SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

Safeguarding means protecting someone's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It involves people and organisations working together to prevent and stop that abuse or neglect. All safeguarding will honour the feelings, beliefs and decisions of the person in question. 

Mead Vale Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff, volunteers and members of the school community to share this commitment. If you are visiting our school, please make yourself aware of our policy and procedures prior to visiting us. 

Visitors will be asked to:

• sign in using our device when visiting our school
• read and accept the health and safety information and the school safeguarding procedures.
• hand your mobile phone into the office for safekeeping while you are on site. Please view our visitor information here.

We are an equal opportunities employer. All offers of employment are subject to a disclosure and barring check, medical clearance and satisfactory references.

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. School staff are particularly important, as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children, to prevent concerns from escalating. Schools and their staff form part of the wider safeguarding system for children. We work with social care, the police, health services and other services to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

The governors and staff team of the school take their responsibility to this commitment seriously and regularly review the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures to ensure that, as far as is reasonably possible, everything is being done to fulfil their duty of care. 

All staff adhere to the ELAN Safeguarding Policy which is developed in line with recommendations from North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSSCP) and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). The policy is reviewed annually by Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN) and governors and is a working document that reflects our practice. Parents and carers can request a paper copy from the office.

For further detail please follow the links to the safeguarding policy and Keeping Children Safe in Education:

The protection of children is a matter of paramount importance to both the school and North Somerset Council. We recognise that the best way to protect against the abuse of children is through the adoption of nationally recommended safeguarding children practices, specifically safer recruitment practices and practices designed to maintain a safe culture.

I have a safeguarding concern or question. Who do I contact?

Should you have any concerns relating to the safety and welfare of a child at the school you should immediately contact the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) Jo Jaloszynski.

In her absence please contact one of the safeguarding team:

Jo Jaloszynski - Headteacher/ DSL/ online safety lead

Rebecca Perry - Deputy Headteacher/ deputy DSL

Julie Bonney - SENDCO

Dan Watkins- Teacher

Zoe Brown- Teacher

Kelly Combstock- Learning Mentor

Mark Beamish - Designated Governor for Safeguarding

Adam Matthews - ELAN Designated Safeguarding Lead

Should you have any concerns in terms of safeguarding relating to the behaviour of a member of staff you should immediately contact a member of the safeguarding team. If the allegation concerns these individuals, you should contact: Mark Beamish, Chair of Governors at mark.beamish@meadvale.extendlearning.org

If you have any concerns about the behaviour of someone working or volunteering with children please contact the LADO – Local Authority Designated Officer via the Referral and Assessment Team. Referral and Assessment Team  – Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)  Telephone: 01275 888808 or email lado@n-somerset.gov.uk

This website is where you will find all the information needed to advise on what to do if you are worried about a child who you believe is at risk, being ill-treated or neglected.  Please speak to the Single Point of Access (SPA) on 01275 888808.

Normal office hours for this service are Monday to Thursday 8:45am until 5pm and Friday from 8:45pm until 4:30pm.

Outside these hours contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01454 615165. If the line is engaged please leave your name and number on the answering machine and they will call you back as soon as possible. Alternatively contact your local police station on 0845 670000 or if a child is in immediate danger dial 999.