We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff, volunteers and visitors to The Pod at St. Frideswide to share this commitment. We always act in the best interests of the child.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

The Designated Leads responsible for safeguarding are:

• Hannah Forder-Ball (Headteacher)
• Deputies: 
• Fiona Procter (Deputy Head for EYFS) 
• Sarah Colverson-Martin (Pod Manager) 
• The Safeguarding Governor: 
• Peter McCulloch

Safeguarding is a general term which describes everything we do to protect children and to promote their health, safety and well-being. This includes such matters as safer recruitment, careful storage of information, the management of health and safety including risk assessments and the care of premises where children spend their time.

At The Pod at St. Frideswide we have a duty to share information with other agencies where we have a concern about a child. Unless it is not safe for a child, we would always aim to do this with a parent or carer’s consent. The procedures, which we follow, have been laid down by Oxfordshire’s Local Safeguarding Children Board and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all.

We recognise that, through their day-to-day contact with children and direct work with families, staff at the school have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect and referring to the appropriate agency. We do this by:

1. Ensuring we know where every child is each day. Please ring and let us know if your child is absent, we will phone you if we are unsure.
2. Making sure we know the reasons for any bumps, bruises or comments from children.
3. Recording late arrival or collection to consider if different arrangements or more support is needed.
4. Senior staff meetings at which we share information and ensure all necessary actions are taken. Safeguarding is a standing agenda item at all meetings, staff and regular volunteers receive regular training and updates.
5. We listen to our children and take seriously what they tell us.
6. Awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe is taught in an age-appropriate way to children as part of the personal, social and emotional aspect of the curriculum. 
7. Your child's Key Person is available to ensure your child and family have appropriate support. Please inform them of any changes in your home or important events which you think may affect your child. We strive to work in partnership with you to help your child to achieve their full potential. 

If you want to know more about our procedures  please speak to one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads or your child’s Key person.

Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board website: www.oscb.org.uk

You can read our safeguarding policy here.