Safeguarding is our first priority at Fordingbridge Federation

We believe that children thrive best in an environment that is safe, secure, and supportive of all their needs — including protection from abuse. Every child has the right to be happy, to be safe, and to learn. We all share the responsibility to make this happen.

Safeguarding underpins every aspect of our work and is embedded in our school culture.

Our Safeguarding Culture Includes:

• Ongoing safeguarding training for all staff, governors, and stakeholders.
• A curriculum that empowers children to safeguard themselves and seek support when needed — delivered through the Jigsaw programme.
• Assemblies focused on safeguarding themes, including online safety and current contextual concerns.
• A full-time Emotional Wellbeing Leader, offering 1:1 and group nurture sessions through our NEST provision.
• Robust statutory policies and procedures that ensure we meet our safeguarding responsibilities for every child.
• CPOMS, our secure online portal for recording concerns, enabling DSLs to monitor and respond effectively.
• A close working relationship with STARF, a local charity providing vital support and guidance to families in need.
• Weekly pastoral and safeguarding meetings, where staff receive updates and discuss concerns collaboratively.
• Support from external professionals, including the Educational Psychology Team and Behaviour Services, to provide expert insight and guidance.

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs):

If you have any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, please contact a member of our safeguarding team:

Dan Genn – Executive Headteacher  (DDSL) 

Iley Clements – Deputy Executive Headteacher   (DSL) 

Claire Ellis – SENCO      (DDSL) 

Claire Swindells – SENCO     (DDSL) 

Amelia Gritt – Fordingbridge Junior School    (DDSL)  

Rachel Magor – Fordingbridge Infant School   (DDSL)  

Contact:

Infant School: 01425 653624

Junior School: 01425 652285

safeguarding@fjs.hants.sch.uk

Promoting British Values and the Prevent Strategy

At Fordingbridge Infant and Junior Schools Federation, we are fully committed to promoting British Values as part of our ongoing safeguarding and child protection responsibilities. These values — as defined by the Government in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and reinforced in 2014 — are:

• Democracy
• The Rule of Law
• Individual Liberty
• Mutual Respect
• Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs

We actively promote these values across our curriculum and school life to help build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation and to support their development as responsible, respectful citizens.

Our Approach to Prevent

We support the Government’s Prevent Strategy, which aims to stop people from becoming involved in extremism or terrorism. Our approach includes:

• Staff Training: All staff receive regular Prevent awareness training to help them identify children who may be at risk and to respond appropriately.
• Curriculum Integration: Through programmes like Jigsaw, we teach children how to keep themselves safe, understand diversity, and respect others.
• Safeguarding Culture: We foster an inclusive, open environment where children feel safe to express themselves and seek help when needed.
• Early Intervention: Staff are equipped to challenge extremist ideas and report concerns promptly through our safeguarding systems.

By embedding British Values and Prevent awareness into our school ethos, we ensure that children are supported to grow into confident, informed individuals who can contribute positively to society.

Photographs at School Events

We understand that parents and carers enjoy capturing special moments at school events such as sports days, performances, and assemblies. While we welcome this, we ask that you follow our guidelines to ensure the safety and privacy of all children:

• You may take photographs of your own child for personal use only.
• Please do not share any photographs taken on school premises on social media, especially if other children are visible.
• We require parental permission before using any images of children on our website, newsletters, or publications. These permissions are carefully checked before any photos are published.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and respectful environment for all families.

E-Safety 

E-Safety is a vital part of our safeguarding responsibilities, both in school and at home. We teach children how to stay safe online through our curriculum and assemblies, and we encourage parents and carers to stay informed about online risks and safety strategies.

Martyn’s Law – What Parents Need to Know

Martyn’s Law, officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is new legislation designed to improve safety and preparedness at public venues — including schools — in the event of a terrorist attack.

It is named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. The law aims to ensure that organisations take proportionate steps to protect people and respond effectively if an incident occurs.

How Does This Affect Schools?

Although schools are already places where safety is a top priority, Martyn’s Law introduces additional responsibilities for settings where 200 or more people may be present at one time. This includes most primary and secondary schools.

Schools like ours will be required to:

• Appoint a Responsible Person to oversee safety planning.
• Put in place simple, practical procedures to protect children and staff in the event of a serious incident. These include:
  • Evacuation – safely exiting the building.
  • Invacuation – moving people to safe areas inside the building.
  • Lockdown – securing doors and limiting movement.
  • Communication – alerting staff and pupils quickly and clearly

There is no requirement for expensive equipment or building changes. The focus is on staff-led procedures and preparedness.