Do you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child?

If you have concerns about a child this can be reported directly to Southampton's Childrens' Resource Service here.  If a child is in immediate danger then you should always call 999.

 

At Sholing Infant School we strive to make sure all our children are safe in school, at home, online and in the community. Our staff are here to keep children safe and secure and to promote their personal safety and wellbeing.

Our commitment to safeguarding encompasses ways which we ensure children foster security, confidence and independence. The school has a duty of care and the right to take reasonable action to ensure the welfare and safety of its students. If a member of staff has cause to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill treatment, neglect or any other form of abuse, the school will follow child protection procedures and inform Children’s Services of its concern.

A clear policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection is available below and is reviewed by Sholing Infant School staff alongside the governing body on an annual basis.

There are designated lead staff who monitor the effectiveness of the policy and, where necessary, liaise with the local authority when significant safeguarding concerns arise.

If you have a concern that a child is being harmed, is at risk of harm, or you receive a disclosure (intentionally or unintentionally) you must contact one of the designated safeguarding leads as quickly as possible. You will find the names of these members of staff on the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (below).

Policy and Procedures

We will ensure all policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding children are up to date and in line with latest DfE legislation. The policies are made accessible to all staff during their induction process. Policies and procedures are reviewed and revised by the governing body on a regular basis.

Curriculum

Throughout our curriculum we teach the children at Sholing Infant School about how to keep themselves safe in different situations or scenarios as well as who they can turn to for help.  Further information about some of the specifics of this can be found on the e-safety and PSHE pages of this website. 

Disclosure & Barring Checks

Shollng Infant School meets statutory requirements in relation to Disclosure & Barring Service – all staff and volunteers who work at Sholing Infant School who meet the ‘regulated activity test’ (Freedoms Act 2012) are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check prior to employment.

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

The governing body has ultimate responsibility for Safeguarding issues. Operationally, this responsibility is delegated to the Head Teacher, who leads on policy issues in relation to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk across Sholing Infant School. In her absence the Deputy Headteacher takes on this role. They are clear about their role and have sufficient time and receive relevant support, and training, which includes close contact with outside agencies including Children’s Services, the Local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and relevant health care organisations.  In the absence of both the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher another Level 3 DSL trained member of SLT will be identified as the DSL for that period.  

LEAD DSL
Lisa Houghton (Headteacher)
DEPUTY DSL
Trevor Steward (Deputy Headteacher)
DEPUTY DSLS
Jess Rice
Naomi Finch
Vicki Holland
GOVERNOR WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFEGUARDING
Mike Antrobus

You can contact the school DSLs by email here. 

Training

All school staff and volunteers undertake relevant safeguarding training upon starting in the school and receive annual updates as appropriate.

All staff are regularly updated on child protection procedures and policy and have read and understood the implications of the guidance on safeguarding children namely Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024).

Support

Further help and advice can be found on the Southampton Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) website here. Concerns about a child can also be reported directly to Southampton's Childrens' Resource Service here.  If a child is in immediate danger then you should always call 999.  Also see our support page here.

 

Online Safety

Information about online safety can be found on the E-safety section of our website.

 

 

Paper copies of these documents are available on request.