Safeguarding

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

At Sayes Court, the safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities. We believe that safeguarding is not just a policy or a set of procedures, but a fundamental culture that permeates every aspect of school life. We are committed to providing a secure environment where children are protected from harm and feel confident to voice their concerns.

Our Safeguarding Team

While safeguarding is a collective responsibility, it is led by our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The DSL provides strategic leadership, manages referrals to external agencies, and ensures that the school remains a vigilant and responsive environment. They are supported by a team of Deputy DSLs, ensuring that a trained lead is always available to provide advice and support to students, staff, and families.

A Collective Responsibility

We operate under the principle that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Every member of our staff—from teachers and teaching assistants to our administrative and site teams—undergoes regular, comprehensive training. This ensures they can recognize the signs of various forms of abuse and neglect and understand the precise internal procedures for reporting concerns immediately.

National Guidance & Surrey Processes

Our practice is strictly aligned with the latest national statutory guidance, including "Keeping Children Safe in Education" (KCSIE) and "Working Together to Safeguard Children." As a school within the Surrey community, we work in close partnership with the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP). We strictly follow local Surrey processes for reporting and managing safeguarding concerns, ensuring that our internal actions integrate seamlessly with county-wide protective services.

Working in Partnership

We believe that the best outcomes for children are achieved through strong partnerships. We value our relationships with parents and carers, maintaining an open-door policy where concerns can be shared in confidence.

Furthermore, we work proactively with outside agencies, including Social Care, health professionals, and the police. By fostering these collaborative links, we ensure a holistic "team around the child" approach that provides the right support at the right time.

Our Core Philosophy

Ultimately, we know that a child’s ability to flourish academically and socially is rooted in their sense of security. Children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and supported. By prioritising their welfare above all else, we create an environment where every student has the freedom to focus on their learning and reach their full potential.

Meet Our Safeguarding Team

The following staff members are specifically trained to manage safeguarding and child protection concerns. If you have any worries about a child’s safety, please do not hesitate to contact a member of this team on the email address dsl@sayescourt.surrey.sch.uk or by speaking to them via the phone.

What to Do if You Have a Concern

If you are concerned about the safety or well-being of a child at our school, please follow these steps immediately. Remember: safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

1. Speak to a Member of the Safeguarding Team

Your first point of call should be our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or one of our Deputy DSLs. You can do this by:

• Calling the school office and asking to speak to a DSL immediately.
• Emailing the team at dsl@sayescourt.surrey.sch.uk
• Visiting the school office in person to request a private meeting.

2. Document Your Concern

If you are a visitor or volunteer, you may be asked to complete a brief written report (using our standard reporting form) to ensure that your observations are recorded accurately and used to support the child effectively.

3. Out-of-Hours and Direct Reporting

If the school is closed, or if you feel a child is at immediate risk and you cannot reach a school staff member, you should contact:

• Surrey Children's Single Point of Access (C-SPA): Call 0300 470 9100 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm).
• Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours): Call 01483 517898.
• Emergency Services: Dial 999 if a child is in immediate danger.

Our Safeguarding Policy and procedures have been informed by the following documents. Please click on the links to read more:

BET Strategic Safeguarding Strategy

KCSIE

Working Together to Safeguard Children

What to do if you're worried a child is being abused

Surrey Safeguarding board protocols, guidance and procedure

 

We are committed to providing an inclusive learning environment that accommodates the individual medical requirements of all our students. At Sayes Court Primary and Nursery School, we work proactively to support a wide variety of medical conditions, ensuring that health needs are managed effectively so that every child can focus on their education and happiness.

To ensure a safe environment, we maintain a high ratio of First Aid trained personnel across the entire school site. From the classroom to the playground and the front office, our staff are regularly trained and fully equipped to provide immediate, appropriate care for everything from minor incidents to more complex medical situations.

Administering Medication at School

If your child requires medication during the school day, please follow these essential procedures to help us keep everyone safe:

• Completion of Forms: A formal 'Medication Consent Form' must be completed and signed at the school office before we can administer any medicine.
• Safe Handover: All medication must be brought into the school office by an adult and collected by an adult at the end of the day.
• Student Safety: For safety reasons, medicine must never be handed to a child to keep in their bag or to take home at the end of the day.
• Calpol / Paracetamol: If a child becomes slightly unwell during the school day, we will contact parents to gain specific consent before administering liquid paracetamol (Calpol).

Communication with Parents

We understand that you want to be kept informed. We will contact parents regarding injuries or illnesses on a case-by-case basis. While minor bumps may only require a standard notification (such as a slip sent home), we will always call you directly if we feel an injury requires further monitoring or if your child is too unwell to remain in class.

Emergency & Long-Term Medical Management

For children with ongoing or life-threatening conditions, we have specific protocols in place to ensure immediate access to life-saving treatment:

• Inhalers & Epi-pens: We believe in the importance of immediate access. Pupils who require inhalers or Epi-pens will keep them with them (or in a clearly designated, easily accessible location known to the child and staff) to ensure there is no delay in an emergency.
• Individual Health Care Plans (IHCP): For pupils with significant or complex medical needs, we will work in close consultation with parents and medical professionals to create a bespoke Health Care Plan. These plans are shared with all relevant staff to ensure your child’s needs are understood and met consistently across the school day.

At Sayes Court, we understand that parenting is one of the most rewarding yet challenging jobs there is. We know that sometimes life can be overwhelming, and we all need a little extra help at times. Our goal is to provide support as soon as a problem emerges—at any point in a child’s life—to prevent small concerns from escalating into larger difficulties.

Our Commitment to Families

We are dedicated to supporting all our parents and carers. We believe in a "whole family" approach, working alongside you in a non-judgmental way to build on your family’s strengths. Whether you are dealing with a change in family circumstances, financial stress, or simply find yourself struggling with your child's behaviour, we are here to listen and help you find a way forward.

The Surrey "Effective Family Resilience" Framework

In line with Surrey County Council guidance, we follow the Continuum of Support model. This ensures that families receive the right help at the right time. For many families, this begins with Early Help—a voluntary process where we work together to identify what is working well and where extra support might be needed.

Working Together: The Early Help Assessment (EHA)

If your family would benefit from coordinated support, we can help you complete an Early Help Assessment. This is not a referral to Social Services; it is a tool used by schools and families in Surrey to:

• Hear the "voice of the child" and understand their world.
• Bring together a Team Around the Family (TAF) to coordinate help.
• Create a simple action plan tailored to your family's specific goals.

 

A Network of Support

We don’t work in isolation. We maintain strong links with a range of Surrey-based outside agencies to provide specialised support, including:

Family Centres: Offering local groups and one-to-one support for family life.

Neurodivergence Support: Connecting families with groups like MindWorks Surrey, Barnardo’s (Positive Parenting for ADHD), and the National Autistic Society, who offer specialized courses like "Stepping Up for Autism."

Parenting Courses: Signposting to "Family Learning" workshops that cover everything from establishing healthy routines and sleep patterns to managing anxiety and building resilience.

Our Door is Always Open

If you feel your family could benefit from Early Help, please reach out to any member of the Safeguarding Team for a confidential chat.

Our school is proud to be part of Operation Encompass, a national police and education early intervention partnership. This scheme is designed to provide immediate support to children and young people who are present at, or exposed to, an incident of domestic abuse.

What is Operation Encompass?

Following an incident of domestic abuse where the police have attended, the police will contact our school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) before the start of the next school day. This notification ensures that we are informed of the situation in confidence, allowing us to be prepared for the child’s arrival.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right, acknowledging the significant impact that witnessing or hearing abuse can have on a child’s well-being and ability to learn.

Why We Follow This Scheme

We know that children can be deeply affected by domestic incidents, even if they were not the direct target. By receiving this information early, we can:

• Provide "Silent Support": Offer a quiet space, a listening ear, or extra patience without the child needing to "find the words" to explain why they might be upset or tired.
• Remove Barriers: Ensure they have a hot breakfast, a spare uniform, or help with any forgotten homework if they had to leave home in a hurry.
• Monitor Well-being: Carefully observe the child’s emotional state throughout the day and adapt our approach to meet their immediate needs.

Privacy and Care

All information shared through Operation Encompass is handled with the strictest confidentiality. It is shared only with our trained Safeguarding Leads and, where necessary, the class teacher, to ensure the child receives the right support. It is not our role to investigate the incident, but rather to ensure the school remains a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for your child during a difficult time.

For more information, you can visit the official Operation Encompass website.