Safeguarding
Bearwood Primary and Nursery School is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you have any concerns…
please contact the following people through the School Office:
Contact Details:-
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
01202 817 600 (main number)
Email: LADO@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) within the school for child protection is: Mrs Cheryl Smith, Headteacher or in her absence: Mrs Hayley Goodfellow (Deputy Headteacher).
If you have any serious concerns about your child or any other pupil at Bearwood Primary and Nursery School please do not hesitate to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead who knows who to contact for the best advice and help and is experienced in using the appropriate degree of confidentiality. All other staff have been trained and understand how to contact Social Services, however they will always notify the Safeguarding Lead or the Deputy.
We have a Safeguarding Policy and procedures in place which we refer to in our Prospectus.
Recently, with the success that we have had with our Anti-Bullying week we have spoken to the children about Child on Child Abuse and shared our Child Friendly Peer on Peer Abuse Policy with parents with the following supportive letter Parent Letter – Peer on Peer 2021.
Our Online Safety Champion is Dominic Longland – please see our E- Safety page for more information and guidance.
Our Anti-Bullying Champion is Olivia Lyster – please see our Anti-Bullying page for more information and guidance.
Pupil Voice
Our School Council discuss safeguarding at each of their meetings. A copy of the minutes of their meetings can be found here.
Please note that the school receives alerts from the Police and Social Services when they receive information regarding domestic abuse cases involving children in our school.
HET Whistleblowing
Please click here to view the HET Whistleblowing Policy.
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023
This document is statutory guidance that schools and colleges in England must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Please access the handy ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ leaflet below. Do you know of any parents or families who speak another language? If a copy is not listed below in their language we can provide them with one once contacted at ‘school@bearwood.poole.sch.uk’.
ADT Healthcare
Offers a free helpline dedicated to helping women and families suffering from drug, alcohol and mental health problems. ADT Healthcare was established in 2011 by people who overcame addiction themselves. Please click on the title to visit their site.
BCP Children’s Services
First Response Tel. 01202 123334 Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5.15pm, Friday: 8.30am to 4.45pm or email
Out of hours Tel. 01202 738256 or email
BCP Family Information Directory
The Family Information Directory has details of childcare, local activities and a range of services for families. Due to COVID-19, please check that any activity or event is still running before you attend.
The Family Information Service are here to help you and your family find childcare, activities and local services. Find out how we can help you – click here.
Child Exploitation – NSPCC
Finding out your child has been sexually exploited can be distressing and you might not know what to do next. Young people often trust their abuser and don’t know that what’s happening is wrong or are unable to tell anyone due to fear, intimidation and violence. In school we regularly share with our children the NSPCC’s PANTS message which educates children in an age appropriate way. Make sure you are keeping up to date with the information available out there by clicking on the above title.
County Lines – NSPCC
County lines is a form of criminal exploitation which has become a major safeguarding issue in our country and county. Urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children as young as 7 and young people to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns. It can happen to any child, no matter their background in any part of the UK including Bournemouth and Poole – it is against the law and a form of child abuse. Click here for information about ‘County Lines’ by the Dorset Police.
Domestic Violence and Violence Emergency Legal Protection
A free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic abuse and violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation.
Domestic abuse is common in the UK and anyone can be a victim, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.
Our award-winning free service allows anyone who has recently suffered or been threatened with domestic abuse or violence to apply for an emergency court injunction.
Domestic Violence – Operation Encompass
“Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead /Officer (known as key Adult) prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved.
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.
Information is shared with a school’s Key Adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead or Officer) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.
Children are negatively impacted by experiencing domestic abuse and without early intervention and support this negative impact can last through a child’s life course. Domestic abuse can impact upon social, psychological, physical, emotional and behavioural outcomes with an often negative impact upon a child’s academic success. Experiencing domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience.
Operation Encompass aims, by directly connecting police and schools, to secure better outcomes for children , to enable schools to better understand the impact living with domestic abuse has upon children, to help schools to better understand a child’s lived experience and to therefore be able to support and nurture each child , making a child’s day better and giving them a better tomorrow.
Our aim is to have Operation Encompass in every force, in every school, for every child no matter where they live. It is simply every child’s right.” – Elizabeth and David Carney-Haworth. Bearwood Primary and Nursery School are part of Operation Encompass.
Click here for more information about Domestic Abuse, how to access support and what to look out for when supporting others. Additional advice on identifying children who are affected by domestic abuse and how they can be helped is available here and here. National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000247, Poole Domestic Abuse Outreach: 01202 710777.
FGM (Female Gential Multilation) – NSPCC
To access information regarding FGM (a type of ‘so-called honour based violence) click on the title above. Learn how to spot the signs and who to contact for support.
Mental Health – Support Services
Please click on the link for information on supporting and getting help for both children and adults on a wide variety of mental health aspects including: Counselling, Emotional Well-being, Depression, Thoughts of Suicide, Self-Harming and Bullying.
NSPCC Parent Helpline
Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership
Prevent Duty
Click here for information from the government and the Counter Terrorism team regarding ‘Run, Tell, Hide’ – actions to take in the rare event of a firearm or weapons attack. To read more on the governments Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales please click on the title.
Educate against hate has lots of information about The Prevent Duty.
Peer on Peer Abuse (including Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence)
Click here for information from the NSPCC regarding ‘Peer on Peer Abuse’ and different forms that it includes. The link to our local procedures can be be accessed here.