At Brook Street School we are committed to keeping children safe, promoting their welfare and protecting them from harm. This is a duty placed upon us by the Education Act 2002 (section 175) but is also one of the enduring aims of the school. 

Parents and carers should know that the law (Children's Act 2006) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child's welfare. Where possible and appropriate we will share this information with families before we pass it on. However, there may be occasions when we believe that to do so may place the child at a greater risk of harm. 

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is the action or actions that are taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means protecting children from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to children's health or development and ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care. Statutory child protection responsibilities form one part of this overarching duty. 

The Safeguarding Team at Brook Street School is:

• Mr. J Bursnall - Headteacher - Designated Safeguarding Lead - DSL
• Mrs. L Meyers - Deputy Headteacher - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - DDSL
• Mrs. S. Graham - Foundation Stage Manager - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - DDSL
• Mrs. D Beattie - Pastoral and Inclusion Leader - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - DDSL
• Mrs J Park - Pastoral - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - DDSL

All members of the safeguarding team are trained to Level 3 and their training is updated and refreshed inline with best practice. In addition, all school staff receive annual Level 1 training and read part one of Keeping Children Safe in Education each year. The Admin Team and After School Club staff are trained to Level 2.

Role of the DSL & DDSLs

All adults working in school shave a legal safeguarding responsibility. However, the role of the DSL and DDSLs is very clearly set out.

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) must be an appropriate senior member of staff, from the school leadership team. They have a legal responsibility for dealing with safeguarding issues, providing advice and support to staff, liaising with the Local Authority, and working with a range of other agencies.
• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) should be trained to the same standard as the DSL and support the DSL in their role. 

Safeguarding Governors

School is required by law to have a named Safeguarding Governor whose role is to oversee the ethos, compliance and effectiveness of safeguarding within the school and provide a link between the safeguarding team and the Governing Board. 

Our named Safeguarding Governor is:

• Ms Becky Little

Governors receive regular safeguarding training appropriate to their role. 

Operation Encompass

Brook Street School is signed up to and is fully supportive of Operation Encompass.

The aims of Operation Encompass are:

• To ensure schools have timely information about police attended incidents of domestic abuse.
• To enable staff in every school to understand how to support children who are experiencing domestic abuse
• To ensure all children experiencing domestic abuse receive timely support in their school

When pupils who attend Brook Street School have witnessed or been affected by an incident of domestic abuse, Operation Encompass will contact the school, inform us of the incident and give us the opportunity to offer support to the child and/or family affected. This will always be done in confidence and with the upmost discretion and sensitivity. 

You can find out more by visiting their website. 

                                                                                   Operation Encompass Website

Safeguarding Documentation

There is a range of documentation to support the role of the safeguarding team, much of it statutory. Copies of or links to this documentation can be found below. 

Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

Every Local Authority area has an Independent Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). LSCB’s are responsible for ensuring agencies work together to safeguard children and for testing how effectively this happens. The Cumbria LSCB became The Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) on the 29^th September 2019

CSCP has fulfilled this role for our local area and has supported local safeguarding arrangements by delivering training, auditing, publishing learning, publishing procedures, undertaking reviews etc. Most of this activity can be seen on their website which can be accessed via the link below.

Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership

This website can offer you help and advice if you are concerned about a child. You are also always welcome in school to discuss or share your concerns.