Birchwood Junior School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding & Child Protection, these can be viewed in either safeguarding section of the website or the policies section of the website. Paper copies are available upon request at the school office.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies, when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.

We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism. 

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mr Matthew Davies (Head teacher). Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Miss Carrie Page (Pastoral Lead), Mr David Beveridge (Deputy Headteacher), Miss Melanie Burgess (Assistant Headteacher). The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Mrs Heather Saunders. 

The Lincoln Safeguarding Children Partnership can be contacted on 01522 782111 or email LSCP@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

Operation encompass

In December 2019, all schools in Lincolnshire became an Operation Encompass School, becoming part of a national scheme which runs jointly between all schools and the police.

Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced, any domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the school’s staff – the Designated Safeguarding Lead, is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have recently experienced a domestic abuse incident.

We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.

Photographs and Videos:

Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.

Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet, including social networking sites. This is emphasised before concerts and shows etc and where, practically, a record of parents and relatives taking photographs or videos is made.

We understand that in exceptional circumstances, a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way. If this is the case, then please contact the headteacher to discuss how this can be best achieved.

Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We like to use photographs of our children on our website, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around the school. If you do not wish photographs of your child to be used for these purposes, then please contact the Head teacher.

Safeguarding Team:

DSL Leader	Deputy DSL	Deputy DSL
Deputy DSL	Deputy DSL

Contact Safeguarding Team

If you need to urgently get in contact with the safeguarding team, please call the school on 01522 800971 or come into school to talk to a DSL (Designated Safeguarding Leader). The Safeguarding Team are as follows: Mr M Davies Miss C Page Mr D Beveridge Miss M Burgess