Safeguarding

At the Belvedere schools, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in all circumstances and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

We ensure that we:

Practise safer recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers who work with the children.

Equip the children with the skills needed to keep themselves safe.

Establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop in confidence and independence.

Work within the school’s Safeguarding Policy (See Policies Page) Should you require a hard copy of our Safeguarding Policy, please pop in to the main Office where they will be able to help and proved you with a copy.

The Safeguarding Policy has clear procedures in place, which all staff and volunteers are aware of. Parents and carers are able to read the policy on our policies page and are free to discuss issues surrounding the policy and practice with the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Chair of Governors.

All staff have safeguarding training annually, and all new starters are given a full safeguarding induction.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies where there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns are discussed with the parents/carers first, unless we have reasons to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. 

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern, and any observations or conversations heard, and report to one of the designated persons as soon as possible on the same day. DO NOT conduct your own investigation.

If your concerns relate to the actions or behaviour of a member of staff (which could suggest that s/he is unsuitable to work with children) then you should report this to the Headteacher ONLY, and if your concern is regarding the Headteacher this should be reported to the Chair of Governors. 

We run a number of interventions to support safeguarding and mental health at Belevere including; 

Place2Be

ELSA

Mental Health First Aiders

Play Leaders and Peer Mediators

Educational Welfare Officer 

Jigsaw PSHE Curriculum

Staff Wellbeing Group

Worry Boxes​

Useful Links

 Action for Children – Protecting and support children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support. We ensure their voices are heard, and campaign to bring lasting improvements to their lives.

Anti-Bullying Alliance – The Anti-Bullying Alliance is a coalition of organisations and individuals that are united against bullying.

Barnardo’s – Barnardo’s supports and protects children and young people facing a wide range of issues, from drug misuse to disability, from sexual abuse to domestic violence.

CEOPs Thinkuknow –Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.

Childline – A free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, we’re here for you online, on the phone, anytime.

Childnet – Childnet parents and carers page gives information, advice and resources for parents and carers on a wide range of topics affecting children and young people online. They also have excellent resources about how to have a conversation about the online world with your child, how to set up parental controls, create a family agreement and what to do if you are worried about a child.

Common Sense Media – Use the search box at the top to search for a game or app. There will be a Common Sense Media review which includes the information you need to help you make decisions about the suitability of the game for your child. It also has useful parent and child reviews for each game.

Internet Matters – A range of guides, videos and toolkits to help you to keep your child safe online. These include information about key issues that may be affecting children and young people on the internet, and what to do if you’re worried about anything you or your child has seen online.

Keeping Children Safe in Education – Statutory guidance for schools and colleges.

NSPCC – Stands for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. It means that each of us has a responsibility to keep childhood free from abuse, and we must do everything possible to protect children and prevent it from happening.

Own It – The BBC’s online safety platform designed to help children aged 7-12, and their parents, carers and teachers, make the most of their digital lives. This includes helping children get to know their devices, learn how to navigate the online world safely and to find help with any problems they may encounter.

PANTS / Underwear Rule – Guidance for parents on how to talk to your child about keeping themselves safe from sexual abuse.

PAPYRUS – A national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.

Stop Hate UK – Stop Hate UK is one of the leading national organisations working to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity.

Women’s Aid – Women’s Aid works together against domestic abuse
until women and children are safe. They provide life-saving services in England and build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated.

Local Authority Links

For more information on each local authority’s safeguarding teams, please click on the links below:

Bexley

Greenwich

Kent

Bromley

Lewisham

Online safety

It is our joint responsibility to ensure we teach children how to use the internet and mobile phones safely and to support them to remember these lessons. Good practices include reminding children to keep their username and password safe and not share it with others, as well as, to tell a trusted adult if someone or something has made them uncomfortable or worried whilst on the internet or mobile phone.  Below is some advice and support for families on the safe use of the internet and mobile phones.

A family agreement is a great way to start a conversation with the whole family about how you all use the internet and discuss together how to behave in a positive way when online at home, at school or at a friend’s house.  Childnet provide agreement advice which provides a list of things to consider when creating a family agreement and some examples.  The family agreement template provides a framework that will help families set clear expectations for positive and safe internet use. https://www.childnet.com/resources/family-agreement

Social Media is a big concern for families and further information for can be found for adults at;

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/social-media-guides

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/social-networking/  

Useful Links and Information for Families

https://www.knowsleyclcs.org.uk/online-safety-videos/

CEOP https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

Childline Mobile Safety https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/mobile-phone-safety/

Childnet https://www.childnet.com

Google Safety Centre https://safety.google/

Internet Matters https://www.internetmatters.org

NSPCC Online Safety https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

Safer Internet https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/

Safety Net Kids http://www.safetynetkids.org.uk/

Think U Know https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Vodafone safety guides https://www.vodafone.com/content/digital-parenting.html