Our ethos

The welfare of every child is at the heart of everything we do. At our school, we are committed to creating and maintaining a safe, caring and inclusive environment where children feel secure, valued and confident to share any worries or concerns. We encourage all children to talk openly and know that they can approach any member of staff for help, support or guidance.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Every adult who comes into contact with children and their families has a vital role to play in keeping children safe. We recognise that school staff are uniquely placed to identify concerns at an early stage and provide support before issues escalate. As such, all staff maintain a vigilant approach to safeguarding and are encouraged to adopt the mindset that “it could happen here”.

We work in close partnership with parents, carers and a range of external agencies to ensure that children receive the support and protection they need. Our safeguarding practice is guided by Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and reflects our commitment to effective collaboration in the best interests of every child.

We believe that positive self-esteem, confidence, supportive friendships and trusted relationships with adults are essential in helping children thrive. We are particularly mindful of those who may be more vulnerable, including children who have experienced abuse, Looked After Children, children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and others who may face additional challenges. We recognise that these children can encounter extra barriers in recognising, reporting or overcoming concerns, and we are committed to providing the additional support and protection they may require.

Our aim is to ensure that every child feels safe, heard, respected and able to achieve their full potential.

In school, if you are worried about a child who may be at risk of abuse, please speak to:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)	Mr Lucas Upham
Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead (Deputy DSL)	Mrs Kate Tidmarsh
Designated Safeguarding Governor	Mrs Kim Lloyd

Out of school hours
If you are worried about the immediate safety of a child please call the Police on 999
If you are worried that a child is at risk, please call Somerset Direct on 0300 123 2224

Information for Parents

There are lots of questions you might have about safeguarding and the school. Please read the leaflet and speak to the Designated lead for Safeguarding for more information.

• NSPCC  This website contains some very useful information. We use their resources for lots of things, including training and support.

• Working in partnership with local agencies We work closely with local agencies and providers in order to keep children safe. Click on the link above for more information from the Somerset Safeguarding Children Board.

• Domestic Abuse  If you would like any advice about domestic abuse, this is a useful website and contact number.  We are part of Operation Encompass and have received the training to receive information from the Police regarding Domestic Abuse. 

• Well Being and Mental Health  We know that children and family mental health is very important. We work in partnership with many agencies to make sure that all children have access to the services which they need. In school, we use the mindfulness Jigsaw scheme for our Personal, Social and Health Education. We also support children through Emotional literacy support (ELSA) and nurture groups.