First Thought Independent School

At First Thought Independent School, safeguarding is our highest priority.
We are fully committed to creating and maintaining a safe, nurturing, and vigilant environment where every child feels protected, valued, and able to thrive.

We believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility - all staff, volunteers, governors, and visitors share the duty to keep children safe and to report concerns immediately.

Our approach is guided by:

Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025)
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations (2014)
Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership (GSCP) procedures

We also recognise that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) may be especially vulnerable to abuse or neglect. Our staff receive enhanced training to identify, report, and respond to concerns quickly and appropriately.

Reporting a Concern

If you are worried about a child, please speak to a member of our Safeguarding Team without delay.
You can also contact Gloucestershire’s safeguarding services directly using the details below:

📞 Gloucestershire Children’s Front Door (Children & Families Services)

For concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing:

Telephone: 01452 426565
Email: childrenshelpdesk@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
Emergency (out of hours): Call 01452 614194

📞 In an emergency:

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, always call 999.

Our Commitment

We take all concerns seriously and follow clear, structured procedures for recording, reporting, and referring any safeguarding issues. This includes concerns about abuse, neglect, bullying, online safety, exploitation, or any other form of harm.

Our staff are trained to:

Recognise the signs and indicators of abuse or neglect
Listen to and support pupils appropriately
Act quickly and proportionately to protect children
Keep detailed, confidential records of concerns
Work collaboratively with social care, police, and health professionals

We also teach pupils about safeguarding in age-appropriate ways through our PSHE for SEND and EQUALS “The World About Me” curriculum strands. This helps children to understand personal safety, online awareness, healthy relationships, and how to ask for help when they need it.

Safeguarding Policies

Our full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (2024–25) sets out the detailed procedures for how we keep children safe.
You can download it on our Policies page, or request a printed copy from the school office.

A Culture of Vigilance

Safeguarding at FTIS is not just about compliance - it is a culture we live by every day.
We believe that every adult in our school community plays a part in keeping children safe.
Through ongoing staff training, open communication, and partnership with families and professionals, we ensure that no concern is ever too small to act upon.

At First Thought Independent School, the safety and wellbeing of our pupils comes first - always.

Because every child deserves to feel safe.
Every child deserves to be heard.
And every thought counts.