The Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding Support & Guidance  

You can report a concern using the button at the top of the page or email safeguarding@bromfords.essex.sch.uk

Outside of school hours, such as holidays: 

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, call the Police on 999. 

If you’re worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child, call the children’s line on 0345 603 7627. This phone line is open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5:30pm, and Fridays 9am to 4:30pm. 

For out of hours or bank holidays, call the emergency duty team on 0345 606 1212.

If your concern does not meet these thresholds but you would still like someone to be aware of a situation you can email us at outofhours@bromfords.essex.sch.uk

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children has an important role to play. School staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children’s welfare and prevent concerns from escalating. It is important all staff (including those who do not work directly with children) recognise the important role they play in protecting children. – Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2022

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome

Safeguarding includes child protection, health care plans, health and safety, site security, safety on school trips, anti-bullying work, prevent duty and so much more.

The school adheres to the following three DFE safeguarding documents:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• The Prevent Duty

All staff receive regular Child Protection and Safeguarding update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child or young person’s welfare.

We will ensure that our concerns about our students are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child or young person’s welfare.

If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a child in the school, please pass them on to the School’s designated safeguarding leads.

There will be occasions when we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns over a child or young person’s welfare.

Click here for the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Welfare Check – Flowchart.

The SET (Southend, Essex and Thurrock) Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures have been updated to reflect current practice and changes in legislation.  

Child on Child abuse

The Bromfords School is committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our students, so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Peer on peer abuse of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If peer on peer abuse does occur, all students can talk to someone, secure in the knowledge that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively.   Incidents of peer on peer abuse will be managed in the same way as any other child protection concern and will follow the same procedures. We will seek advice and support from other agencies as appropriate.

Click here for the School’s Child on Child Abuse Policy 

Children and young people at risk of becoming involved in gangs

Independent charity Crimestoppers is highlighting that children and young people across Essex are at risk of becoming involved with gangs and the violence and abuse that often follows. Please read their press release below for more details, especially if you are concerned about your children. 

Supporting student mental health and wellbeing

For more information on how we support the mental health and wellbeing of students, click here.

Useful links:

Childline: 0800 1111

Essex online guidance and resources

Vaping Information

National Online Safety – What parents need to know about music streaming apps & Sites Free Resource

TikTok – What Parents need to know

E-Safety for Parents

NSPCC

CEOP POLICE UK 

ThinkYouKnow

CrimeStoppers Press Release

CSE Hotline Letter

Inappropriate Selfies advice

The link below covers guides to many of the social media platforms that children are using should you wish to view them.

https://parentzone.org.uk/advice/parent-guides