The safeguarding of children is everyone’s business and schools have a responsibility to ensure that they promote the safety and welfare of children.

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of any child, please speak immediately to a member of the Safeguarding team or the Headteacher. Any discussions will be treated in confidence; however, referrals to relevant agencies will be made if there is a need to safeguard an individual or individuals. 

Southwood Primary School - Safeguarding Team: 

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr. O'Byrne 
• The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms Heggie (Assistant Headteacher) 
• The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr. Halliwell (Headteacher)
• The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms. Wiseman (Family Support Officer) 
• The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms Veysi (SENDco) 
• The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms Walker (School business manager)  

Our staff are regularly trained and kept up-to-date with the latest policies and procedures, as well as key patterns and trends within safeguarding.

We have a multi-disciplinary and specialist safeguarding team who work across the whole-school to offer support and intervention for any children or family who might need it. As well as this, we work effectively and closely with a range of external agencies, ensuring the best support is available to pupils and families.

At Southwood we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff, visitors and members of our community to share this commitment.

We are committed to ensuring that consistent effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, children and staff at school. We have robust policies in place for ensuring the wellbeing of our children. These policies underpin our practice and every single member of staff in our school shares the values contained within. They can be found at the bottom of this  page.

Any concerns about children are reported to the trained Designated Safeguarding Leads and procedures are followed in line with Local Authority policies and procedures, and with Government Guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (2021)’ and ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)’. Any information is shared in compliance with Information Sharing Guidance (2018) and in line with the Data Protection Act (2018).

During any school closure

If you are worried about a child, parent/carer or young person, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mr O'Byrne) or one of the Deputy DSLs. A member of the safeguarding team will be able to respond in line with school and local authority policy.