Pastoral Care

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Lucy Ledbrooke

Email: LLedbrooke@SouthfieldsPrimary.org / Pastoral@SouthfieldsPrimary.org

Safeguarding

Wellbeing & Safeguarding at Southfields Primary School

Southfields Primary School takes the wellbeing and safeguarding of our children and families extremely seriously. If a child or parent needs to share any safeguarding or wellbeing concerns, these can be reported confidentially in person or via the email address above.

We are proud of the strong support we offer to families and our wider community. Our dedicated team works closely with pupils and parents to remove barriers to learning and to create a safe, caring and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

At Southfields, we:

Place wellbeing at the heart of our school community
Provide a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment
Promote emotional intelligence, positive behaviour and regular attendance
Encourage responsibility, kindness, good manners and respect for others
Support individuality while promoting responsibility to the wider community
Deliver a values‑based PSHE curriculum rooted in fairness, tolerance and equality
Ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of background or ability

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. Our Child Protection Policy, based on Local Authority guidance, sets out clear procedures for protecting children. All staff and volunteers are fully vetted and receive regular safeguarding training. We work in partnership with external agencies, including health services, social care and the police, and may consult these agencies when required in line with statutory safeguarding procedures.

The welfare, safety and health of our pupils are always our highest priority.

Click here for our Safeguarding policies

Extremism & Sextortion video

Safeguarding documents

For the visitors Safeguarding leaflet see our Visitors to School page

National Online Safety mobile app

Photography

At the start of the school year, parents and carers will be issued with a data capture document. This details how the school may use digital images and videos within school, on our social media, website and in the local newspapers. Parents are invited to state clearly if they do not wish their child to feature in publicity materials.

In line with DCSF guidance, the school may decide whether or not to permit the filming of school events. We believe that it is appropriate for parents and carers to record assemblies, performances etc.

Parents and carers will be allowed to record images.
Parents will be informed that photography is strictly for personal use only.
Parents are requested not to restrict the view of other people.
The school will ensure that children are dressed appropriately.
The school will monitor the use of cameras and anyone behaving inappropriately.

Safety and Security

Southfields Community Primary School benefits from a very secure site. We are surrounded by a security fence and restricted access via locked gates. Should parents or guardians need to gain access to the building during the school day, they may do so via the front office.

Signing In:

Every visitor coming into Southfields Primary MUST report to the main reception and sign in where you will be given a visitors sticker and a red lanyard.

Behaviour:

Southfields Primary School will not tolerate verbal or physical aggression towards its staff or pupils. This type of behaviour will result in removal, a ban from the school grounds, and possible prosecution.

Fire Safety:

You must make yourself aware of all ’Emergency Exits’ located and signposted across the school. Upon hearing the ’Fire Alarm’ you must exit from the nearest Emergency Exit and look for an Assembly Point.

DO NOT stop to pick up personal belongings.

DO NOT re-enter the building until you are advised it is safe to do so.

No Smoking:

Southfields Primary School operates a non-smoking policy, this includes the grounds as well as the buildings.

Protective Behaviours

We want to ensure that all our children and young people have the best possible start in life, so that they grow up happy, healthy and safe. However we also know that there are children whose daily lives are negatively affected by a range of experiences and abuse who need our help and support. The aim of this innovative 'Feeling Good Feeling Safe' prevention programme is to support schools to effectively develop all children's skill's to keep safe, to be resilient and to seek help if they need it.

‘Feeling Good, Feeling Safe’ is a whole school approach to preventing violence and abuse which aims to support pupils from Reception to Year 6.

‘Feeling Good, Feeling Safe’ is based on two key messages:

We all have the right to feel safe all of the time
We can talk with someone about anything, even if it feels awful or small.

Below are the four Key Protective Behaviours ideas that your child/children will be taught during each lesson:

Lesson 1:
Feeling Safe

Lesson 2:
Feeling Unsafe

Lesson 3:
Body Awareness

Lesson 4:
Networks & Telling

Learning Outcomes By Theme

NSPCC - PANTS

Talk PANTS helps parents and carers have a simple, age‑appropriate conversation with their child about keeping safe. Using easy, child‑friendly language, the PANTS messages help children understand that their body belongs to them, they can say no, and they should tell a trusted adult if anything makes them feel worried or upset.

Designed with parents and professionals, Talk PANTS is suitable for children as young as three. It never mentions sex and avoids scary language, making these important conversations feel as natural as talking about everyday safety. The key message for children is reassurance: if something worries them, it is never their fault, and help is always available.

Safeguarding Champions

Schools play a vital role in safeguarding children, as regular daily contact means they are well placed to recognise concerns and offer support. At Southfields Primary School, we involve pupils in all aspects of school life, including safeguarding.

We have enhanced our safeguarding provision by appointing Safeguarding Champions from our Year 4 & 5 cohort. Eight pupils successfully completed a selection process and now support children across the whole school. This role gives them opportunities to develop responsibility and life skills through real‑life scenarios.

Research shows that some children may feel more comfortable speaking initially to a peer rather than an adult. Our Safeguarding Champions help support their peers with everyday worries, such as friendships and school concerns, as well as promoting key safety messages throughout the year. These include topics such as online safety, bullying and seasonal safety.

Safeguarding Champions uphold the highest standards of behaviour and attitude and can be easily identified by their custom‑made lanyards.

Family Help

What is Family Help?

In Coventry we have a fantastic Family Help offer, which is available to all children and families that reside in the city.

Here at Southfields Primary School we are proud to be part of Coventry's family help partnership because we recognise that sometimes children & their parents/carers need that little bit of extra help.

10 things you can get help with…

Getting a good education – Are your children finding life at school difficult?

Good early years development – Does your youngster need some extra support?

Improved mental and physical health – Are you or any of your children experiencing difficulties with health?

Promoting recovery and reducing harm from substance misuse – Do you or any of your children need support with dealing with substance misuse?

Improved family relations – Parenting can be very challenging, would you like some advice and support with parenting strategies?

Child safe from abuse and exploitation – All children have the right to be safe, do you need some support with anything related to abuse and exploitation?

Crime prevention and tackling crime – Do you have any concerns with crime and its impact?

Safe from domestic abuse – All adults and children should be safe from any abuse. Do you need advice or support with this?

Secure housing – Are you experiencing challenges with your housing situation?

Financial stability – Do you need some advice or support with your financial situation?

There is so much help available & we are here to support you to get the right help at the right time by the right person.

If you would like to talk to us in school just come to reception and ask to speak to Lucy or Helen

Useful Website

If you need some help but would rather look for information yourself or talk to someone else, please visit Coventry City Councils Early Help webpage: Family Help

On this webpage you will find information, links, and the early help freephone number and email address.

Safeguarding and Early Help Information Recording

Southfields Primary School is committed to keeping all children safe, happy, and well. Any concerns, worries , or information shared about a child's safety or wellbeing are recorded securely using CPOMS, our electronic safeguarding recording system.

CPOMS is a secure online system used by the school to record safeguarding and child protection concerns. It helps staff to share important information quickly and safely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Safeguarding Leads, so that children can be supported as early as possible.

In some circumstances, safeguarding and wellbeing information may also be shared on the Early Help Module (EHM). EHM is the recording system used by Coventry Children Services and its partner agencies to record early help work across the city. The system is hosted by Coventry City Council and is used by agencies that work directly with children, young people, and families.

Any service providing support to a child or family that goes beyond what is usually available to everyone ( the universal offer) is classed as early help. Using a shared system such as EHM allows professionals to work together effectively, share information securely, and avoid agencies working in isolation. This helps ensure that families receive the right support at the right time.

Access to both CPOMS and EHM is strictly limited to authorised professionals. All information is treated confidentially and managed in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, the UK General Data Protection (UK GDPR), and Southfields Safeguarding and Child Protection policy.

Operation Encompass

Southfields Primary School works in partnership with West Midlands Police through Operation Encompass. This process involves reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has been exposed to, or involved in, any domestic incident.

Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, is trained to allow them to liaise with the local authority and to use the information that has been shared. This is done in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been involved on, or exposed to, a domestic abuse incident. All related information is shared with Mrs Lucy Ledbrooke - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Mr Gale - Headteacher/DDSL & Mr Marsh - Deputy Headteacher/DDSL. Teaching Staff will be informed on a need to know basis. This information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information. Lucy Ledbrooke (DSL) will report on numbers of Operation Encompass notifications in the Headteachers Governors termly report (all information is anonymised).