Kent Local Education Authority places a duty on Head teachers to report any unexplained or repeated injury or concern to Social Services including non-accidental injury, severe physical neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. The procedure is intended to safeguard pupils who may be at risk and schools are encouraged to take the attitude that where there are grounds for investigation.  Whenever it is necessary to report an incident to Social Services we will make every endeavour to contact parents to inform them that a referral is being made. It is not a procedure that is undertaken without a great deal of thought. It does mean that the Designated Safeguarding Lead may risk upsetting some parents by reporting a case which, on investigation, proves unfounded. In such circumstances, it is hoped that parents will accept that the Designated Safeguarding Lead has the child’s best interest at heart. I am sure that we are all aware of sad cases reported in the press where incidents have not been reported and a child has been subjected to unnecessary suffering and we would all wish to avoid any possibility of such an occurrence.

If you have an urgent concern, please contact DSL, Cathy Webb on webbc@rowhill.kent.sch.uk

Alternatively, if you have an emergency, please call one of the numbers below to assist you.

•  Call 999 if there is a danger to life
• Call 101 if you suspect a crime
• Call Front Door Team on 03000411111 or 03000419191 (out of hours). If you have a safeguarding concern
• Call Childline for immediate support around a variety of issues - 0800 1111 childline.org.uk

To raise a Front Door referral please follow the instructions in the PDF below (Front door training)

For a wider set of Safeguarding related polices see below.

Rowhill schools safeguarding leads