunteers and visitors to our schools are introduced to the school’s policies and procedures for Child Protection and Safeguarding. As part of their visit they will be expected to read our summary of our Child Protection procedures.
We use the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to undertake criminal record checks.The School Staffing (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 make it mandatory for an enhanced criminal record check to be obtained for all newly appointed school staff. Parents, governors and other volunteers who help regularly in the classroom and with activities associated with the school will require a DBS check because of the frequency of their volunteering activity and the contact they have with children, but others will not.
Spot the signs of County Lines
Dorset Police colleagues are seeking the support of residents as well as people visiting the county, to be aware of the signs of County Lines exploitation and to contact the police if they spot anything.
Signs to look for are:
- A young person going missing from school or home;
- Meeting with unfamiliar adults and/or a change in behaviour;
- Using drugs and alcohol;
- Money or expensive gifts they can’t account for;
- A neighbour who has not been seen for a while;
- More people calling at a neighbour’s home – often at unsociable hours;
- Suspicious vehicles/people attending a neighbour’s home.
If you are concerned about an individual or group who pose a risk to young and vulnerable persons within the community through exploitation or through other criminal means such as county line drug lines drug supply you can pass on information using the online Information Sharing and Request Form.
NEVER assume someone else has passed on the information you have. Duplicate information is better than none.
Click here to view BCP Safeguarding Children Partnership’s March 2022 key information briefing for parents/carers.
Criminal exploitation and gangs | NSPCC
Parents and Carers (escapeline.org.uk)
Other Useful Links
BCP Children's Services First Response
MASH Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub
T. 01202 123334 Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5.15pm, Friday: 8.30am to 4.45pm or email.
Out of hours
The Children's Social Care Out of Hour's service is the emergency response service for any child who is in crisis, needs urgent help or is at serious risk of significant harm. Hours of operation are 5.00pm to 9.00am from Monday to Friday, all day Saturdays and Sundays and all bank holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Their phone number is 01202 738256 or email childrensoohs@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership parent and carers
Links to information, advice, guidance and support on some of the safeguarding challenges facing children, young people and their parents today.
Parents and Carers – Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership (pdscp.co.uk)
What is child abuse?
What is Child Abuse & How to Keep Your Child Protected | NSPCC
Harmful sexual abuse
The link to the local procedures is here and the NSPCC is also useful.
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation & How to Keep Your Child Safe | NSPCC
Child on child abuse and harmful sexual behaviour
Preventing harmful sexual behaviour in children – Stop It Now
Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) or peer-on-peer sexual abuse | NSPCC Learning
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
National FGM Centre – Developing excellence in response to FGM and other Harmful Practices
FGM – the facts leaflet (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Forced marriage
Forced marriage – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Domestic Abuse
Additional advice on identifying children who are affected by domestic abuse and how they can be helped is available here and here.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000247
Poole Domestic Abuse Outreach: 01202 710777.
Prevent
Educate against hate – help with radicalisation and extremism, and encouraging resilience in young people.
Top tips for parents (educateagainsthate.com)
Criminal exploitation
NSPCC Criminal exploitation – this website contains information on how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and what support is available for children and young people.
Online Safety
Online Safety Guidance for Parents | SWGfL
Keeping children safe online | NSPCC
Sexting advice for parents (YPSI)- Youth produced sexual imagery | Dorset Police
Rail/road/water safety
Network Rail safety – raising awareness of safety on the railways.
Network Rail primary school safety talk – Learn Live (learnliveuk.com) – Network Rail Primary School Safety Talk
I Am Train Safe – Learn Live (learnliveuk.com) – Network Rail’s rail safety campaign; I Am Train Safe.
The RNLI have a lot of information on offer about water safety.
Here you can find out about education resources available regarding road safety.
Drugs and alcohol
The link to the YADAS service is here.
Honest information about drugs | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
Anti bullying
The Anti-bullying Alliance provides a lot of advice for parents and young people.
Anti social behaviour
Crime and anti–social behaviour | Relate
Dorset Police
The Dorset Police website information on child sexual exploitation.
Home or Out Alone
A guide to help parents and carers decide whether their child is ready to either stay at home or go out alone
Home alone or out alone guide | NSPCC Learning
Private fostering
What is private fostering? | CoramBAAF
Private fostering (bcpcouncil.gov.uk)