Bitterne Manor Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that are in line with Southampton Local Authority and contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy, which can be found below.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies, when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.

We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism. 

At Bitterne Manor Primary School, we have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mr Adams) and two deputies (Mrs Egerton and Mrs Abbott). If you have a safeguarding concern, please raise this with one of them. If a child makes a disclosure in school, this will be passed to the DSL, who will decide the appropriate action. There is also a designated Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school, who can be contacted via the school office.

The Difference Between Safeguarding and Child Protection

People sometimes wonder what the difference is between the terms safeguarding and child protection. In practice, Safeguarding is the policies and practices that schools and Governing Bodies employ to keep children safe and promote their well-being. This means everything from security of the buildings, to the safe recruitment of staff and everything in between. Child protection is one aspect of safeguarding. Child protection is the term used to describe the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children, who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. The school's child protection procedures can be found at the back of our school's 2023-2024 Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Children & Families First (Previously Early Help)

Our DSLs can also support families with receiving early help and charity referrals, so please do have a conversation with us if you are experiencing difficulties. Support from Children and Families First aims to improve the life chances of all children and young people, by working with their families on the following areas:

1. Parenting and behaviour management
2. Emotional wellbeing
3. Substance misuse
4. Domestic abuse
5. Financial advice and support, housing and progression to work
6. Staying safe - outdoors and online

The Children's Resource Service

The aim of the Children’s Resource Service is to ensure that children and their families receive the right help at the right time.  If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child, please call the police on 999.

If you are a child, young person, parent or carer, and you would like to discuss your worries or seek advice and support, you can contact the Children’s Resource Service on 023 8083 3004 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm) or 02380 23 3344 (weekends, Bank Holidays and outside of office hours).

Professionals can contact the Children’s Resource Service on 023 8083 2300 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm) or 023 8023 3344 (weekends, Bank Holidays and outside of office hours)

If you’re a family member or professional who wants to find out what support is available apart from Children and Families First, you can also call the NSPCC Freephone Child Protection Helpline on 080 8800 5000.

Other Useful Websites:

• Action for Children
• Anna Freud National Centre - Charity supporting Mental Health.
• Child Exploitation and Online Protection - Information for parents / carers concerned about online activity.
• Educate Against Hate - Online safety advice for parents / carers.
• Gov UK - Government guidance.
• NHS - Change for Life - Information and advice from the NHS.
• Safer Internet Centre - Online safety advice for parents / carers.
• Southampton City Mission and Basics Bank - Provider of food and clothing to families in need.
• Southampton Safeguarding Children Partnership
• Young Minds - Information for parents / carers concerned about their child's mental health.