Safeguarding
Brandon Primary Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils and we expect all staff and visitors to share our commitment. We believe that all pupils have the right to be happy and safe to learn in a secure, nurturing environment. It is the responsibility of everyone to make sure this happens. All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, race, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm and free from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately in line with school and ALP Trust Safeguarding Policy.
Staff Responsibility for Safeguarding
All staff are responsible for safeguarding pupils and receive appropriate training.
Any and all concerns, however small, should be reported to the school designated officers for safeguarding who are:
- Mrs K McGough Head of School (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
- Mr C Baines, Executive Headteacher (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)
- Mrs L Bell, Attendance / Safeguarding Officer (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)
- Ms Patricia Nelson is our Governing Body member responsible for safeguarding.
Any concerns about the Executive Headteacher or Head of School should be reported to the Chief Executive Officer at ALP, Mr Kelvin Simpson (please contact ALP on 0300 373 8600).
Please see additional detail below from our Safeguarding Policy on information for universal services and all relevant safeguarding staff training that has taken place:
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025
Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:
- Recruitment – ensuring safer recruitment of new staff;
- Staff & Visitors – ensuring they are vetted, informed and trained in all areas of child protection and safeguarding;
- Behaviour & Safety – including respect and positive relationships, anti-bullying, e safety and promoting safe, happy behaviour and lifestyle;
- Curriculum – equipping children with the skills and attitudes to enjoy life and play an active part in society whilst keeping themselves safe;
- Premises – ensuring the school environment is secure, safe and fit for purpose;
- Prevent- protecting vulnerable pupils from possible radicalisation or extremism;
- Child sexual exploitation;
- FGM;
- Peer on peer abuse;
- Recruitment and Training;
- All staff are recruited in line with Safer Recruitment policy and practice. The Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and at least one governor have received Safer Recruitment training. All appointments are subject to receipt of satisfactory DBS checks and references.
Staff receive regular training in safeguarding and child protection. Designated Safeguarding Leads have regular and appropriate training.
Information Sharing
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:
- emergency contact numbers;
- the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
- the child’s special health requirements;
- Information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.
Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the school, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
PARENTS & CARERS MUST TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.
We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
In order to keep children safe we may sometimes share information with other professionals. This is always done in line our Keeping Children Safe in School policy that can be downloaded from our School Policies section of the website
Links with External Agencies
Because our first concern must be the well-being of your child, there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures.
We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include Durham First Contact, School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Support, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs
Reporting Concerns or Complaints
Further to the above procedures, we have in place a complaints policy. This enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is of concern.
Concerns should be raised in the following order
- To the Class Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Head of School. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Executive Headteacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- Chair of Governors. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the ALP Trust.
Contact details are available from the school office.
To contact your child’s class teacher, Head of School, Executive Headteacher or Chair of Governors please telephone our Main Office in the first instance on (0191) 387 0124 or via admin@brandonprimaryschool.co.uk
Attendance Officer: Mrs Lynn Bell
Email: admin@brandonprimaryschool.co.uk
Should you wish to contact our Trust, Advance Learning Partnership, please call 0300 3738600
To view our Complaints Policy please find this within our Policies section.
Everyone has a responsibility to help protect children. If you have any concerns for the welfare of a child you can report these to the Durham First Contact on 03000 267979.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger you should contact the police on 999, or for non-urgent matters call 101.
Review of Policy and Practice
In order to ensure that best practice is maintained, our policies are reviewed annually to incorporate the latest statutory guidance emerge. If you would like more information on safeguarding, please contact the school for hard copies of our policies or view the Policies section on our website.
