Safeguarding and child protection

Safeguarding is the underpinning ethos of Westfield School. We are committed to educating our students and their parents on how to stay safe. Our ambition for each student is 'outstanding achievement' and this is delivered by establishing a safe, supportive environment where children feel free to learn and achieve their potential. We aim to equip our students with the skills required to keep them happy, healthy and safe both in School and in the community now and into the future.

We recognise that in an ever-changing society our young people are growing up in a challenging and unpredictable environment, which can have additional dangers that may not be readily noticeable. For example, we aim to educate and raise awareness amongst our students of the dangers around social media, online and other forms of grooming, gangs, weapons, sexualised behaviour and exploitation of young people, a rise in the viewing of pornography and its negative impact on relationships, as well as the radical views of extremists. Through our PSHE and pastoral curriculum and support we endeavour to deepen the knowledge and understanding our students have to enable them to keep themselves safe.

We also pride ourselves on our strong community links and our positive relationships with parents and external agencies. Where students and parents may need to access support and intervention, we seek to support this in a way that is both kind and caring but also structured, clear, and concise.

We recognise that both mental and physical health are relevant to safeguarding and to ensure our young people are equipped in recognising safeguarding concerns and how best to manage these concerns, education around these issues is delivered each academic year with specific events calendared in.

 

Who to talk to during the school day

We have a dedicated Safeguarding Team at Westfield that includes Dan Griffiths (Designated Safeguarding Lead & Deputy Headteacher), Gary Simmons (SENCO), Diane Hague (Inclusion Manager), Alex Davis (Assistant Headteacher), Jess Halliday (Assistant Headteacher) and Julie Swift (Learning Support Co-ordinator). If you want to speak to someone about any concerns you have for yourself or a child you know, then please contact our safeguarding team:

Email the Safeguarding Team here.

Alternatively, please contact our school reception and they will find you the right person to talk to.

If you do not want to speak to someone face to face, there are organisations you can call, which are listed at the bottom of this page. You can speak to them in confidence about any problem you or a friend has. You don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to.

Remember: there is always someone you can talk to, everyone has a right to be safe.

 

Who to contact during school holidays or when school is closed

Westfield School provides safeguarding support Monday - Friday (9am - 3pm) throughout school holiday periods (excluding bank holidays). If you have any safeguarding concerns/questions you wish to raise during any school holiday or closure, please either email the Safeguarding Team or contact on any of the numbers below:

Email the Safeguarding Team here.

07951 025035 (first contact during school holidays)

07930 453064

07903 632298

07903 632307

If you feel a young person is at immediate risk of harm, please contact the police on 999.

 

E-safety - Growing up online

As your child grows and becomes more independent, it is only natural that they take this independence online. In our teenage years we explore, try new things and sometimes push boundaries and take risks; this is an essential part of growing up.

With the potential that the online world and new technology offers, young people now have access to huge opportunities. They use technology to express themselves, explore, and be creative; it has changed the way they communicate.

The internet has changed all of our lives, and your child has grown up during this change. Many of the things that confuse, baffle or even scare us are part of the everyday for them. For many of us, this can all be a bit too much.

Whether you’re a technophobe or a technophile, it’s still likely that you’ll be playing catch-up with the way your child is using the internet.

You might wonder whether what they are doing is safe, and you might also be thinking 'how can I can be as good a parent online as I am offline?'

Below are some telephone numbers, organisations and websites that can provide useful safeguarding support and signposting.

Useful telephone numbers:

• South Yorkshire Police: 0114 220 2020
• Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111
• Childline: 0800 1111
• NSPCC Helpline: 0800 800 500
• Children's Social Care, Sheffield: 0114 273 4855
• Internet Watch Hotline: 0845 600 8844

Useful Internet Sites

• Chatdanger Website: a website explaining the potential internet dangers for children and young people.
• The Internet Watch Foundation Website: The UK website for reporting illegal internet content.
• The NSPCC Website: Here you can find information for parents and children/young people on the dangers of surfing the net.
• ThinkUKnow: The latest information to help parents understand the internet and its risks.

 

Helpful organisations:

• Childline for advice and support to children and young people. Alternatively phone 0800 1111.

• Connexions Direct information and advice for 13-19 year olds. Alternatively phone 080 800 13 2 19.

• Kidscape is a Children’s charity that gives practical advice to young people about bullying and keeping safe.

• The Samaritans confidential helpline for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Alternatively phone 08457 90 90 90.

• Youth Access: Phone 020 8772 9900. This organisation will put you in touch with local services that offer information, advice and counselling.

• The Hideout for young people affected by domestic abuse.

• Sheffield Children's Safeguarding Partnership: information for parents, carers and families.

• Sheffield Directory: a parent hub containing information about the services offered for parents in Sheffield.