Safeguarding
Keeping Our Children Safe
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Safeguarding at Oakfield
At Oakfield, the safety, wellbeing and happiness of every child is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a safe, caring and inclusive environment where children feel valued, respected and able to learn, thrive and achieve their full potential.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Every member of staff, governor, volunteer and visitor has a role to play in keeping children safe and promoting their welfare.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children means:
- Protecting children from abuse, neglect and maltreatment.
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development.
- Ensuring children grow up in safe and effective care.
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best possible outcomes.
Our Commitment
At Oakfield, we:
- Create a culture where children feel safe, secure and listened to.
- Encourage children to talk to trusted adults if they are worried about themselves or others.
- Maintain an attitude of “it could happen here” and take all concerns seriously.
- Ensure all staff receive regular safeguarding and child protection training.
- Follow safer recruitment procedures to help ensure suitable adults work with children.
- Work closely with parents, carers and external agencies to support children and families.
- Take appropriate action whenever concerns are raised about a child’s welfare.
We recognise that safeguarding extends beyond child protection and includes areas such as attendance, mental health and wellbeing, online safety, bullying, peer-on-peer abuse, child criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, radicalisation and extremism.
Working Together
Our staff are often in a position to identify concerns early and provide support before issues escalate. We work in partnership with children’s social care, health services, the police and other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Our Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Miss Rebecca Howlett
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs)
Mrs Vikki Reader
Mrs Hannah Doyle
Mrs Cara Webster (Nursery)
Family Liason Officer and Children’s Champion
Miss Natalie Dean
The safeguarding team is available to provide support, advice and guidance to children, families and staff.
If You Have a Concern
If you have any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child, please contact a member of our safeguarding team immediately.
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police on 999.
Safeguarding information leaflet for visitors
Useful Contacts
Isle of Wight Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
01983 823435
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
For concerns about adults working with children or those in positions of trust
01983 823723
lado@iow.gov.uk
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency)
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
Childline
0800 1111
Stop It Now! Confidential Helpline
0808 1000 900
www.stopitnow.org.uk
Please refer below for key documents:
- Keeping Children Safe in Education Sept 2025
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE)
- Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children Partnership This website helps children, young people, parents/carers and professionals to access policies, procedures and guidance covering a range of safeguarding and child protection topics
- Follow this link to our policies page to access the Safeguarding, Child Protection and Volunteering policies and the Staff Code of Conduct – Policies
Online Safety
Technology plays an important role in children’s lives, offering valuable opportunities for learning, creativity and communication. At Oakfield, we are committed to helping children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully.
Online safety is an integral part of our safeguarding curriculum and is taught through Computing, PSHE, assemblies and everyday classroom discussions. Children learn how to:
- Stay safe when using the internet and digital devices.
- Protect their personal information and privacy online.
- Recognise and respond to online risks.
- Build positive and respectful relationships online.
- Identify misinformation and unreliable content.
- Report concerns and seek help from trusted adults.
We recognise that the online world is constantly evolving, and we work closely with parents and carers to support children both in school and at home.
Support for Parents and Carers
We encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their child’s online activity. Talking regularly about online experiences, setting clear boundaries and using parental controls can help children navigate the digital world safely.
If you have concerns about your child’s online safety, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team.
Useful Online Safety Resources
National Online Safety — https://nationalcollege.
Free guides and resources for parents covering apps, games, social media and online trends.
Internet Matters – https://www.internetmatters.
Expert advice for parents on setting controls, managing screen time and keeping children safe online.
NSPCC Online Safety – https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
Practical advice on online gaming, social media, live streaming and talking to children about online risks.
Childnet – https://www.childnet.com/
Resources and guidance to help children and families stay safe online.
Thinkuknow – https://saferinternet.org.
Education resources from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education Team.
UK Safer Internet Centre – https://saferinternet.org.
Advice, resources and reporting tools for parents, carers and young people.
Reporting Concerns
If your child has experienced online abuse, exploitation or inappropriate contact, concerns can be reported directly to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command).
Remember: if a child is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.
Safeguarding Documents
Please see our Policies page for key safeguarding documents, including:
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- Staff Code of Conduct
- Volunteering Policy
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children Partnership guidance
We are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure every child is safe, supported and able to flourish.
Safer Recruitment and the Single Central Record
Oakfield is committed to ensuring that all adults working with children are suitable to do so and that robust safeguarding procedures are in place.
As required by the Department for Education, the school maintains a Single Central Record (SCR). This confidential record contains details of all required pre-employment and safeguarding checks for staff, governors, volunteers and other adults working within the school.
These checks include:
- Identity verification
- Right to work in the UK
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
- Children’s Barred List checks (where applicable)
- Qualifications and professional status checks
- Prohibition from teaching checks (where applicable)
- Overseas checks and certificates of good conduct where required
- Safeguarding and child protection training records
The Single Central Record is regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure compliance with statutory safeguarding requirements and safer recruitment guidance.
Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers
Oakfield takes all concerns and allegations relating to adults working with children seriously and will respond promptly, fairly and in accordance with statutory guidance.
Any concern that an adult working in the school may have:
- Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child;
- Committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
- Behaved in a way that indicates they may pose a risk to children
will be managed in line with our safeguarding procedures and the guidance set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Concerns about a member of staff should be reported to the Headteacher.
Concerns or allegations regarding the Headteacher should be reported to the Chair of Governors.
Where appropriate, the school will seek advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
LADO Contact Details
01983 823723
lado@iow.gov.uk
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps schools make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children.
Oakfield carries out all legally required DBS and safeguarding checks before adults begin working with pupils. However, safeguarding is not reliant on DBS checks alone. We follow a comprehensive safer recruitment process, including references, employment history checks, identity verification and safeguarding interviews.
Overseas Checks
Where an applicant has lived or worked overseas, the school will carry out additional checks in accordance with current Department for Education guidance. This may include obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct or equivalent documentation from the relevant country.
These checks form part of our commitment to ensuring that every adult working within our school is suitable to work with children.
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
At Oakfield, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) forms an important part of our curriculum and contributes to our wider safeguarding and wellbeing provision.
Our RSHE curriculum (SCARF) helps children to:
- Build positive, healthy and respectful relationships.
- Understand how to keep themselves safe, both online and offline.
- Recognise appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.
- Develop confidence, resilience and self-respect.
- Understand the importance of physical and mental wellbeing.
- Know where to seek help and support when needed.
RSHE is delivered in an age-appropriate way and reflects statutory guidance from the Department for Education.
We believe that effective RSHE supports children to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in modern Britain and to make informed, responsible choices as they grow.
For further information, please see our RSHE Policy available on the Policies page.
Useful Guidance:
- Department for Education: Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education
- Statutory Guidance for Schools (updated September 2026)
Children Looked After (Children in Care)
At Oakfield, we are committed to supporting the educational achievement, wellbeing and personal development of children who are looked after by a local authority.
We recognise that children in care may have experienced significant challenges and that they often require additional support to help them achieve their full potential.
The school works closely with:
- Parents and carers
- Foster carers and residential care providers
- Social workers
- The Virtual School
- Other professionals involved in a child’s care
to ensure that each child receives the support, stability and opportunities they need to succeed.
We are committed to promoting high aspirations, positive relationships and a sense of belonging for all children in our care.
Further information about support available for children looked after can be found through the Isle of Wight Virtual School.
Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions
At Oakfield, we are committed to ensuring that children with medical conditions are fully supported so that they can access education safely and successfully. We believe that all pupils should have the same opportunities to participate in school life, including learning, educational visits, physical activity and extracurricular activities, wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.
We recognise that medical conditions can affect children in different ways. Some children may require short-term support following illness or injury, whilst others may have long-term or complex medical needs that require ongoing planning and care.
We work closely with parents, carers, healthcare professionals and external agencies to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to support each child’s individual needs. Effective communication and partnership working are central to ensuring that children remain safe, included and able to achieve their full potential.
Where required, Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) are developed in collaboration with families and relevant healthcare professionals. These plans help staff understand a child’s condition, the support they may need and the action to take in an emergency.
Our staff receive appropriate training and guidance to support pupils with medical conditions and to ensure that they can respond effectively to individual healthcare needs.
Working in Partnership
Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting their child’s medical needs and are responsible for informing the school of any medical conditions, changes to treatment, medication requirements or healthcare advice that may affect their child’s time in school.
We work collaboratively with a range of professionals and services, including:
- School Nursing Services
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Paediatricians and Specialist Consultants
- Occupational Therapists
- Community Healthcare Teams
- Local Authority Services
- Other relevant professionals involved in a child’s care
Future Developments
The Government has announced proposed changes to legislation relating to support for children with medical conditions in schools, often referred to as Benedict’s Law. We are in the process of reviewing and updating our policies, procedures and website information as further statutory guidance becomes available, ensuring that our practice continues to meet legal requirements and reflects best practice.
Further Information
Our arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions are guided by the Department for Education’s statutory guidance:
Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions
Please see our Policies page for our full Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy and related procedures.
Domestic Abuse Support
At Oakfield, we recognise that domestic abuse can have a significant impact on children and young people, whether they witness it directly, hear it, or experience its effects within the home. We are committed to supporting children and families and helping them access appropriate support when it is needed.
Domestic abuse can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or background. It may include physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial or controlling and coercive behaviour.
If you are concerned about your own safety, the safety of a child, or someone you know, support is available.
In an Emergency
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, always call 999.
The Silent Solution
If you are unable to speak when calling 999 from a mobile phone:
- Dial 999.
- Listen to the operator’s questions.
- If you cannot speak, cough, tap the handset or make another audible sound if possible.
- When prompted, press 55.
This alerts the operator that you are experiencing a genuine emergency and allows your call to be transferred to the police.
Support Services
You First Isle of Wight
Providing confidential support, advice and practical help for individuals affected by domestic abuse.
Freephone: 0800 234 6266
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
24-hour confidential support and advice.
Freephone: 0808 2000 247
Refuge
Support, information and services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
Men’s Advice Line
Confidential support for men experiencing domestic abuse.
Freephone: 0808 801 0327
Support Through School
If you are a parent, carer or family member who would like support, advice or someone to talk to, please contact our safeguarding team. We will listen, offer support and, where appropriate, help you access specialist services.
Any information shared will be treated sensitively and in accordance with our safeguarding responsibilities.
Home Alone Guidance
As children grow older, they naturally become more independent. Deciding when a child is ready to spend time on their own, walk to school, play outside with friends or stay at home without adult supervision is an important decision for every family.
There is no legal minimum age at which a child can be left home alone in the UK. However, parents and carers remain responsible for ensuring that any arrangements are appropriate for their child’s age, maturity and individual circumstances.
A child should never be left alone if doing so places them at risk of harm or distress.
Is My Child Ready?
Every child develops differently. Before allowing a child greater independence, consider:
- Their age and maturity.
- Their confidence and ability to make safe decisions.
- Whether they know what to do in an emergency.
- How long they will be alone.
- Whether they can contact a trusted adult if needed.
- Any additional needs or vulnerabilities they may have.
Remember the Three Ws
When children begin spending time away from home independently, encourage them always to tell you:
Who they are with
Where they are going
When they will be back
Where possible, ensure they have a way of contacting you and know how to seek help if they need it.
Helping Children Develop Independence Safely
Learning to manage risks is an important part of growing up. Children develop confidence, resilience and good judgement when they are gradually given opportunities to take age-appropriate responsibility.
Parents and carers can support this by:
- Talking regularly about personal safety.
- Practising what to do in different situations.
- Encouraging children to trust their instincts and seek help if something feels wrong.
- Gradually increasing independence as children demonstrate responsibility and good decision-making.
At Oakfield, we support children to develop the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves safe through our curriculum, assemblies and wider safeguarding education. This includes topics such as road safety, water safety, cycling safety, personal safety, online safety and understanding when and how to seek help.
Further Guidance
The NSPCC provides helpful advice for parents and carers about leaving children home alone and supporting them to become more independent safely.
We encourage families to consider their child’s individual needs and circumstances when making decisions about supervision and independence.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/