Safeguarding Statement

Milborne Port Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We ensure that everyone working in our school has successfully completed the necessary clearances to enable them to work with children and that they are regularly trained to deal with issues around child protection and safeguarding.

We have staff members and governors who are specifically trained and nominated within the school as:

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Michelle Heap (Interim Headteacher)
• The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads: Mr. Simon Sweatman (Deputy Head) and Mrs. Charlotte Carr
• The governor responsible for safeguarding: Ms. Alison Baker

We have policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection Policy which can be viewed below. Please take the time to read our policies and do not hesitate to contact the school should you have any questions.

We follow the Somerset Safeguarding Children’s Board guidance and have systems in place to share concerns regarding children’s welfare with our Designated Safeguarding Leads, with parents and with relevant external agencies. Part of our legal duty to safeguard our children, may also include us needing to consult specifically with and take advice from the Police or Children's Social Care, should the need arise.

Staff are expected to adhere to the school’s Code of Conduct and to maintain a professional manner at all times. They must report any concerns about staff conduct around children to the Headteacher. As in all schools, if there are concerns about the conduct of the Headteacher, then these should be shared with the Chair of Governors. The staff ‘Whistleblowing Policy’ has been discussed and adopted and all staff have access to this document. The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who manages allegations about members of staff is: Anthony Goble Tel: 01823 359029

We actively support the Government's Prevent agenda, to counter radicalism and extremism. Michelle Heap is a Home Office Prevent Facilitator and is able to provide advice and support to all staff members on protecting children from the risk of radicalisation..

All staff and adults have a responsibility to make sure that children at Milborne Port Primary School are safe; all children have a right to be protected from harm.

Doing nothing is not an option.

Michelle Heap Designated Safeguarding Lead	Charlotte Carr Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead	Simon Sweatman Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead