Mountfields Lodge Primary School fully recognises the contribution it can make to protect children and support pupils in school. Our aim is to safeguard and promote our pupils’ welfare, safety and health by fostering an honest, open, caring and supportive climate. The pupils’ welfare is of paramount importance.

Our Safeguarding Commitment:

• The school adopts an open and accepting attitude towards children as part of its responsibility for pastoral care. Staff encourage children and parents to feel free to talk about any concerns and to see school as a safe place when there are difficulties. Children’s worries and fears will be taken seriously and children are encouraged to seek help from members of staff.

Our school will therefore:

• Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to;

• Ensure that children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or are in difficulty;

• Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities for PSHE/Citizenship which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse (including online), and to know to whom they can turn for help;

• Ensure every effort is made to establish effective working relationships with parents and colleagues from other agencies;

• Operate safer recruitment procedures and make sure that all appropriate checks are carried out on new staff and volunteers who will work with children, including identity, right to work, enhanced DBS criminal record and barred list (and overseas where needed), references, and prohibition from teaching or managing in schools

Mr Michael Hoare is the Senior DSL (also known as the Single Point of Contact - the SPOC!), Mrs Iona Mock and Mrs Carol Ghent are the school’s Deputy Designated Senior Leads for Child Protection (DSLs).

Mrs Jo Downs and Mrs Joanna Linton are the nominated governors responsible for Child Protection.

If parents have any concerns regarding child protection they should speak to Mr Hoare, Mrs Mock or Mrs Ghent immediately.