Keeping Our Children Safe – Safeguarding

We all have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

If you have any concerns about the health and safety of a child at this education setting or feel that something may be troubling them, you should share this information with an appropriate member of staff straight away.

Some issues e.g. a child’s appearance, hygiene or general behaviour, can be shared with any teacher or member of support staff in this setting. Do not worry that you may be reporting small matters – we would rather that you tell us things which turn out to be small than miss a worrying situation.

However, if you think the matter is very serious and may be related to a child protection concern, e.g. physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect, you must talk to one of the people below immediately. If you are unable to contact them, you can ask the school office staff to find them and ask them to speak to you straight away about a confidential and urgent matter.

We have a dedicated safeguarding email address, safeguarding@bentsgreen.sheffield.sch.uk

Meet Our Safeguarding Team

The people you should talk to in this setting are:

Ringinglow Site

To contact our Safeguarding Team at Ringinglow please call 0114 236 3545 and select Option 1.

Cathy Varley

Emma Thomson

Helen Tate

Adam Worrall

Laura Rzepinski

Gleadless Site

To contact our Safeguarding Team at Gleadless please call 0114 235 7028 and select Option 1.

Cathy Varley

Emma Thomson

Laura Rzepinski

Emma Allen

Andrada Moga

Stacey Whitaker

Handsworth Grange

To contact our Safeguarding Team at Handsworth Grange please call 0114 269 4801, select Option 0 and ask to be put through to the Bents Green Hub site.

Alex Walker

Enterprise Works

To contact our Safeguarding Team at Enterprise Works please call 01709257277, select Option 1 and ask to be put through to the Bents Green site.

Nicola Worth

Safeguarding Documents

Please click below to view our safeguarding & child protection documents:

For a full list of Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board Policies & Procedures adopted by Bents Green School, please click here.

To view our other policies, please visit our Policies page.

For more information on keeping your child safe online, please visit our Online Safety page.

Contextual Safeguarding

As young people grow older and spend less time with their family in a home environment, increased time online, and in the community, they are exposed to other influences that may pose a safeguarding risk. We acknowledge that extra-familial relationships can be just as harmful as those a young person has with their family and that these relationships need to be considered when assessing whether someone could be harmed.

Contextual safeguarding means that schools should consider the potential risks that their students are exposed to within the educational environment and ensure that all staff know warning signs to look out for.

If you have concerns about a member of staff, a volunteer or a visitor

Allegations that meet the harm threshold
Description: This applies to all cases in which it is alleged that a current member of staff, including a supply teacher, volunteer or contractor has: Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child, and/or; Possibly committed a criminal offence against or relating to a child, and/or; Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children, and/or; Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children - this includes behaviour taking place both inside and outside of school. What to do: Report to the co-headteachers immediately where the allegation of harm will be reported to the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)

Allegations that meet the harm threshold

Description:

This applies to all cases in which it is alleged that a current member of staff, including a supply teacher, volunteer or contractor has:

Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child, and/or;
Possibly committed a criminal offence against or relating to a child, and/or;
Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children, and/or;
Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children - this includes behaviour taking place both inside and outside of school.

What to do:

Report to the co-headteachers immediately where the allegation of harm will be reported to the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)

Low-level concerns that do not meet the harm threshold
Description: The term 'low-level' concern is any concern - no matter how small - that an adult working in or on behalf of the school may have acted in a way that: Is inconsistent with the staff code of conduct outside of work AND Does not meet the allegations threshold or is otherwise not considered serious enough to consider a referral to the LADO What to do: Share your concern with the Co-headteachers or Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This will be recorded on the schools low-level concerns system and the member of staff will be invited to a 1:1 discussion.

Low-level concerns that do not meet the harm threshold

Description:

The term 'low-level' concern is any concern - no matter how small - that an adult working in or on behalf of the school may have acted in a way that:

Is inconsistent with the staff code of conduct outside of work

AND

Does not meet the allegations threshold or is otherwise not considered serious enough to consider a referral to the LADO

What to do:

Share your concern with the Co-headteachers or Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This will be recorded on the schools low-level concerns system and the member of staff will be invited to a 1:1 discussion.

External Safeguarding Organisations

Please find below a series of websites and organisations providing support and advice on keeping children safe.

For more information on keeping your child safe online, please visit our Online Safety page.

Sheffield Safeguarding Children
We all have a statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) has developed this website to provide easily accessible and up-to-date safeguarding information for professionals, and for children, young people, families and members of the public.

Sheffield Safeguarding Children

We all have a statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) has developed this website to provide easily accessible and up-to-date safeguarding information for professionals, and for children, young people, families and members of the public.

Safer Internet
Safer Internet work in partnership with others around the world to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children. Working with children, young people, parents, carers, teachers and professionals yo find out about real experiences online and the positive things being done as well as sharing safety advice.

Safer Internet

Safer Internet work in partnership with others around the world to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children. Working with children, young people, parents, carers, teachers and professionals yo find out about real experiences online and the positive things being done as well as sharing safety advice.

Internet Matters
Internet matters works to empower parents and carers to keep children safe in the digital world.

Internet Matters

Internet matters works to empower parents and carers to keep children safe in the digital world.

Bullying UK - Bullying Advice
Offer family support services through the Bullying UK helpline, they also work in many different areas and offer tailored support around issues such as bullying, special educational needs, and support for specific communities.

Bullying UK - Bullying Advice

Offer family support services through the Bullying UK helpline, they also work in many different areas and offer tailored support around issues such as bullying, special educational needs, and support for specific communities.

NSPCC
Childline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 0800 1111. Counsellors listen and give children and young people the support they need. On the phone, online, anytime. It’s the only service of its kind in the UK

NSPCC

Childline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 0800 1111. Counsellors listen and give children and young people the support they need. On the phone, online, anytime. It’s the only service of its kind in the UK

Think U Know
Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline. They have age specific information, help and advice on staying safe. Our #OnlineSafetyAtHome packs are available for parents and carers to use at home. These include fun activities, conversation starters and practical tips.

Think U Know

Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline. They have age specific information, help and advice on staying safe.

Our #OnlineSafetyAtHome packs are available for parents and carers to use at home. These include fun activities, conversation starters and practical tips.

Lucy Faithful Foundation
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a child protection charity that provides help and advice about children being online.

Lucy Faithful Foundation

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a child protection charity that provides help and advice about children being online.

Online Sexual Harassment Guide
The Children’s Commissioner has launched a guide for parents and carers on online sexual harassment and how they can support children to stay safe online. “The things I wish my parents had known” draws together advice from 16 to 21 year olds on how parents should manage tricky conversations around sexual harassment and access to inappropriate content, including pornography

Online Sexual Harassment Guide

The Children’s Commissioner has launched a guide for parents and carers on online sexual harassment and how they can support children to stay safe online.

“The things I wish my parents had known” draws together advice from 16 to 21 year olds on how parents should manage tricky conversations around sexual harassment and access to inappropriate content, including pornography