At Brookfield Junior Academy we have a Safeguarding Team, however all adults in the academy have a responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of all our children.  We constantly seek to identify and overcome barriers to learning as this is an important part of the partnership between school and families.

Our systems are designed to:

• Prevent unsuitable people working with children and young people
• Promote safe practice and challenge poor and unsafe practice
• Identify instances in which there are grounds for concern about a child’s welfare and give adults in the academy the route for them to take the appropriate action

There are different posters displayed around school to help advise anyone who has a safeguarding concern. These include posters with information on who is part of the Safeguarding Team and posters about which documents are important to guide us. Leaflets about important agendas including prevent can be found in key locations.

The document 'Keeping Children Safe in education' can be downloaded here. 

The document 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' can be downloaded here.

Our academy takes the appointing of new staff very seriously and follows the ‘Safer Recruitment’ advice from the Local Authority. Our staff and volunteers are all DBS checked to ensure all our pupils stay safe. 

Any visitors into school report to the main office where they show identification and sign in. Visitors who are DBS checked are given a green lanyard. Visitors who are not DBS checked are given a red lanyard and remain supervised by a member of staff at all times. Visitors are informed about who is part of the safeguarding team and their photos, along with names of these people, are displayed on posters around school. 

Should you wish to discuss child protection and the safety of your child, or indeed any other topic involving your child, please feel free to contact any member of the safeguarding team:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead – Miss Daisy Dunning, Associate Principal
• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads – Mrs Moore, Mrs Miller and Miss Crook 
• Governor with Responsibility for Safeguarding – Rebecca Hibberd
• ACET Designated Safeguarding Lead – Cheryl Barquero

Early Help and Social Care

We work closely with our safeguarding colleagues in Rotherham Borough Council and Doncaster Council. Mrs Moore attends meetings and submits reports on behalf of Brookfield Junior Academy. Information is kept on a need-to-know basis. Families can speak to Mrs Moore regarding any concerns they have.

MASH

If you have any concerns around the safety or well-being of a child in Rotherham, you have a duty of care to share this to safeguard that child. You can contact Rotherham MASH, anonymously if you prefer, on 01709 336080. Doncaster Children's Services can be contacted on 01302 341628. If the child or person is in immediate, call 999.  

Pastoral Care

The pastoral care of our pupils is everyone’s responsibility, starting with class teachers who are supported by teaching assistants and other support staff. At Brookfield Junior Academy we also have an Inclusion Manager, Mrs Lauren Moore, who supports children and their families. If you would like to speak to Mrs Moore, she can be contacted via the school office or by email: lauren.moore@brookfieldjunioracademy.org

Looked-After Children and Previously Looked After Children

Our designated teacher for looked-after (LAC) and previously looked after children (PLAC) is Mrs Louise Miller. Please contact her if you have any questions; louise.miller@brookfieldjunioracademy.org

Mrs Moore also supports our LAC and PLAC regarding safeguarding. 

Operation Encompass

Brookfield Junior Academy supports and advocates ‘Operation Encompass’. Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse. Operation Encompass report to school the next school day, when a child or young person has been involved or exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous day/evening. It enables children to arrive at school and have their needs met, by trained Child Protection staff, who have been informed of the child’s ‘experience.’ National Domestic Violence 24hr free-phone hotline: 0808 2000 247. Mrs Moore is the named person who receives the Operation Encompass reports. 

Online Safety

Whilst the use of computers and phones to access online material can be incredibly useful and enhance a child’s education, it can also cause serious damage to mental health and relationships. Monitoring how your child accesses online material can be frustrating; it takes knowledge, time and persistence. . All the computers and laptops in the academy are monitored, and monthly reports are shared with the leadership team about any inappropriate searches or language used. These issues are dealt with accordingly. 

The NSPCC have information for parents and carers about keeping children safe online. The page can be accessed here.

Although it is vital to stay up to date with the latest developments and to understand what your child is accessing, the most effective way of ensuring your child’s safety is to talk to them openly and honestly about their lives online, without judgement. This will allow you to help them on their journey to becoming a safe user of the internet. Just like all social interaction, children will learn from their mistakes. It is important that they are able to make those mistakes in a supportive environment, with trusted adults to help them if things ever go wrong.

If someone has acted inappropriately towards your child online you can report it to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) by clicking this link.

Our IT systems are monitored by the ACET IT Team and Securus. Monthly reports ars shared with Miss Dunning and Mrs Moore regarding any breaches of policy and inappropriate searches. Should there be an immediate risk, Securus contact the academy immediately so the breech can be investigated and dealt with. The system operates on all devices and users within Brookfield Junior Academy. 

Contextual Safeguarding 

Contextual Safeguarding is an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families. It recognises the different relationships that young people form in their neighbourhoods, schools and online. 

At Brookfield Junior Academy we have pupils from different cultures and religions, and we have developed a school culture that promotes diversity in our classrooms. Teaching children how to live in a society where every individual is unique and how to connect with peers and neighbours with diverse backgrounds and abilities is invaluable. 

It is also important to consider the potential dangers within our local area. 

As Brookfield Junior Academy is close to the canal and Manvers Lake, it is essential we teach our children about water safety.

We also have the railway line and railway station in Swinton, which is in very close proximity to our academy. We regularly, especially in the run-up to the school holidays, educate our pupils around the importance of staying away from the railway lines. As parents/carers, it is important that you reiterate these important messages at home. Further information can be found here.

Child criminal exploitation (CCE)

Child Criminal Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. Staff attend trailing to keep their knowledge relevant and to have an awareness of the current issues and trends in Rotherham. Although we would like to believe these things don't happen locally to us, they do. This is why we need to be vigilant and observant of our pupils and wider community. Parents and carers play a vital part in safeguarding their children from such crimes. Further information can be found on the PACE webiste.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE)

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse. Child sexual exploitation is a term used to describe where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child under the age of 18 into sexual activity. The child may have been sexually exploited even where the sexual activity appears consensual. For instance, the child might have been led to believe they are in a consensual relationship with the person. 

Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology, such as social media and gaming apps. It's important that people recognise that exploitation is child sexual abuse and should be seen as such. 

ReachOut is a service through Barnardo's in Rotherham, which offer a preventative service providing support to children, families and communities affected by and/or vulnerable to child exploitation in Rotherham. The Service provides individual and group support, awareness raising in communities and schools plus outreach and drop-ins. You can find out further information on this service here.

County Lines

The NPCC definition of a County Line is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas [within the UK], using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move [and store] the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons. 

Staff within school receive regular updates and training regarding CSE, CCE and county lines. We are vigilant and proactive with any concerns that we may have. We work closely with the Police and share intelligence. The Police are regular visitors to Brookfield to meet with groups of children to deliver age appropriate sessions around key themes. 

Alfie's story can be viewed on YouTube and demonstrates how a young boy is groomed and ends up involved with county lines. 

Intimate care

We care for and educate children who may require intimate care during the school day. If this is a requirement of your child, please speak to Miss Dunning and a meeting will be arranged to discuss your child needs. We have a policy in place to safeguard staff and pupils. The policy can be found on the policy tab. 

Fire Drill 

Each half term the whole academy takes part in a 'fire drill' to ensure all pupils and staff know how to evacuate the academy safely. These take place on different days and at different times to guarantee we are prepared for all situations. 

Lockdown procedures

We also practice lockdown procedures. This procedure is to safeguard children and staff should there be a local threat - aggressive dog in the grounds, poisonous gas cloud etc. Children are asked to remain calm and quiet and to stay in the classroom. Staff will ensure the doors are locked and the blinds are closed.

 

Further policies can be found in the policy section.