Safeguarding

The safety of our students is paramount. 
At Court Fields School we take our duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children extremely seriously.

We follow all statutory guidelines as well as our own policies and procedures.  Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be viewed on our Policies page of the website and we would be happy to provide a paper copy on request.    

We will always act to protect a child where there is a disclosure or concern about child abuse.  Child abuse can take a range of different forms.  It is any action by another person (adult or child) that causes harm to a child. It can be defined as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect.

More information about child protection and safeguarding can be found on the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership website.

Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding Team Manager:
Mrs Sheehan

Lead Designated Safeguarding Officer
Mrs Westwood

SLT Designated Safeguarding Officer
Mrs Matthews

Deputy Designated Safeguarding officer
Mrs McCarthy

Safeguarding Officers:
Mrs Hartnell and Mrs Locke

Safeguarding Governor:
Mrs Little

Reporting A Concern

If you have a concern which involves the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person, please contact Holly Sheehan, or in her absence a member of the safeguarding team, during school hours on either:

Phone: 01823 664201
Email: safeguarding@courtfields.bep.ac

If the concern is serious and outside of school hours, please contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 

Phone: 0345 155 1071
(Mon-Thurs 9-5, Fri 9-4)

At other times, contact the Emergency Duty Team on

Phone: 0345 6000 388

Wider Safeguarding &
Multi-Agency Working

Our school staff work as part of a safeguarding system in the Trust, and in partnership with our community in Wellington and further afield.  Court Fields School follows the Somerset Early Help Protocol, is part of the Wellington Community Learning Partnership.  We are actively involved in Wellington Team Around the School Meetings and the Wellington One Team: these are multi-agency meetings which help us to support our students.
We work closely with Children’s Social Care, the Family Intervention Service, Somerset School Nursing Team, Police, Young Somerset, the Mental Health in Schools Team (MHST), CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services) and many other organisations to promote the welfare of our students and young people and to protect them from harm.

Managing allegations against adults working with children or young people

Local Area Designated Officers (LADO) provide advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations that have concerns about a person working or volunteering with children and young people who may have behaved inappropriately or if information has been received that may constitute an allegation.

If you consider a LADO referral is needed:

  • Gather the relevant information: the name, date of birth and home address of the ADULT connected to the allegation/incident; the child/children’s details (LADO procedures cannot begin without this information)

  • It is advisable that you initially discuss the details with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and record/log the details in your relevant records

  • They will also need your name, your organisation’s address and the role you have in your organisation

  • Once you have this information, call Exeter (01392) 384964

For more information please visit the Local Area Designated Officers website.

Safeguarding Advice and Support

Further general safeguarding information is available through the Blackdown Education Partner’s Safeguarding website that you can access here.

We also have dedicated information pages on our own website for each of the following areas, just click on the appropriate link: