Safeguarding and SEMH leader
Summerfield Primary School:
The Safeguarding Team at Summerfield:
Mrs Kirkwood, Mrs King, Miss Anderson and Mrs Slinger
Our Safeguarding Team work together to support our pupils and their families. We support families accessing the 'Team Around the Child' or Child Protection processes, liaising with Social Care. The pastoral team works closely with, and can provide links to, external agencies should these be required.
We will always welcome parents/carers to contact school should there be any worries or challenges being experienced in school or at home. Any change in home life, no matter how small can influence any child in school. We are here to support both the child and their family. All information will of course be treated confidentially unless there is concern over child safety.
If there are concerns about a pupil from school, that is not your own, you can speak to one of the Designated Team in confidence or make a referral yourself through Leeds City Council Children's Social Work Services (0113 2224403) or via NSPCC (see link below). If a child is at risk of immediate harm, please ring the Police on 999.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse can take many forms. It can be physical abuse, emotional abuse or controlling behaviour, for example, keeping tabs on what is being spent or telling you what to wear. Whatever domestic abuse looks like, it is wrong. Relationships should be respectful and abusive behaviours do not show respect or love. Abuse can happen to anyone, irrespective of gender, race and age. It can have devastating consequences.
The children involved in domestic abuse situations will be impacted in a negative way and this can have lasting damage on a child. Children hear and see things, even if they are upstairs and meant to be asleep. They learn that these behaviours are ok within a relationship and often they can develop similar behaviours themselves towards those around them, even from a young age.
If you are in an abusive relationship there is lots of support available. Please speak to one of the Designated Team in school and/or click the following links for access to support.
Operation Encompass - domestic abuse notifications
There is a system in Leeds that runs jointly between schools and West Yorkshire Police. The system has been established to support children who are resident in households where there are incidents of domestic violence and abuse. We know that children can be significantly hurt, physically or emotionally, by just being present in the house or directly witnessing or hearing an incident of domestic violence/abuse.
The domestic violence and abuse school notification system has been designed to provide a confidential notification to schools of any incidents of domestic violence and abuse which occur within a child’s household that might have an impact on a child whilst they are in school. These notifications can also occur in school holidays.
The information is passed on, in confidence, to Mrs Kirkwood, Miss Anderson or Mrs King (Child Protection Team—Designated members of staff). We are then able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by the child(ren), or their families, who have been involved in the incident.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to our pupils and we believe this system is extremely beneficial for all those involved.
The Department for Education has commissioned the NSPCC to establish a dedicated independent helpline for people who have experienced sexual abuse in educational setting.
The helpline went live on 1 April, and will provide both children and adults who have experienced sexual abuse in schools with support and advice, including onward action such as contacting the police if they wish to. The helpline will also provide support to parents and professionals. Anyone who gets in touch through this dedicated helpline will also be signposted to other relevant support services available, including Childline, which provides ongoing support and counselling to children and young people.
The dedicated and confidential NSPCC helpline – Report Abuse in Education can be reached on 0800 136 663 or by email at help@nspcc.org.uk.
