Tel: 01935 421295
Safeguarding & online safety
Our Safeguarding Team
Mrs Nicky Barratt
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Tracy Felstead
Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Jade Snashall
Safeguarding Officer
Mrs Kerry Lewis
Safeguarding Lead
Miss Sharon White
Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Amanda Purchase
Safeguarding Governor
Please explore the key areas of our safeguarding provision by selecting the icons below or simply scroll through this page.
These sections outline our commitment to keeping everyone safe, informed, and supported, and provide guidance on our policies, procedures, and practices.
At Fairmead School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every young person feels protected, valued and listened to.
Safeguarding is a shared responsibility across our whole school community. All staff, governors, volunteers and visitors have a duty to keep our young people safe and to act immediately if they have any concerns. We work together to ensure safeguarding is woven into daily practice, decision‑making and relationships, not treated as a separate process.
We actively promote a culture where young people are listened to and taken seriously. Staff build trusting relationships with young people, so they feel safe to talk, knowing their worries, questions and experiences matter. We recognise that our young people may communicate in different ways, and we adapt our approach to ensure every voice can be heard.
Pupil voice is central to our safeguarding ethos. We encourage young people to share their views, feelings and ideas about their wellbeing, safety and school life. Their contributions help shape our practice, support early identification of concerns and ensure safeguarding remains responsive to their needs.
We believe that early support makes a difference. By working closely with families and external agencies, we aim to identify concerns as soon as possible and provide help before issues escalate. Our early help approach focuses on understanding the whole of the young person, strengthening protective factors and ensuring the right support is in place at the right time.
Together, these principles ensure that safeguarding at Fairmead School is proactive, relational and rooted in care — enabling our young people to feel safe, confident and supported to thrive.
To Report a Safeguarding Concern about a Young Person
Please call the school office on 01935 421295 and ask to speak to a Safeguarding Lead.
If it is outside of school hours please call Mrs Felstead on 07860 912587 or Mrs Barratt on 07592 504653.
You can also email: safeguarding@fairmeadschool.com
To contact our Safeguarding Governor you can email: safeguarding.governor@fairmeadschool.com
To report an urgent Safeguarding concern where the young person is at risk of harm:
Please call the Police on 999 or
Somerset children
Children's Social Care (Somerset Direct) on 0300 123 2224
For an out of hours service please call the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 123 2327
Dorset children
Children's Social Care 01305 228866
To Report a Safeguarding Concern about Staff or Volunteers
If you have a safeguarding concern about a member of staff or volunteer:
Step 1
Speak to the Headteacher
Call: 01935 421295
Step 2
If unavailable
Email: safeguarding@fairmeadschool.com
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If the concern is about the Headteacher
Contact the Chair of Governors: apurchase@fairmeadschool.com
Step 3
If you feel the concern has not been acted upon
Call: 0300 1232224
Email: sdinputters@somerset.gov.uk
In an Emergency
Call: 999
(Child Exploitation & Online Protection command)
CEOP is a law enforcement agency that exists to help keep young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online
The UK's leading Online Safety Advice Resource
Get Safe Online is an internet safety website providing unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety.
The UK Safer Internet Centre works to identify threats and harms online and then create and deliver critical advice, resources, education and interventions that help keep young people safe.
Childline | Free counselling service for young people
Childline provides help and support to anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.
If you need to report an allegation of inappropriate behaviour by someone who works with children or young people, contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO):
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Name: Anthony Gole or Stacey Davis
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Phone: 0300 1232224
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Email: sdinputters@somerset.gov.uk
Concerns about staff must always be reported to the Headteacher (or Chair of Governors if the concern is about the Headteacher), as above.
Fairmead School is committed to the highest standards of openness, integrity and accountability. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns internally wherever possible; however, we recognise that there may be circumstances where this is not appropriate or where a concern has been raised and the member of staff believes it has not been addressed.
Whistleblowing concerns must be raised in the public interest and relate to safeguarding, illegal activity, serious malpractice, or a failure to act.
Internal Whistleblowing Contacts – Fairmead School
Concerns about staff, practice or safeguarding
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In the first instance, concerns should be reported to the Headteacher.
Call: 01935 421295
Email: safeguarding@fairmeadschool.com
If the concern relates to the Headteacher they should be raised directly with the Chair of Governors:
Email: apurchase@fairmeadschool.com
External Whistleblowing Routes
If a member of staff feels unable to raise a concern internally, or believes it has not been handled appropriately, the following external routes are available:
NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line (Safeguarding Concerns)
The NSPCC provides confidential advice and support to professionals who are worried about how child protection or safeguarding concerns are being handled in their organisation. The NSPCC is a prescribed whistleblowing body for child protection matters.
Call: 0800 028 0285
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line (nspcc.org.uk)
Department for Education (DfE)
Serious concerns relating to safeguarding failures, governance issues, or misuse of public funds may be reported directly to the Department for Education. Disclosures can be made confidentially or anonymously.
Blowing the whistle to the Department for Education – DfE whistleblowing policy (GOV.UK)
Local Authority / Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
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Name: Anthony Gole or Stacey Davis
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Phone: 0300 1232224
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Email: sdinputters@somerset.gov.uk
Police
If a member of staff believes a criminal offence has been committed or that a child or adult is at immediate risk of harm, the Police should be contacted without delay.
Call: 999 (emergency)
Call: 101 (non-emergency)
Key Principles
Staff must reasonably believe the information disclosed is true and in the public interest.
Staff are protected from victimisation under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 when concerns are raised appropriately.
Confidentiality will be respected wherever possible.
Malicious or knowingly false allegations may be treated as a disciplinary matter.
Online safety is a key part of safeguarding at Fairmead School.
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Filtering and monitoring: Overseen by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
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Review process: Systems reviewed termly
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Responding to alerts: ICT technician and safeguarding team
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Recording concerns: Logged on MyConcern
How We Teach Online Safety
Online safety at Fairmead School is taught through a planned, progressive curriculum using and is regularly revisited across subjects such as RSHE and literacy, with lessons matched to age, need and prior learning. Online safety messages are reinforced throughout daily school life and through national initiatives such as Safer Internet Day, ensuring learning is practical, relevant and embedded across the wider curriculum. It is also embedded in assemblies and through tutor time.
Key Risks
The key online safety risks for young people include exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, online bullying and harassment, and contact with others who may seek to groom or exploit them. There are also risks linked to sharing personal information or images online, misuse of social media and gaming platforms, and a lack of understanding about privacy, consent and digital footprints. These risks can impact young people’s emotional wellbeing and safeguarding both in and beyond school, which is why they are addressed through education, supervision and clear safeguarding procedures.
Safeguarding training is ongoing and a priority for all staff.
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All staff receive regular safeguarding and child protection training
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Annual updates and mandatory reading of KCSIE Part 1
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Advanced training (every two years) for safeguarding leaders
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Annual Prevent training for all staff
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Safer recruitment training for recruitment staff
Safeguarding is a continuous priority at Fairmead School and staff training is an ongoing process rather than a one‑off event. All staff receive regular safeguarding and child protection training, including induction, annual updates, and are required to read and confirm understanding of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) Part 1 each year.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Deputy DSL, Safeguarding Officer, PFSA, Attendance Officer and Primary Phase Leader undertake advanced safeguarding training at least every two years, with regular updates in line with statutory guidance, and all staff receive annual Prevent awareness training to ensure they understand the risks of radicalisation and their duty to report concerns. All staff involved in recruitment complete safer recruitment training, which is refreshed as required, and at least one trained person is present on every recruitment panel.
All new staff, volunteers and regular visitors complete a robust safeguarding induction, which includes safeguarding procedures, online safety, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and reporting concerns; this induction is reinforced through ongoing training, briefings and updates to ensure safeguarding knowledge remains current and embedded in everyday practice.
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Risks are monitored through training, behaviour and safeguarding systems
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Prevent is embedded in the curriculum (RSHE, British Values, assemblies)
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Concerns are reported to the DSL or Prevent Lead
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Referrals may be made to the Channel programme where appropriate
Fairmead School is committed to meeting its statutory Prevent Duty as part of its wider safeguarding responsibilities. The school recognises that young people may be vulnerable to radicalisation and ensures that concerns relating to extremist views or influences are treated as safeguarding concerns and managed through established safeguarding procedures.
Risks linked to radicalisation are actively monitored through staff training, professional curiosity, behaviour monitoring, safeguarding records and ongoing liaison between staff and the safeguarding team. Prevent‑related themes are embedded within the curriculum, including RSHE, British Values, assemblies and discussion‑based learning, ensuring content is accessible and appropriate to young peoples needs.
Where concerns arise, staff report these immediately to the Prevent Lead, DSL or Deputy DSL, who will assess risk and, where appropriate, make a referral through local safeguarding pathways, including the Channel programme, working in partnership with external agencies to ensure early support and intervention. Prevent processes are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain effective and aligned with statutory guidance.
We follow robust safer recruitment procedures to ensure all staff are suitable to work with young people.
Pre-employment checks include:
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Enhanced DBS (with barred list checks where required)
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Prohibition checks (for teaching roles)
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Identity, right to work and qualification checks
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Professional references
We also carry out online searches for shortlisted candidates to identify safeguarding concerns.
All checks are recorded on the Single Central Record (SCR), which is regularly reviewed for compliance.
Fairmead School follows robust Safer Recruitment procedures in line with statutory guidance to ensure all staff, volunteers, and regular visitors are suitable to work with young people. Safeguarding is central to all recruitment decisions, and procedures are designed to deter, identify, and prevent unsuitable individuals from working within the school.
As part of due diligence, the school also undertakes online and social media searches for shortlisted candidates. These checks are limited to information that is publicly available and are carried out to identify any safeguarding concerns or information that may indicate a candidate is unsuitable to work with young people. Shortlisted candidates are informed that these checks may take place.
All recruitment and vetting checks are accurately recorded on the school’s Single Central Record (SCR). The SCR is state maintained, regularly monitored, and reviewed for compliance, and the school confirms full compliance with statutory safeguarding requirements at all times.
The wellbeing of our young people is central to school life.
Who can our young people talk to?
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Any trusted adult
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Class teacher or support staff
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Pastoral team
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DSL or Deputy DSL
Our Approach
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Daily check-ins and wellbeing monitoring
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Strong relationships and early support
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Access to interventions or therapeutic support where needed
At Fairmead School, the wellbeing and emotional safety of our young people is central to everything we do. We provide consistent, compassionate support to help young people feel safe, listened to and ready to learn.
Young people are regularly reminded who they can talk to and how to ask for help in ways that are accessible and appropriate to their needs.
Pastoral and Wellbeing Support
Our whole‑school pastoral system focuses on strong relationships, early identification of need and consistent support. This includes daily check‑ins, wellbeing monitoring and coordinated support between staff.
Emotional wellbeing is promoted through our curriculum and school environment. Where appropriate, young people may also access additional wellbeing interventions or therapeutic support in discussion with families and therapists.
Early Help and Safeguarding
We follow a clear early help approach, working closely with families to support concerns as soon as they emerge. Many needs are met through school‑based pastoral support; where further help is required, we may complete an Early Help Assessment or seek advice from specialist services.
All concerns are recorded and managed in line with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Working with External Services
We work in partnership with external agencies to ensure young people and families receive the right support. We also provide signposting to local and national services where appropriate.
If a young person is at immediate risk, we follow statutory safeguarding procedures and work with Children’s Social Care and other agencies.
At Fairmead School, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where all young people are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying of any kind is not tolerated.
We recognise that our young people may communicate and behave in different ways. While some behaviours may be linked to additional needs, trauma or communication difficulties, the impact on the young person experiencing bullying is always taken seriously.
How bullying is reported
Bullying concerns can be raised in a number of ways:
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By young people, who are encouraged to talk to a trusted adult in school
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By parents or carers, by contacting the class teacher or school office
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By staff, who will act immediately if they observe or are informed of bullying
All concerns are listened to carefully and acted upon promptly. Reports of bullying may relate to behaviour that happens in school, online, on school transport, or in the community, where it impacts a young person’s wellbeing or safety.
How incidents are recorded
All bullying concerns are:
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Taken seriously and investigated
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Recorded in line with the school’s safeguarding and behaviour procedures
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Monitored to identify patterns or repeated concerns
Where appropriate, incidents are shared with parents/carers, and next steps are agreed together. Serious concerns may be referred to external agencies in line with safeguarding guidance.
Support offered
We believe in a restorative and supportive approach. Support is provided for:
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The young person who has experienced bullying, to help them feel safe, heard and supported
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The young person responsible for the behaviour, to help them understand the impact of their actions, develop empathy and make positive changes
Support may include emotional support, increased supervision, individual or small‑group work, and restorative conversations where appropriate. Our aim is always to promote positive relationships, accountability and change, rather than blame.
Related policies
Further information about how we promote positive behaviour and respond to bullying can be found in our Relationship Policy.