Safeguarding
See the 'safeguarding' tab within this section for our policies
Safeguarding Team
- Mrs Cheryl Meyrick (Headteacher, DSL)
- Miss Leanne Oliver (Inclusion Lead, Deputy DSL) and Richard Bowman (Deputy DSL)
- Mrs Janet Stainer (Safeguarding Governor)
Emergency Contact for Designated Safeguarding Lead out of hours: dsl@byfleet.surrey.sch.uk
Safeguarding Information
Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our children. We expect all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.
At Byfleet Primary, we have a number of policies and procedures that contribute towards our safeguarding commitment. All staff (including supply staff, volunteers and governors) must ensure that they are aware of these procedures. Our safeguarding and child protection policies can be found on our website or can be requested via the school office.
We ensure that all our staff attend regular safeguarding training (Working Together to Safeguard Children) and complete additional modules including CSE and the Prevent Strategy.
All our staff have a DBS check prior to working at our school. This is regardless of the employee’s role. In addition, all volunteers and anybody else who has regular contact with children are checked. Visitors to the school either provide their own DBS on arrival or are members of professional bodies who are registered by their employer, such as OFSTED inspectors or Local Authority Employees who have a DBS through their own professional body.
All visitors to school will need to sign in using our inventry system acknowledging to abide by our practices below:
- Entry and exit of our school must be through the main reception door only
- A visitors badge must be worn at all times
- Entry to classrooms must be by invitation only
- Mobile phones must be turned off whilst on our premises
- Recording devices (cameras, video recorders, IPads etc) must only be used in the school hall during invited performances and events where permission has been granted by the Head teacher
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies, when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have been advised otherwise.
If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) as soon as possible.
If your concerns relate to the actions or behaviour of a member of staff (which could suggest that she/he is unsuitable to work with children) then you should report this to the Head teacher. If the concern related to the Head teacher then please contact the Chair of Governors who will consider what action to take.
What is Early Help?
Mental Health
Mental health issues affect children and young people as well as adults, with more than 850,000 children and young people in the UK having been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Since September 2014, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) has also become a category of special educational needs. I
Inline with the government guidance ‘Mental Health and behaviour in schools’, children with a SEMH need will receive support in school, and if necessary may begin a pathway plan.
At Byfleet, we endeavour to promote positive mental health. We offer a community of support, and will ensure that help our children to:
- build emotional resilience
- develop self-esteem
- develop confidence
- develop their social skills
- feel valued and a part of the school
We provide high levels of pastoral support at Byfleet and offer support in the form of one-to-one pastoral support, emotional literacy support (ELSA) groups, personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, and a curriculum underpinned by the UN Rights Respecting Schools agenda. We encourage children to talk about any issues that are worrying them, and train our staff to be mindful of children's emotional and mental wellbeing. Any concerns are passed to our Home-School Link Worker, inclusion/SEND leader or designated child protection officer as appropriate to ensure children are properly supported in school.
We work in close partnership with outside agencies, including Surrey Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), the educational psychology team and behaviour support to ensure the best outcomes for our children.
Where can children go for help?
We actively support and promote the charities NSPCC and Childline.