Safeguarding
At Nottingham Free School we have 11 designated safeguarding leads, they are:
- Kay Gray (Deputy Headteacher and Senior Lead designated officer)
- Susan Seymour (Safeguarding Officer)
- Joel Tomasevic (Assistant Headteacher)
- Tracy Marks (Assistant Headteacher, SendCo)
- Phil Cleveley (Head of Sixth Form)
- Amanda Doyle (Behaviour Support Coordinator)
- Meika Leivars (Behaviour Support Coordinator)
- Severine Wilken (Personal Development Lead)
- Bethan Inglis (Personal Development Lead)
- Jo Simpson (Head Teacher)
- Connor Fowler (Business Operations Manager)
Our designated Governor for Child Protection is Atia Hyde.
As a team, we recognise our responsibilities for safeguarding children and protecting them from harm. We follow the procedures set out by the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB) and take account of guidance issued by the DfE. All these procedures are set out in our safeguarding policy.
The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead:
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is an appropriate senior member of staff who has the status and authority within the school to carry out the duties of the post including committing resources and, where appropriate, supporting and directing other staff.
All child protection concerns WILL be reported to the appropriate authority and the DSL is responsible for:
Managing referrals
- Refer all cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care and: The designated officer(s) for child protection concerns (all cases which concern a staff member)
- Disclosure and Barring Service (cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child); and/or Police (cases where a crime may have been committed)
- Liaise with the Headteacher to inform him or her of issues, especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations
- Act as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies
Training
The DSL, and cover officers, will receive appropriate training carried out every year in order to: 
- Understand the assessment process for providing early help and intervention, for example through locally agreed common and shared assessment processes such as early help assessments
- Have a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so
- All staff at NFS receive annual training with updates on safeguarding themes.
Safer Recruitment
As a school, it is our responsibility to prevent people who pose a risk of harm from working with children by adhering to statutory responsibilities to check staff who work with children, taking proportionate decisions on whether to ask for any checks beyond what is required; and ensuring volunteers are appropriately supervised.
For most appointments, an enhanced DBS certificate, which includes barred list information, will be required as the majority of staff will be engaging in regulated activity. In short, a person will be considered to be engaging in regulated activity if as a result of their work they:
- will be responsible, on a regular basis in a school or college, for teaching, training instructing, caring for or supervising children; or
- will carry out paid, or unsupervised unpaid, work regularly in a school or college where that work provides an opportunity for contact with children;
- engage in intimate or personal care or overnight activity, even if this happens only once
For all other staff who have an opportunity for regular contact with children who are not engaging in regulated activity, an enhanced DBS certificate, which does not include a barred list check, will be appropriate. This will include contractors that would have the opportunity for contact with children and who work under a temporary or occasional contract.
PREVENT DUTY
Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation is seen as one of our safeguarding duties.
Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism. There is no single way of identifying an individual who is likely to be susceptible to an extremist ideology. It can happen in many different ways and settings. Specific background factors may contribute to vulnerability which are often combined with specific influences such as family, friends or online, and with specific needs for which an extremist or terrorist group may appear to provide an answer.
As a school, we do the following:
- All staff undertake 'preventing and tackling extremism' training.
- DSLs are aware of the Channel program and when to refer.
- A risk assessment of the potential risks associated with extremism and a plan of action which is reviewed throughout the year
- Extremism and radicalisation incorporated into the curriculum and students understand the term 'British Values'
Report online abuse
CEOP helps any child or young person under the age of 18 who is being pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind. This can be something that has taken place either online or in ‘the real world’, or both. The CEOP Safety Centre has clear information and advice on what can be reported to CEOP, the reporting process and what will happen if you do decide to make a report. You can visit the CEOP Safety Centre and make a report directly to CEOP by clicking the Click CEOP button below:
If you are experiencing online bullying or something else online has worried you please speak to an adult you trust, or you can talk to Childline at any time on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk.
If you have any safeguarding concerns please do not hesitate to contact one of the DSL team via the main school office.
If you have urgent concerns for a child, or suspect that a child has been abused in any way, you can also report a safeguarding concern to City MASH direct ​by calling 0115 876 4800 (if you are a member of the public).
There are also helpful links for further advice:
For online safety- please see the E-safety section of our website
Childline www.childline.org.uk
Comforts, advises and protects children 24 hours a day and offers free confidential counselling.
Phone 0800 1111 (24 hours) Chat 1-2-1 with a counsellor online
ChatHealth. Easy way for young people to confidentially ask for help about a range of issues, or make an appointment with a school nurse. The number to text is 07507 329952. The service will be available on Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Kooth www.kooth.com
Is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free to access.
Young minds www.youngminds.org.uk
Advice and information about young people’s mental health including information on CAMHS and what the next steps to seeking support are.
Health for Teens www.healthforteens.co.uk offers a great content and of your health, from sexual health to your feelings, growing up, lifestyle and much more.
Samaritans www.samaritans.org
24 hour confidential listening and support for anyone who needs it. (Adults included.) Phone 116 123 (24 hours) Information and support for mental health issues
Harmless- www.harmless.org.uk
provides a range of advice and support about self harm, people who self harm, their friends and families. Phone 0115 934 8445
B-eat www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
The UK's eating disorder charity. They have online support groups and a helpline for anyone under 18. Phone 0345 634 7650 (4pm – 10pm 365 days a year) Email fyp@b-eat.co.uk
The Mix www.themix.org.uk
Information, support and listening on EVERYTHING for young people
Phone 0808 808 4994 (24 hours), get lots of support online
Drugs and alcohol
Frank www.talktofrank.com
Confidential information and advice about drugs and substance abuse, whether it's for you or someone else. 0800 7766 00 (24 hours, won't show up on your phone bill)
LGBT
Stonewall www.youngstonewall.org.uk
The UK charity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. They offer information, advice. Phone 08000 50 20 20
Nottingham LGBT switchboard
Nottingham chartity offering advice for LGBT and questioning, people, their friends & family. Phone line open 7-9.15pm Mon-Fri 0115 934 8485.
If you are experiencing online bullying or something else online has worried you please speak to an adult you trust, or you can talk to Childline at any time on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk.
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Latest News
- School of the Year - Nova Transformational Awards
Nottingham Free School Named School of the Year at Trust Awards Evening (Whole School - 01/12/2023) - UKMT Bronze Medallist
Samuel Earns Bronze Medal in UKMT Junior Olympiad (Whole School - 22/09/2023) - Nottingham Free School Students Celebrate GCSE Success
Students at Nottingham Free School have, today, celebrated achieving excellent GCSE results (Whole School - 24/08/2023) - 2023 GCSE Results Day
Congratulations to all our amazing Year 11 students on their fantastic GCSE results. (Whole School - 24/08/2023) - Posh Fish Finger Sandwiches
With support from The Cods Scallops, The Fish Heroes and Fastnet. (Whole School - 03/07/2023)