Safeguarding

At Burton Fields School, the safety and wellbeing of our pupils is our highest priority. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and expect all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.

Safeguarding means protecting children from harm, preventing impairment to their health or development, and ensuring they grow up in safe and supportive environments so they can achieve their full potential.

Safeguarding includes:

• Protecting children from maltreatment

• Preventing harm to children’s health or development

• Ensuring children grow up with safe and effective care

• Taking action so children have the best possible life chances

(Children Act 2004)

Safeguarding covers many aspects of a child’s wellbeing including child protection, online safety, bullying, mental health, and promoting safe relationships.

Our Responsibilities

Burton Fields School recognises its responsibility under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

The school follows the statutory guidance set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

All staff receive safeguarding training and understand their duty to identify and report any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

Through their day-to-day contact with pupils, staff play a crucial role in noticing signs that a child may need help or protection. Any concerns are reported to the safeguarding team and, where appropriate, to external agencies such as Children’s Social Care.

Parents and carers should know that the law requires schools to share safeguarding concerns with relevant agencies where necessary to protect children.

Our Safeguarding Team

If you have any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, please contact our safeguarding team.

Reporting a Safeguarding Concern

If you are worried about a child, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team as soon as possible. In most cases we will discuss concerns with parents or carers. However, there may be occasions when we need to contact Children’s Social Care without informing parents first if this could place a child at risk.

If a child is in immediate danger, please contact the police on 999.

If you have concerns about a child outside of school, you can also contact:

• Staffordshire Children's Advice and Support Service (SCASS) on 0300 111 8007.
• In an emergency, outside office hours, please call 0345 6042886
• Or you can use the secure web enquiry on https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/reportconcern

Operation Encompass