At St. Bernadette’s we foster a culture of safeguarding in which the safety and well-being of our children is paramount. Any safeguarding concerns should be raised immediately with Mrs Dix, Mr Lynch, Mrs Robertson and Mrs Baxter our safeguarding leaders. We operate a whistleblowing policy and expect all adults connected with our school to follow procedures.

All employees, governors and regular volunteers undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. We follow Hampshire Local Authority’s safeguarding procedures and aim to work in partnership with other agencies that support children and families. By law we are required to be watchful for signs and symptoms of physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect. In urgent or repeated incidents the school is obliged to refer these incidents to the Children’s Services Department. The Executive Headteacher is the designated person with responsibility for the implementation of these procedures.

At St Bernadette's we understand that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All members of staff, including teaching and support staff receive annual safeguarding training. This covers all areas in the DFE document, ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education' including the Prevent Strategy, FGM and Child Sexual Exploitation. 

If an issue arises outside of school hours or a child makes a disclosure to you Hampshire Children’s Services can be contacted on 0300 555 1384 or via their webpage

Other useful organisation you can contact are:

NSPCC – 0808 800 5000 (For adults)

Childline – 0800 1111 (For children)

Health and Safety

We aim, so far as is reasonably practicable, to provide a safe working environment for children, staff and visitors to the school. Children are expected to walk within the school building as running increases the risk of injury. Children are asked not to use the Adventure Playground before or after school. Please ensure that your child abides by this rule as accidents at these times are at parents’ own risk. We ask all parents to support the Health and Safety of the whole school community by adhering to the variety of simple requests made from time to time. 

Internet Safety

There is a wealth of information available to parents, teachers and young people to help keep themselves safe on-line.  We take E-safety very seriously in school and run an on-going program of age appropriate discussions and exercises to help equip children for the dangers they may encounter using today's internet technologies.  Parents are encouraged to attend the school’s annual e-safety workshop for parents.

Children from Year 3 to Year 6 have access to the school learning platform. This is a specially designed area of our web site that allows children to use email, forums, blogs, and wikis in a safe and child friendly environment. As they move through the school the children are introduced to the various functions which are internal to our school only, providing a safe introduction to facilities such as social networking where they can learn to be responsible and safe internet users.

SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

St Bernadette’s is working with NSPCC on the Underwear Rule – a simple child friendly way of staying safe!

For more information click on the links below:

Underwear Rule Parents’ Guide

Underwear Rule Children’s Guide

Thinking of leaving your child at home?

https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone