Our Commitment to Safeguarding at Bracken Hill

 

We are fully committed to keeping all our pupils safe and well. We have strong safeguarding procedures in place, and any concerns are taken seriously, recorded carefully, and acted on quickly in line with statutory guidance. Our staff are well-trained, alert to possible concerns, and confident in taking the right action to protect and support children. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, governors, volunteers, and visitors understand their role, and we work closely with families to ensure every child feels safe, valued, and supported.

We recognise that some of our pupils may be more vulnerable and may need additional support to help them feel safe and understood.

To support these children, we:

• Tailor our support to meet individual needs, ensuring every child receives the right help at the right time.
• Adapt communication and resources, particularly for children who may find it difficult to express themselves verbally.
• Use a range of strategies and tools (such as visual aids, observations, and trusted adults) to understand how children are feeling.
• Ensure every child’s voice is heard, including those who are pre-verbal or have additional needs
• Work closely with families and external professionals to provide consistent and effective support.

We are committed to making sure that all children, regardless of their needs or background, feel safe, valued, and able to share their experiences.

 

What safeguarding means

At our school, safeguarding means keeping children safe, happy, and well cared for.

This includes:

• Protecting children from harm, including abuse or neglect
• Looking after children’s health and wellbeing, both physically and emotionally
• Making sure every child grows up in a safe and supportive environment
• Taking action when needed, so all children can reach their full potential

 

Our Safeguarding Team

We have a dedicated safeguarding team who are trained to respond to any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

If you have any concerns, please contact:

• Mrs S Shelton – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
• Mr R Jackson – Head Teacher (Deputy DSL)
• Mrs K Austin – Assistant Head Teacher (Deputy DSL)
• Mrs S Brown – Assistant Head Teacher (Deputy DSL)

 

Raising a concern

If you have a concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing, we are available for contact during school hours in term time, via telephone and email.

• Telephone: 01623 477268 (Please note that this is the main school line. Please ask to speak to Mrs Shelton)
• Email: safeguarding@brackenhill.notts.sch.uk (This mailbox is monitored weekly during school holidays, excluding weekends and bank holidays)

You can also report concerns:

• Nottinghamshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) Tel: 0300 500 80 80
  08:30-17:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:30-16:30 on Friday. If you require an urgent response outside of these hours, contact the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 0300 456 4546.

• NSPCC
  Tel: 0808 800 500 Email: help@NSPCC.org.uk

Please remember: if you are worried about a child, it is always better to share your concern.

 

You can find all safeguarding policies within Key Information- Polices on the website