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Safeguarding

Townfield Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Durham, Miss Parry, Mrs Stout and Mrs Keenan

The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Debbi Jeffries

Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership can be contacted via the Integrated Front Door on 0151 606 2008 Or out of hours on 0151 677 6557, email: ifd@wirral.gov.uk

Our Safeguarding Pledge

We pledge to:- 

  • ensure that children are visible, their voices are heard and their needs, views and wishes are addressed.
  • recognise that some children may be more vulnerable to harm due to their age, specific needs or home circumstances
  • always act in the best interests of the children 
  • act without delay to protect children from harm and abuse
  • share information promptly to support a collective and holistic assessment of children's needs.
  • meet all mandatory training requirements, regularly updated professional knowledge and applying any learning to our practice 

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection policy which can be viewed in the policies section on our website.

We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalisation and extremism. 

 

Our school is part of Operation Encompass. 

Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.

Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.

Support for our Families:

Links to local Foodbanks:

1. Primary Foodbank Support (Wirral Foodbank)

To access these, you first need an electronic voucher. You can obtain one by calling:

  • Wirral Council (Emergency Financial Assistance): 0151 606 2005 (Option 4)

  • Citizens Advice Wirral: 0808 278 7848

Nearby Distribution Centres:

Location

Address

Best for

Prenton Primary School

Bramwell Avenue, CH43 0RQ

Families in the Prenton area

St Vincent's Centre

15-17 Grange Road West, CH41 4BY

Near Oxton/Birkenhead border

Salvation Army

19 Oxton Road, CH41 2QQ

Residents near Oxton Road

2. Community Supermarkets & Social Pantries

These are "pay-as-you-can" or low-cost membership shops that don't always require a foodbank voucher. They are great for regular top-ups of fresh food.

  • Make It Happen (Birkenhead): Located on Argyle Street, they offer a social supermarket where you can choose your own items for a small donation.

  • Neo Community (Woodchurch/Prenton): Located at the Hoole Road Hub (CH49 8EG). They run a social supermarket and holiday meal projects specifically designed for parents and kids.

  • The Village Pantry (Prenton): Many local churches in Prenton host "pantries." Check with St Stephen’s or St Andrew’s for their current community fridge or pantry schedules.

3. Immediate Out-of-Hours Help

If you are in an emergency situation outside of normal 9-to-5 hours (evenings or weekends), you can contact:

  • Emergency Duty Team: 0151 677 6557

Tip: If you are struggling with the cost of gas or electricity alongside food, mention this when you call the Wirral Council line (0151 606 2005). They can often provide "Fuel Bank" vouchers simultaneously.

Working in partnership with other agencies:

The school has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate child protection concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances the school will be able to inform the parents/carers of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school can in certain circumstances share information without the consent of the family and may be advised by children’s services or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter or make enquires. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the interests of the child.

The school will always seek to work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child and family.

For parents in the Prenton and Oxton area, family support is primarily organised through the Wirral Family Hub network. These hubs are designed as "one-stop shops" for parents of children aged 0–19 (or up to 25 with SEND).

Since Prenton and Oxton sit in the middle of several hub boundaries, parents can access support from any of the following nearby centers:

1. Koala North West Family Hub (Closest to Prenton/Oxton)

Located right on the edge of Prenton, this is often the most convenient hub for local primary school parents.

  • Address: Woodchurch Lane, Birkenhead, CH42 9PH

  • Services: Parenting workshops, emotional wellbeing support, breastfeeding peer support, and child development activities.

  • Contact: 0151 608 8288

2. Ganneys Meadow Family Hub

This hub serves the Woodchurch and Prenton area and is excellent for parents needing specialised early years and primary school transition support.

  • Address: New Hey Road, Woodchurch, CH49 8HB

  • Services: Health visitor clinics, "Stay and Play" sessions, and support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

  • Contact: 0151 677 9255

3. Brassey Gardens Family Hub

A slightly further option towards Birkenhead, but it offers a wide range of integrated council services.

  • Address: 2 Brassey Street, Birkenhead, CH41 8DA

  • Services: Housing and employment advice, debt management support, and family holiday programs.

Key Specialised Support Services

Beyond the physical hubs, parents in Oxton/Prenton can access these specific local programs:

  • Crea8ing Community (Satellite Hub): Based on Ridgeview Road (next to Hillside Primary), they offer specific youth and family mentoring and community-led support groups.

  • The Family Toolbox: This is the Wirral’s digital hub. If a parent isn't ready to visit a center in person, they can use familytoolbox.co.uk to find self-help tools and local resources.

  • Family Matters Team: This is a council-run service that provides more intensive, one-to-one family help for those dealing with complex challenges (e.g., school attendance issues or domestic harmony).

Most of these services are universal and parents can simply walk in or call.

However, for a more structured "Early Help" referral (if a family needs a dedicated lead professional), the school’s Pastoral Lead  or SENDCo can initiate a referral through the Wirral Children's Portal.

Early intervention in the Wirral is structured to catch issues—whether behavioural, emotional, or developmental—before they escalate into more serious statutory cases. For parents in Oxton and Prenton, these services are often coordinated through the school but can be accessed directly.

 

Early Intervention Agencies:

1. The Early Help Advisor Team

The Early Help Advisor is the first port of call for parents who feel something "isn't quite right" but don't know who to talk to.

  • What they do: They hold consultations with parents within the school setting to bridge the gap between home life and professional services.

  • Access: Ask your school’s pastoral lead or SENDCo to book a meeting with the Early Help Advisor. They can help you avoid the long waiting lists often found in medical referrals.

2. Action for Children (Emotional Health & Wellbeing)

This is a key agency for primary-aged children (ages 5-11) who are struggling with anxiety, low mood, or emotional regulation.

  • "Branch" Digital Hub: They use a platform called Branch where parents can complete a questionnaire to get immediate signposting to the right level of support.

  • Direct Support: They offer 1-to-1 sessions and group workshops often held in local community spaces near Birkenhead and Prenton.

  • Contact: Action for Children Wirral / Email: merseysideservice@actionforchildren.org.uk

3. Wirral Integrated Front Door (IFD)

If a family’s needs are becoming more complex (for example, significant behavioural challenges or housing instability affecting a child), the IFD is the "triage" centre for all early intervention.

  • Role: They assess whether a family needs an Early Help Assessment (EHA), which coordinates a "Team Around the Family" (TAF).

  • Contact: 0151 606 2008 (Mon–Fri, 9 am – 5 pm).

4. Specialized Early Intervention Agencies

Depending on the specific need, these agencies provide targeted support for families:

Agency Focus Area Best For...
Crea8ing Community Family Mentoring Parents who need a "buddy" or mentor to help navigate local services or improve family dynamics.
Stick ‘n’ Step Physical Development Early intervention for children with Cerebral Palsy or motor disorders (up to age 11).
Wirral SEND Partnership Education Support Specifically for parents who need help getting early intervention for a child with additional learning needs within the school system.
Koala North West Parenting/Under 11s Home-start style support and specialized parenting courses for those with primary-aged children.

5. Self-Help Tool: The Family Toolbox

Before contacting an agency, many parents find it helpful to use the Family Toolbox. It is a Wirral-wide initiative designed to put the power back in parents' hands.

  • Website: familytoolbox.co.uk

  • Use it for: Finding specific "how-to" guides on common primary school issues (bedtime routines, school refusal, or screen time) and a map of every small community intervention group in the CH43/CH42 area.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s Responsibility

If you have concerns about a child, contact the Integrated Front Door (Children’s Services) on 0151 606 2008, out of hours on 0151 677 6557, email ifd@wirral.gov.uk