Safeguarding

All Child Protection concerns need to be acted on immediately. If you are concerned that a child may be at risk or is actually suffering abuse, you should tell one of the Designated Safeguarding Teachers at Spring lane School who are:

• Jade Stevens - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
• Sarah Jones - Executive Headteacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Lindsay Harper - Head of School and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Laura Brown - Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Rachael Myring - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Trisha Patel - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
• Nicola Fowkes - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from deliberate harm. For Spring Lane School it includes such things as pupil safety, bullying, racist abuse and harassment, radicalisation, educational visits, intimate care, children missing education and internet safety. The witnessing of abuse can also have a damaging effect on those who are associated with any person who may have suffered abuse, as well as the child subjected to the actual abuse. This can and often will have a significant impact on the health and emotional well-being of the child. Abuse can take place in any family, institution or community setting. It can be by telephone or on the internet also. Abuse can often be difficult to recognise as children may behave differently or seem unhappy for many reasons, as they move through the stages of childhood or if their family circumstances change. However, it is important to know what the indicators of abuse are and to be alert to the need to act upon any concerns.

All Adults, including the designated safeguarding teachers, have a duty of care by law to refer all known or suspected cases of abuse to the relevant agency including social services or the police. Where a disclosure is made to a visiting staff member from a different agency, such as the School Nurse etc. It is the responsibility of that agency staff to formally report the referral to the School’s Designated Person in the first instance.

Safer Recruitment & Selection
It is a requirement for all agencies to ensure that all staff recruited to work with children and young people are properly selected and checked. At Spring Lane Primary we will ensure that we have a member of the Senior Leadership Team on every recruitment panel who has received the appropriate recruitment and selection training. We will ensure that all of our staff are appropriately qualified and have the relevant employment history and checks to ensure they are safe to work with children in compliance with the Key Safeguarding Employment Standards.

Northamptonshire County Link

NSPCC Support Materials