At Drybrook Primary School staff are trained in recognising the signs of child abuse and extremism and are committed to and know the benefit of Early Help as a way of supporting families and children before their needs become acute and Social Care or other specialist intervention may be necessary. Early Help is offered through everything we do from our curriculum, breakfast club and after school club. All staff are caring and supportive and will be ready to listen if you ever need our help.

The school has a range of robust safeguarding procedures in place which puts the safety and protection of children at the heart of any decision. The school’s safeguarding team is made up of the following staff:

• Headteacher (DDSL) - Thomas Henesey 

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – Claire Tuffley (Deputy Head)

• Administration team (DDSL) - Donna Smith

• Teaching Assistant (DDSL) - Andrea Hampson

• Child Protection/ Safeguarding Governor - As we are a member of The Forest of Dean Trust, Peter Adams is the safeguarding governor for all schools in the Trust. 

 The DSL and all DDSLs complete inter-agency safeguarding training on a two-yearly programme. All other school staff complete safeguarding training on a three-yearly basis and are updated regularly to any changes in legislation.

Reporting Concerns

All staff will report concerns using CPOMS as soon as possible. This will alert the DSL and the necessary actions will be taken, this enables us to build a picture over time.

Our school will support all children by:

• Providing safeguarding training at all levels.

• Offering preventative signposting, support with meetings and access to a community social worker.

• Working with the local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).

• Holding Team around the Family/Child Meetings (TAF/TAC).

• Leading and supporting families on an EHCP.

• Listening to the voice of the child.

• Using Gloucestershire’s Healthy Living and Learning on-line survey. Results are monitored and interventions are put in place.

• Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness, through the curriculum as well as our relationships, whilst not condoning aggression or bullying.

• Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment within the school.

• Liaising and working together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children.

• Notifying Social Care as soon as there is a significant concern.

• Providing continued support to a child who leaves school about whom there have been concerns. Ensuring that appropriate information is copied under confidential cover to the child’s new setting and also that the school medical records are forwarded as a matter of priority.

• Trailblazers - Early Intervention.

The primary aim of the school’s Early Help system is to try to intervene early with families before it gets to the stage when a child may be at risk of harm.

Involvement of Families

The school will always involve the family in all Early Help strategies and most strategies will only be put in place with their permission. The school will aim to work with families in a supportive, non-judgmental way so that trust is built up and the best possible outcomes achieved. 

Where can I find help?

The following is a list of organisations that can help and give advice to families in need.  Please do not hesitate to contact any member of staff at any point so that we can help you.

Family Information Service:

An online resource containing national, regional and local information about services and activities for children, young people and families. The directory provides information on Disability, Money and Work, Parenting, Housing, Education, Health and Wellbeing, Childcare and Things to Do.

www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk

 

CAPdebt HELP

A charity offering a completely free service to help lift the burden of debt. Tel: 0800 3280006

www.capdebthelp.org

Greensquare

A short term intervention service to help address housing needs and promote independent living. Additional services include education training and work, budgeting, help with welfare benefits.

www.greensquaregroup.com

Two Rivers Housing Welfare and Debt Advisors

They can help tenants with a wide range of financial issues.

www.tworivershousing.org.uk

Salvation Army

Support for families in need of furniture / white goods.

Gloucestershire Young Carers

Provides a range of services for young carers who look after an ill or disabled family .

member. www.glosyoungcarers.org.uk

Counselling

Toucan for Children – who support children with counselling through play therapy.

https://www.toucanforchildren.org

Teens in Crisis Plus - who support the school with counselling for children and families.

 www.ticplus.org.uk

Trailblazers - early help for children's mental health in school. This is in-school based counselling.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/cyp/trailblazers/

ArtSpace

Offer after school creative clubs, and also the ‘Your Future’ Project that supports families who suffer domestic violence.

www.artspacecinderford.org

C.A.N.D.I

A community-based registered youth charity working with 10-18 year olds in the Forest of Dean. They have drop-in centres in Cinderford and Drybrook and run dance projects in Cinderford and Drybrook.

Forest Pulse

A local registered charity which supports families living in the Forest of Dean who have a child with disabilities.

www.forestpulse.co.uk

Opportunity Centre

Support for children from birth to 7 years with a special need/disability and their families. 

www.fodopportunitycentre.org

PCSO’s

Local community police service – who support the school with a range of safeguarding strategies including road and internet safety that relates to CSE, cyberbullying and on line safety against grooming.

GHLL

An umbrella organisation for Gloucestershire Healthy Schools and Gloucestershire Healthy FE (Further Education).

FSM/Pupil Premium Funding

This enables the school to provide additional support for disadvantaged and vulnerable children. 

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-transport-and-free-schoolmeals/apply-for-free-school-meals

Children & Young People’s (Mental Health) Service (CYPS)

Support the school with a range of services that include counselling for children, and signposting parents to courses for advice.

The Advisory Teaching Service

Specialist support for children with a hearing, visual or physical impairment or difficulties with communication, interaction, cognition, learning and behaviour.

Educational Psychologists

A team of Educational Psychologists working for the Local Authority who offer a comprehensive psychology service for children, young people and their families.

Speech Therapy NHS

Speech Therapy Lead – who supports the school’s programme of SaLT (Speech and Language Therapy).

The School Nursing Service - who support the school by attending TAC meetings, visiting children in school and liaising with other agencies involved in complex cases.

Gleam Project (Forest of Dean Salvation Army)

A project to grow confidence and develop key skills, such as establishing trust and communication, setting and maintaining safe and appropriate boundaries, recognising, understanding and moderating emotions and developing an approach to life that fosters an attitude of respect and gentle leadership.

Families First Plus

The Families First Plus Team is one of a range of teams within the Early Help Partnership. The role of Families First Plus Teams: They support the coordination and development of local partnerships, provide advice, guidance and support through Community Social Workers and Early Help Co-ordinators. Provide targeted support – a range of family support interventions including whole family intensive work, parenting groups, specific interventions linked to an assessment of need.

GDASS (Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service)

Offers support to anyone over the age of 16 who has experienced or is experiencing domestic abuse. 

www.gdass.org.uk

If you do need to talk to report domestic abuse we can accommodate you and find a private space within the school.

SENDIASS (Gloucestershire Special Educational Needs and Disability Information)

Advice & Support Service 

www.sendiassglos.org.uk

Forest of Dean Foodbank

https://theforest.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/how-to-get-help/

Samaritans

Call - 116 123
email - jo@samaritans.org

https://www.samaritans.org/

Gloucesterhsire Counselling Support

 Self-registration via the website.

www.gloscounselling.org.uk

GreenSquare Housing Support

https://www.greensquaregroup.com/customers/care-and-support-options/gloucestershire-housing-support

Rape Crisis

0808 802 9999

www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Men's Advice Line

0808 801 0327

www.mensadviceline.org.uk

Gloucestershire Help Hub - providing help during the Coronavirus Outbreak

 https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gloucestershires-community-help-hub/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn

Telephone - 01452 583519

Domestic Abuse Support - GDASS

Phone - 01452 726570 
Police - 101 or 999
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge) - 0808 200 0247

www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Safeguarding Concerns

 If you are concerned that a child may be in danger or is suffering abuse phone Social Care on - 01452 426565 or the out of hours emergency team on - 01452 614 194

If you believe that a child is at significant risk of harm call the police - 101 or 999.

NSPCC - 0808 800 5000 (https://www.nspcc.org.uk/)