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.

Our Dedicated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) are:

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.

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 Pan-Dorset website

NEVER assume someone else has passed on the information you have. Duplicate information is better than none.

SPACE | Parents & SPACE Steps | Guidance & assistance for parents | CCE & Countylines (bespaceaware.co.uk)

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