Safeguarding, Wellbeing & Support for Families

Safeguarding

Head to our Policies page for TEFAT's 2025/26 Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Shireland Hall's Local Safeguarding Arrangements.

Are you worried about a child? 

Report a child at risk

If you are concerned about a child, report it. 

If a child is in immediate danger, you must contact the police - call 999

To raise a concern about a child when there is no immediate danger please contact the relevant children's trust for the child's home address:

Sandwell Children's Trust,  0121 569 3100 or, if an emergency out of hours, 0121 569 2355

Birmingham Children's Trust, 0121 303 1888 or, if an emergency out of hours 0121 675 4806

During term time, non-emergency concerns can be reported to school by calling 0121 558 6331 (Monday - Friday, 8am to 4pm), please ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team.  Alternatively you can email shpsafeguarding@gbshp.org. 

During school holidays, please email shpsafeguarding@gbshp.org .  Please note, during school holidays this email address is checked once per day, Monday to Friday.  Non-urgent enquiries will be responded to when school reopens.  Immediate concerns should always be referred to the local children's trust or the police.

Non urgent support and advice is also available by clicking on the buttons below

If a child is at immediate risk of harm or in an emergency situation call 999 immediately.

Operation Encompass / Domestic Abuse

Like all Sandwell schools, we work with Operation Encompass, a police and education partnership that supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse. Operation Encompass ensures that schools are notified in a timely manner of any domestic abuse incidents so that children can be supported appropriately where necessary.  

If domestic abuse is a concern you can ask to speak to any member of the Safeguarding Team in school or seek free and confidential support from:

• The National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247 or online at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ .  

• Black Country Women’s Aid, 0121 553 0090 or online at https://blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk/ 

Prevent Duty 

Shireland Hall Primary Academy is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. As a school we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability.  All staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. 

The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust and leaders within the academy have taken account of Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023) from HM Government which calls for all public bodies to make explicit their preventative measures to minimise the threat of extremism in their setting.

Should you have any concerns regarding a child or family being at risk of radicalisation or being drawn into terrorism through exposure or engagement with extremist viewpoints, beliefs or language  (irrespective of race, gender, or cultural background) then please speak to Mr Williamson, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Prevent at Shireland Hall.

Wellbeing

Mental Health and Wellbeing 

It is important to look after yourself and to teach children how to look after their own mental health and wellbeing, this forms part of our PSHE curriculum at Shireland Hall.  Simple steps to look after mental health and wellbeing include:

• Doing things with others

• Doing something creative

• Spending time with friends and family

• Recognising what you are good at

• Taking time for yourself if you need it

• Sleeping well

• Keeping active

• Eating well and healthy

• Mindfulness

If you have concerns about your child's mental health or emotional wellbeing you can speak to your child's class teacher or contact the Wellbeing Team in school.

We also encourage all parents and carers to share mental health concerns with the child's GP.

Initial advice can also be sought from:

• https://www.blackcountryminds.com/ (Sandwell and Black Country Families)

• forwardthinkingbirmingham.nhs.uk/home (Birmingham Families)

• https://www.childline.org.uk/ (National Support)

• www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/  (National Support)

Sandwell LA and NHS Black Country Healthcare have compiled this All Age Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Directory to help Sandwell residents find the right support for their needs: 

Support for Parents 

There's no such thing as a perfect parent. One day all's calm, the next it's chaos! 

However it's going, advice and support are available.  Parents and carers can contact our Wellbeing Team during term-time for advice.  The NSPCC's 'Support for parents' pages have lots of guidance on specific parenting challenges including:

• early parenting advice

• managing family life

• friends and relationships

• supporting yourself and young people

• mental health and parenting

• staying safe online

Go to https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/ or call 0808 800 5000

Support for Families

Sandwell's Family Information Service:

• Feelings, emotions and mental wellbeing

It can be greatly upsetting and distressing to know your child may be showing signs of mental ill-health. Even when your child is slightly ‘out of sorts’, it can be hard to know when or whether to be worried, how to approach the situation, or where to turn for support.  This link will direct you to a range of organisations that offer mental health help, both locally and nationally.

• Child Health

• Family Health

• Family Hubs

Family Hubs offer the right help, in the right place, at the right time. They provide services and support for families with children 0-19 (or 25 with SEND).  Family Hubs run regular sessions where families can get advice, enjoy fun activities and socialise in a friendly and welcoming environment; see the brochure above for full details.

Key aims of the service are:
• The early identification and support of children with additional needs
• To provide information and advice for families about services in their respective town and across the borough as a whole
• To offer a programme of antenatal education courses across the borough
• To proactively support families in engaging their children’s early language development
• To provide a range of support services for families to address their individual needs

The nearest Family Hub to Shireland Hall is:
Smethwick Family Hub
Corbett Street
Smethwick
B66 3PX
0121 555 6756

• Childcare and Early Learning

Links to Childminders, Day Nurseries, Pre-School Playgroups and Holiday Schemes in Sandwell