Safeguarding
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.”
Keeping Children Safe in Education, (2024)
Mereworth Community Primary School has four Designated Safeguarding Leaders (DSLs). Together, they focus on the school’s environment, curriculum and procedures to help keep children safe. Staff working with children at Mereworth Community Primary School will maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. All staff are trained to report any concerns they may have about children’s welfare in and out of school. All concerns are documented and monitored by the DSLs who communicate concerns to outside agencies if necessary. DSLs can be contacted via the school office who signpost a DSL to you.
The DSLs are:
- Miss Lavelle – Headteacher
- Miss Maryon – Deputy Headteacher
- Mrs Delaney – SENCO
- Mrs Knight – Senior Leader
- Ms Winterbottom – Governor responsible for safeguarding
Safeguarding Policies
These policies are reviewed at least annually and updated throughout the year in line with guidance published by Central and Local Government. The school also follows the guidance as laid down in the Government document Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Please follow the link below to our policies page for the most recently ratified versions of the policies:
What will designated safeguarding leads do if they have a concern about a child’s welfare?
DSLs will always contact the parents of the child in the first instance, unless a child may be at risk of significant harm. Good lines of communication between home and school are very important and often provide greater understanding of a situation. If it is felt by both parties that a child or family would benefit from some support, the school will arrange for a referral to Early Help. In some cases, a referral to Children’s Social Care would be made. All adults in school work together to build comprehensive chronologies of concerns about pupils; at Mereworth Community Primary School we use CPOMS – a secure online recording system. See the video below to find out more.
What should a member of the public do if they have a concern about a child’s welfare outside the school?
If a parent or a member of the public has concerns about a child’s welfare or safety, it is very important to share this information with Children’s Social Care by phoning:
Children’s Social Care 03000 41 11 11.
How can I keep my child safe when they are using the internet at home?
The only way to ensure your child is completely safe when using the internet is to sit with your child and use the internet together. On our website, our dedicated Online Safety section has resources for parents and children.