Safeguarding

Meath School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and protecting them from harm. We expect all members of staff, volunteers, and visitors to share this commitment. The school’s Governing Body and Speech and Language UK Services LTD have a duty of care to pupils and all members of the school community.

Due to the vulnerable nature of our children and their difficulty communicating, it is not uncommon for a member of the safeguarding team to follow up a potential concern with parents – often to simply clarify what a child may have communicated to someone. This is their legal responsibility, and we appreciate your understanding that the child’s wellbeing is of the utmost importance to us.

Please look out for our regular safeguarding updates from school via email, the school newsletter and website.

If you would like to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team or would like further information about any aspect of Safeguarding at Meath School please contact us:

By phone: 01932 872 302

By email: [email protected]

What is Safeguarding?

Schools and their staff are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children. This system is described in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.

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.  No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances. If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as (Keeping children Safe in Education 2024)

  • Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
  • protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
  • preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

The Safeguarding Team is supported by and accountable to:

 Sian James, Chair of School Advisory Board

Amy Carlse, Safeguarding Champion

Neil Maslen, Director of Education and Safeguarding Lead at Speech and Language UK

You can contact any member of the Safeguarding Team via the school office.

It can be hard to navigate online risks as a parent or carer. Our children can be exposed to inappropriate images and content and are vulnerable to grooming and exploitation via games and apps.

We encourage parents and children to visit the CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection) website to keep up to date with the latest information about games, social media and apps and find out how to report a concern or get help.

The NSPCC website also has a parent hub offering advice for parents on topics from inappropriate content, online games and apps to parental controls. Their guide helps you make informed decisions and helps to keep your child safe.

Please contact our Meath Online Safety Lead if you have any concerns or would like more information about online safety: Sian Vaux (Designated Safeguarding Lead)  01932 872 302

Look out for regular updates on online safety via email and in our school newsletter.

If you are concerned about any child or young person you should contact the local authority’s Children’s Services immediately. Phone numbers can be found on each Local Authority website.

If a child is in immediate danger you can ring the police on 999 or if you wish to take advice from the police you can phone 101.

If you would like further information about keeping children safe the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) has lots of advice and guidance at www.nspcc.co.uk

If you are worried about a child in school, please speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team:

By phone: 01932 872 302

By email: meathdsl@meathschool.org.uk

Employers can check the criminal record of someone applying for a role. This is known as getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You can request a more detailed check for certain roles, for example in healthcare or childcare.

  • All staff at Meath have an Enhanced DBS check.
  • Agency staff the school will get written notification from the agency that employs the staff member to say that the necessary checks have been carried out, including the enhanced DBS check. The identity of the agency staff will be checked on arrival.
  • Contractors have an enhanced DBS check with barred list information. The identity of the contractor will be checked on arrival.
  • Members of the School Advisory Board and Charity Trustees have enhanced DBS checks.
  • Visitors in a professional capacity (e.g. nurses, social workers, police, OTs, etc.) have their professional IDs checked on arrival. Other checks will have been carried out by their professional body.
  • Visitors in a non professional capacity will be asked to wear a red lanyard and will be escorted at all times. In the event of large numbers of visitors, such as a school production or school fairs, professional judgement will be made as to whether the visitors need to be escorted.
  • Recruitment: At least one member of an interview panel will have up to date Safer Recruitment Training.

Complaints or concerns about a member of staff or another adult in school should be made directly to Majella Delaney (Principal). You can call or email the school and ask to speak to the Principal directly on a safeguarding issue: 01932 872 302

Details of making a formal complaint can be found in our Complaints Policy.

The Principal will always take professional advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer on how to proceed with all allegations against staff.

Any complaint or concerns about the Principal, or concerns about the way in which a Safeguarding issue has been dealt with by the school should be made directly to:

Neil Maslen, Director of Education at Speech and Language UK

[email protected] or 07384 783883.

For more information please visit:https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/about-us/safeguarding/