Keeping children safe

At North Mead, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We take a child-centred approach and work closely with children, families and other professionals to identify concerns early, provide help and protect children from harm.

If something doesn’t feel right, tell us. You do not need to be certain before sharing a concern.

Our Inclusion/Safeguarding Team

Mr Burpitt Safeguarding	Miss Holland Inclusion	Mrs Danesh Mental Health	Mrs Hurst Family Support
Mr Robinson Behaviour	Mrs Meman Attendance	Mrs Hopfl Teaching & Learning	Miss Matthews Operations
Mr Robinson Health and Safety	Mrs Pattni Pastoral	Mrs Reid Pastoral	Mrs Sattar Pastoral
Mrs Adatia Pastoral

Reporting a concern

If you are worried about a child, please speak to a member of staff immediately or contact a member of our Inclusion Team.

You do not need to be certain that something is wrong before sharing a concern.

A concern might relate to:

• something a child has told you
• a change in behaviour
• unexplained injuries
• neglect
• emotional wellbeing
• attendance or unexplained absence
• domestic abuse
• online activity
• bullying or peer relationships
• exploitation or grooming
• anything else that makes you worried about a child’s safety

It is always better to share a concern.

Urgent safeguarding help

If a child is in immediate danger call 999.

For urgent concerns about the safety or welfare of a child:

Leicester City Council Duty & Advice

0116 454 1004

If the concern relates to a North Mead pupil, please also let the school safeguarding team know as soon as possible. You can email: [email protected]

What happens when you tell us?

When a concern is raised, we will:

• listen carefully
• record the concern
• consider what the child needs
• share information with the Designated Safeguarding Lead
• take appropriate action
• involve other agencies where necessary
• provide support for the child and family where appropriate

Sometimes we may need to share information without seeking consent if this is necessary to protect a child.

The welfare and safety of the child must always come first.

How we keep children safe

Safeguarding at North Mead is not only about responding when something goes wrong.

We work every day to create a culture where children feel safe, listened to and able to ask for help.

This includes:

• trained safeguarding staff
• regular safeguarding training for all staff
• clear systems for reporting concerns
• safer recruitment
• secure site procedures
• appropriate supervision
• strong attendance monitoring
• early identification of vulnerability
• pastoral and family support
• online safety education
• curriculum teaching about personal safety
• risk assessment
• work with external agencies
• listening to pupil voice

Children are regularly reminded who they can speak to if they are worried.

Early help and pastoral support

Some children and families need additional help before difficulties become more serious.

At North Mead, we believe support should be early, practical and built around the needs of the child and family.

Our pastoral offer includes:

• Family Support Worker support for families experiencing difficulties at home or in the community
• ELSA support for children who need help with emotions, relationships, confidence or regulation
• Behaviour Mentor support for children who need additional help with behaviour, regulation, routines, relationships or engagement with school
• attendance support to identify barriers and improve engagement with school
• individual pastoral check-ins and trusted-adult support
• support with behaviour, regulation and restorative conversations
• support with routines, relationships and parenting challenges
• bilingual support to help families communicate with school and access services
• help with referrals, meetings and accessing external agencies
• liaison with health, social care, SEND and other specialist services
• practical signposting for issues such as housing, finances, family pressures and community support

Where appropriate, we work with families to agree what support is needed, who will provide it and how we will know whether it is helping.

Our aim is to make sure children and families receive the right help at the right time, before difficulties become more serious.

Online safety

Online safety is an important part of safeguarding.

Children are taught to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully.

Our curriculum includes:

• privacy and personal information
• online relationships
• social media
• gaming
• cyberbullying
• inappropriate and harmful content
• scams and manipulation
• grooming and exploitation
• reporting concerns
• knowing when and where to ask for help

We also support families with information about keeping children safe online.

Child-on-child abuse

All forms of child-on-child abuse are taken seriously.

This can include:

• bullying
• physical abuse
• sexual harassment
• sexual violence
• harmful sexual behaviour
• coercion
• intimidation
• online abuse
• sharing sexual or inappropriate images

Concerns will never be dismissed as “banter” or simply part of growing up.

Safeguarding beyond the school gates

Children can face risks in their homes, communities and online.

Staff remain alert to:

• domestic abuse
• criminal exploitation
• sexual exploitation
• grooming
• county lines
• community violence
• unsafe adults
• radicalisation
• online exploitation
• harmful peer influence

Where concerns arise, we work with the appropriate agencies to protect and support children.

Preventing radicalisation

We have a duty to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and extremist influence.

Through our curriculum and wider school culture, children develop:

• critical thinking
• respect
• tolerance
• understanding of different beliefs and perspectives
• knowledge of democracy and the rule of law
• confidence to challenge harmful ideas

Staff know how to raise concerns if they believe a child may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation is illegal and is a serious safeguarding concern.

Staff are trained to recognise concerns and understand their statutory responsibilities.

Attendance and safeguarding

Being in school regularly is an important part of keeping children safe.

Unexpected or unexplained absence, repeated absence or sudden changes in attendance can indicate that a child or family may need help.

Our attendance, pastoral and safeguarding teams work together to identify concerns and act early.

Concerns about an adult working with children

If you have a safeguarding concern about a member of staff, volunteer or other adult working at North Mead, report it immediately to: Mr Ben Burpitt – Principal

If the concern relates to the Principal, it should be reported through the Trust’s safeguarding or allegations procedure.

Whistleblowing

Staff and other adults should raise concerns if they believe safeguarding practice within the school is unsafe or inappropriate.

Concerns should normally be raised through the school’s whistleblowing procedure.

Where someone feels unable to raise a safeguarding concern internally, they can seek independent advice through the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line.

Safeguarding through the curriculum

Children learn how to keep themselves and others safe through age-appropriate teaching.

This includes:

• healthy and respectful relationships
• personal boundaries
• consent
• trusted adults
• online safety
• bullying and discrimination
• road and water safety
• healthy choices
• recognising unsafe situations
• knowing how to ask for help

Working with other agencies

Safeguarding often requires schools to work closely with other professionals.

Where necessary, North Mead works with services including:

• Children’s Social Care
• police
• health services
• Early Help
• education welfare
• specialist safeguarding services
• domestic abuse services
• mental health services
• the Local Authority Designated Officer

Information is shared when necessary to protect children.

Confidentiality and information sharing

Safeguarding information is treated sensitively.

However, where a child may be at risk, information may need to be shared with other professionals.

The safety of the child must come first.

Supporting children following concerns

Children who have experienced difficulties may need additional support in school.

This may include:

• a trusted adult
• ELSA support
• Behaviour Mentor support
• pastoral support
• family support
• regulation support
• attendance support
• external agency involvement

Safeguarding and inclusion work closely together, but they have different purposes: safeguarding protects children from harm, while inclusion helps remove barriers to participation and success.

Key contacts

• North Mead Primary Academy

0116 276 7761

• Leicester City Council Duty & Advice

0116 454 1004

• Immediate danger

999

LINK TO SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Related North Mead Pages

• Safeguarding Spotlights
• Inclusion
• Pastoral Support
• Attendance