The safety and well-being of our children is of the utmost importance to us and we will always act in the best interest of the child. We believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that everyone has the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn.

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please speak to a member of our Safeguarding Team.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding can be defined by promoting the health, safety and welfare of all pupils. Safeguarding is the responsibility of all adults, especially those working or volunteering with children. The school aims to help protect the children in its care by working consistently and appropriately with all relevant agencies to reduce risk and promote the welfare of children.

What is child protection?

Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm.

All members of school staff are regularly trained and updated on Child Protection and Safeguarding matters.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and work in collaboration with other agencies.

Further Key Contact Information:

NSPCC: 0808 800500

CHILDLINE: 0800 1111

SPoA - Single Point of Advice: 01323 464222

Email: spoa@eastsussex.gov.uk

St John’s Meads is part of a jointly run initiative with East Sussex County Council and Sussex Police known as OPERATION ENCOMPASS.

Operation Encompass is designed to provide early reporting to schools and colleges of any domestic abuse incidents that occur in which a child was present, ordinarily resides at the incident location or with an involved party. We know that children can be significantly affected through witnessing or being exposed to domestic abuse and this operation will allow us to better support our pupils and their families.  Further information can be found at operationencompass.org.

The single point of contact for this is our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs. L Pomeroy. The DSL receives this information and uses it to make decisions regarding supporting and safeguarding children and young people.