Safeguarding
At Beacon Primary the safeguarding and welfare of our children is paramount.
The Governors, Head Teacher and staff work tirelessly to ensure we provide a safe and secure learning environment. We are aware that our children and their families may require additional support from time to time, this will always be carried out sensitively with a child centred approach.
All the staff at Beacon Primary are aware of their roles and responsibilities with regards to keeping all our children safe. All staff attend annual, statutory level one safeguarding training and complete additional training throughout the year.
All members of the safeguarding team are level 2/3 trained.
If you have any safeguarding issues or concerns please speak to a member of our safeguarding team on 01922 710874
Mrs Seona Baker- Federation Safeguarding lead
Mrs Claire Chandler– Head Teacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Karen Meredith – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Emma Wanglin– Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Julie Roberts– Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Ellen Maddison– Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Samantha Papadopoulos– Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
In April 2023 Beacon were awarded 'Leaders in Safeguarding' showing our commitment to ensure ALL children are safe in school. We are very proud to hold this award.
Alternatively call Walsall MASH (multi-agency safeguarding hub) directly on 0300 555 2866
Option 1 - Early Help Hub
Option 2 – Child Protection
More detailed information can be found in our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy.
Useful Websites:
http://www.saferinternet.org.uk
http://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
http://www.thinkuknowhow.co.uk/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/
https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/?order=title/
https://www.internetmatters.org/
We are asking parents to be vigilant about their child accessing the free online chat website Omegle.
More information can be found at
https://www.internetmatters.org/
The Underwear Rule
Simple, relaxed conversations with your child can really help to keep them safe. The underwear rule is one way we can work together to prevent child abuse.
At Beacon we teach the NSPCC’s underwear rule using the ‘PANTS’ acrostic. PANTS stands for
- Privates are private
- Always remember your body belongs to you
- No means no
- Talk about secrets that upset you
- Speak up, someone can help
The NSPCC website has a wide range of resources and guidance to help support families to introduce the underwear rule at home.
Useful Website:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/underwear-rule/
Speak out. Stay safe.
At Beacon we also use the NSPCC Speak out. Stay safe programme with our children.
Speak out Stay safe is an online safeguarding programme for children aged 5- to 11-years-old.
The programme helps our children to understand:
- abuse in all its forms and how to recognise signs of abuse
- that abuse is never a child’s fault and that they have the right to be safe
- where to get help and the sources of help available to them, including Childline.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: psychological; physical; sexual; financial; and emotional.
All children can witness and be adversely affected by domestic abuse in the context of their home life where domestic abuse occurs between family members. Exposure to domestic abuse and/or violence can have a serious, long lasting emotional and psychological impact on children.
Operation Encompass
At Beacon Primary School, we are working in partnership with West Midlands Police and Walsall Children's Services to identify and provide appropriate support to pupils who have experienced domestic abuse in their household; this scheme is called Operation Encompass.
On receipt of any information, the Designated Safeguarding Lead, will decide on the appropriate support the child requires. All information sharing and resulting actions will be undertaken in accordance with 'Operation Encompass Joint Agency Protocol for Domestic Abuse'. We will record this information and store this information in accordance with the record keeping procedures around ‘Safeguarding the wellbeing of children and young people’.
Additional Support for families experiencing the effects of domestic abuse can be found through Black Country Women’s Aid.
Contact BCWA on 0121 553 0090
Useful Websites:
https://www.Operationencompass.org
https://www.blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk
‘Street Teams’ is based in Walsall and is the only organisation in Walsall specialising in working with children and young people who are at risk of been abused through sexual exploitation or affected by CSE.
Street Teams operates a multi-faceted prevention programme called ‘Keep Safe’. This programme involves community outreach work, workshops and alternative learning schemes, education and training with schools and specialist work with gangs, boys and other young people deemed at high risk.
From January 2022 Street Teams will be running community drop- ins in the west locality. The aim of the drop-in sessions is to raise awareness on what exploitation is, to share how to spot signs and what to do and who to contact if you were to see something.
Street Teams will be running the following sessions from January 2022:
St Lawrence’s Church, Darlaston 1pm – 4pm every Tuesday. Refreshments will be available.
St Emmanual Church, Bentley (running alongside the soup kitchen) 9am – 12pm first Friday of each month. Free cooked breakfast and drinks provided by the soup kitchen.
For further information contact:
Street Teams - 01922 621208
