Safeguarding at Northfield

Northfield School and Sports College understand that the safety and well-being of our pupils is paramount and, as a result, we take safeguarding very seriously.  We view safeguarding as the responsibility of every member of staff.

Pupils, parents and carers are encouraged to report any safeguarding concerns to a member of our safeguarding team, either in person or by e mailing safeguarding@northfieldssc.org .  Our online student concern form can also be completed to report any concerns.

Please click the following link to view the latest ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE) guidance from the Department for Education.

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025

Please click the following link to view our safeguarding policy.

Safeguarding Policy

Please click here to view our Pupil Well Being page.

Pupil Well-being

Our commitment to safeguarding our pupils is shown via some of the strategies below -

• Use of our online student concern form for any pupil to report/share concerns with us
• Having an extended safeguarding team, due to Northfield’s size, with a DSL and three DDSLs
• An extensive pastoral team which also includes a family support worker, PLC manager, behavioural support officer, inclusion co-ordinator and attendance support officers
• Liaison with relevant safeguarding organisations such as social care, NHS and the police through the sharing of information and attendance at meetings
• The use of therapeutic services on the school site such as ABC and Alliance
• Relevant training of all Northfield Staff – training is ongoing to keep local and national safeguarding issues at the forefront of the minds of our staff
• Weekly assemblies which start with a safeguarding reminder for ALL pupils
• Delivery of our life skills curriculum, where important topics are covered - click here to find out more about life skills.
• Guest speakers who deliver safeguarding messages in school e.g. knife crime, serious violence and one punch can kill
• Regular liaison with parents/carers through termly newsletters, our website, email and social media
• Parental access to online safeguarding training
• Membership of the board of the Hartlepool Stockton Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (HSSCP) which ensures we are fully aware of any upcoming changes in safeguarding policy/protocol

Safeguarding Children Statement

Northfield School and Sports College believe that children must be protected from harm at all times.

• We believe every child should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that children we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
• We want children who use or have contact with this school to enjoy what we have to offer in safety.
• We want parents and carers of children who use or attend our school to be supported to care for their children in a way that promotes their child’s health and well being and keeps them safe.
• We want organisations who work with us, or who provide funding to us to have confidence and recognise that we are a safe school.
• We will achieve this by having an effective safeguarding children procedure and follow National guidance (What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused).http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/resources-an-practice/IG00182
• If we discover or suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer harm we will notify Children’s Services via The Children’s HUB tel: 01642 130080 / 01429 284284 (out of hours 01642 524 552) and complete a SAFER referral email: childrenshub@hartlepool.gov.uk or the police tel: 01642 326326, in order that they can be protected if necessary.
• This Safeguarding Children Policy Statement and our safeguarding children procedure applies to all staff, volunteers and users of Northfield School and Sports College and anyone carrying out any work for us or using our premises. All members of staff will read part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 in line with statutory guidance.
• We will review our safeguarding children policy and procedures at least annually to make sure they are still relevant and effective.

With vital help from our parents and carers, we continuously strive to provide a safe, happy and vibrant learning environment for all our pupils to thrive and reach their full potential. Each pupil has their own needs and requirements; therefore, we must receive the necessary information, however small it is perceived, to structure each pupil's learning experience in a way that will best help them succeed.

Please get in touch if you require any further information or have any queries.

Our Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding in our Life Skills Curriculum

The Life Skills curriculum supports safeguarding across all year groups by educating pupils on areas such as sexual harassment and bullying whilst also providing pupils with a safe environment in which to raise concerns. Lesson resources remind pupils how they can receive further support in school and who they can talk to, as well as referencing the online student concern form linked here. Life skills lessons, delivered by tutors, help to build on the existing supportive framework for pupils.

Click here to find out more about our Life Skills Curriculum

E-safety

Three out of four young people spend more than three hours a day online, and to ensure children stay safe while using the internet, we must educate them on the potential risks and dangers.

Click here to find out how parents and carers can support our pupils to stay safe online

Pastoral and Safeguarding Newsletters