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Safeguarding

Keeping every child safe

At Samuel Cody School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to protecting our pupils from harm, promoting their welfare and helping them to feel safe, valued, respected and ready to learn.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. All children and young people have the right to be safe, to be listened to and to receive the support they need to thrive.

As a specialist school, we recognise that every pupil is an individual and that children with special educational needs and disabilities may communicate their worries, feelings or experiences in different ways. We take time to understand our pupils, build trusting relationships and recognise when something may not be right.

Our staff are trained to recognise signs that a child may be experiencing difficulties or may be at risk of harm. We take changes in behaviour, presentation, communication, attendance or emotional wellbeing seriously. We work together to identify concerns, listen to pupils and take appropriate action to help keep them safe.

We work in partnership with parents and carers and, when necessary, with external agencies to ensure that concerns are addressed promptly and that children and families receive appropriate support.

If you have a safeguarding concern about a pupil, please contact our safeguarding team as soon as possible. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Our safeguarding team

Our dedicated safeguarding team works together to promote the safety and wellbeing of every pupil at Samuel Cody School.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Tom Woodward – t.woodward@samuelcody.hants.sch.uk

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs): Steve O'Kane and Laura Barber – s.okane@samuelcody.hants.sch.uk l.barber@samuelcody.hants.sch.uk

Safeguarding Officers: Sean Cooper, Shannon Wilson, Sam Moralee, Ceri Taylor-Lovett, Luke Strain and Katie Gallagher

Home School Link Workers: Mark McGowan and Sarah Sanders

Our Home School Link Workers help strengthen the partnership between home and school, supporting communication with families and helping them access appropriate advice and support when needed.

All staff have a responsibility to report safeguarding concerns. You do not need to know which member of the team is best placed to help; please speak to a member of staff you trust or contact the safeguarding team directly.

How we keep our pupils safe

Safeguarding is part of everyday life at Samuel Cody School. We work hard to make sure every pupil feels safe, listened to and supported.

We do this by:

  • Recognising concerns early: Noticing changes in behaviour, mood, communication or attendance.
  • Listening to pupils: Helping pupils share their worries in ways that suit their individual needs.
  • Building trusted relationships: Making sure pupils know who they can turn to for help.
  • Teaching personal safety: Helping pupils understand boundaries, healthy relationships and how to stay safe.
  • Promoting online safety: Teaching pupils how to use technology safely and what to do if something worries them.
  • Working with families: Listening to parents and carers and working together to support each child.
  • Working with other professionals: Liaising with services such as Children's Services, the police and health professionals when needed.

We follow school safeguarding procedures and national guidance, sharing information with the appropriate professionals when necessary to protect children and support their wellbeing.

Safeguarding and special educational needs

We understand that some pupils may find it difficult to explain what has happened, describe their feelings or recognise when a situation is unsafe. A child may communicate distress through changes in behaviour, withdrawal, increased anxiety, difficulty regulating emotions or other changes in their usual presentation.

We never assume that a pupil's additional needs explain a change in behaviour without considering whether there may be an underlying concern.

Our approach aims to be individualised, respectful and responsive. We consider each pupil's communication needs, developmental understanding and circumstances when listening to them and responding to concerns.

We encourage parents and carers to tell us if they notice changes at home or have concerns about their child's safety or wellbeing. Information shared with school can help us build a clearer picture and decide what support or action may be needed.

What should I do if I am worried about a child?

If you are a parent, carer, family member or member of the community, and you are concerned about a pupil's safety or wellbeing, please contact the school and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team.

Safeguarding email: safeguarding@samuelcody.hants.sch.uk

We will take your concerns seriously and consider the appropriate next steps. Depending on the circumstances, this may include speaking with relevant staff, seeking advice from specialist professionals or referring the concern to an external agency.

There may be situations where we need to share information with other agencies to protect a child. Where it is appropriate and safe to do so, we will explain the next steps to parents and carers. However, we cannot promise complete confidentiality when a child's safety may be at risk.

If you believe a child is being abused or is at immediate risk of harm, do not wait for a response from school. Contact Hampshire Children's Services or the police as appropriate. In an emergency, call 999.

Online safety (e-safety)

The internet, online games and social media can be great ways for children to learn, play and connect with others. However, they can also pose risks, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content and contact from strangers. At Samuel Cody School, we help pupils learn how to stay safe online in ways that meet their individual needs and understanding.

Parents and carers can help by talking regularly with their child about their online activities, checking privacy settings and using appropriate parental controls. Open conversations and knowing where to turn for help are key to keeping children safe.

If your child shares a worrying online experience, stay calm, listen and reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling you. Keep any relevant messages or screenshots, where safe to do so, and contact the school safeguarding team if you have concerns about a pupil's safety.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Suspected online grooming or sexual abuse can also be reported to CEOP.

Useful online safety advice

Guides to individual games, apps and websites

Online platforms change frequently, and the right advice will depend on the app, game, device and the child using it. We will add links to parent/carer guides here so families can find practical information about privacy settings, chat functions, age ratings, in-app purchases and reporting concerns.

Our professional responsibility

Safeguarding is a professional responsibility shared by everyone who works at Samuel Cody School. When a member of staff has a concern about a child’s safety or welfare, they must follow the school’s safeguarding procedures and pass the concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or deputy. Where the circumstances require it, information may need to be shared with Children’s Services, the police or another appropriate agency.

A referral is not a judgement about a child or their family, and it is not an assumption that someone has done something wrong. It is a responsible step taken because a concern needs to be considered by the people with the right role and expertise to assess it and decide what support or protection may be needed.

Our responsibility is to notice, listen, record and share concerns appropriately—not to investigate or make conclusions ourselves. We take concerns seriously, act in line with safeguarding procedures and relevant referral thresholds, and keep the child’s welfare at the centre of our decisions.

We aim to work openly and respectfully with parents and carers wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so. However, there may be times when we cannot discuss a referral in advance or share all information, particularly if doing so could increase risk to a child or affect an agency’s enquiries. Information is shared on an appropriate, need-to-know basis and in line with safeguarding and information-sharing requirements.

Useful safeguarding policies

Our policies explain the procedures and responsibilities that underpin safeguarding at Samuel Cody School.

Samuel Cody School — Policies page

Check that the latest published versions include the relevant documents, such as:

  • Safeguarding Policy
  • Child Protection Policy
  • Anti-Bullying Policy
  • Behaviour for Learning Policy
  • Online safety information and other relevant policies, where published

We also work in line with applicable national guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Useful support and advice for families

We know that families sometimes need advice, reassurance or additional support outside school. The following organisations offer information and services for children, young people and families in Hampshire and nationally.

Hampshire services

National support

  • Childline — Free, confidential support for children and young people. Telephone: 0800 1111.
  • NSPCC — Advice for adults concerned about a child's safety or welfare. Helpline: 0808 800 5000.
  • CEOP Education — Advice and resources to help children, young people, parents and carers stay safer online.
  • CEOP reporting — Report online sexual abuse or grooming to CEOP.

Emergency services: If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.

Our commitment

Every child deserves to feel safe, listened to and supported. At Samuel Cody School, we are committed to maintaining a culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are taken seriously and pupils' welfare remains our priority.

If you are worried about a child, please speak to us. Sharing a concern can be an important first step towards making sure a child receives the help and protection they need.

  1. Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026
    pdf
  2. Child Protection Policy 2026-27
    docx