In school, the safety and wellbeing of all our children is a priority. Your first point of contact if you have any concerns or need help is to talk to your child’s class teacher.

For urgent safeguarding concerns, please contact:

Nick Sheeran (Head Teacher/DSL) or Mrs K.Brand (Learning Mentor - Safeguarding Lead)

If you have concerns for the welfare of a child or family, you can speak with a member of the school Safeguarding Team. For details of the Safeguarding Team here at Birkdale, please see PDF below.

Help might be needed for yourself or your family, or another family. We encourage you to speak with us as soon as there is an issue, as it is often easier to solve any problems at an early stage. This information also applies if you are worried about a pupil outside school e.g. at weekends/ evenings, at home and in the community. You can talk to staff and be assured we will try to help wherever possible. For members of the public, please see the information at the bottom of the page, which highlights what you should do if you are worried about a child.

The safeguarding team can make referrals to other agencies for support, as well as help to put a package of support in place for families who are suitable for something known as “Early Help”. Early Help brings in agencies that can offer more specialised support in a co-ordinated way and involvement is voluntary. Be reassured that you will be kept informed, you will be involved in planning and your wishes will be taken into account at every step.

In more serious cases, where neglect or serious harm may come to a child, the school safeguarding team will make the necessary referrals to Children’s Social Care in line with the school Child Protection Policy, which is accessible in our “Policies” section.

If a child is in immediate danger, telephone 999. 

For non-emergencies please call 101 or 0151 934 4013.

Advice for members of the public...

If you are worried that a child may be suffering significant harm, or if you are concerned that a child has suffered harm, neglect or abuse, please follow the advice below.

Members of the public can:

• Call 0345 140 0845 between 8am and 6pm (minicom 0151 934 4657).

• Contact the emergency duty team on 0151 934 3555 for urgent advice outside of office hours (from 5.30pm Mon to Thurs, and 4pm Friday and weekends).
• If you think a child is in immediate danger, call for Police assistance.

Please provide as much information as possible in order for social care to respond to your concerns.

We appreciate that making a referral to Children’s Social Care may be difficult for you.

Please be reassured that your concerns will be recorded and any response carefully considered. 

If you would prefer you can remain anonymous.