As a caring Christian school we offer lots of support to all our children and their families as part of our early help offer. If you need any help or advise with anything then please contact Mrs Embley-Peers (Attendance, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and SENCO in school.

As a school we are here to help with:

• attendance, getting children into school on time and ready for learning. 
• emotional wellbeing support through trained ELSA support staff.
• mental health first aid practitioners within school for both children and adults.
• medical support e.g. sleeping and toileting through referrals to the School Nurse Team.
• signposting to other services through Children, Family and Wellbeing, charities and local support services .

Our school fully recognises the contribution it can make to protect children and support all our pupils in school and school community. There are three main elements to our Safeguarding Policy.

(a) Prevention: Creating a positive school atmosphere, teaching and pastoral support to pupils.

(b) Protection: By following agreed procedures, ensuring staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to Child Protection concerns.

(c) Support: To pupils and school staff and to children who may have been abused.

Our policy applies to all staff and volunteers in school.

At Mellor St Mary we recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, peer support and clear lines of communication with trusted adults helps all children, and especially those at risk of or suffering abuse.

Our school will therefore:

(a) Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.

(b) Ensure that children know that there are adults in the school who they can approach if they are worried or are in difficulty.

(c) Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities for PSHE which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe and / or communicate their fears or concerns about abuse. (See PSHE policy)

(d) Include in the curriculum material which will help children develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life, particularly with regard to childcare and parenting skills.

(e) Ensure that every effort will be made to establish effective working relationships with parents and colleagues from other agencies.

Where we believe that a child is suffering from, or is at risk of significant harm, we will follow the procedures set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (annual updates), as well as information from Children's Safeguarding Assurance Partnership (previously Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board) which includes information on ‘Handling Concerns About the Welfare or Safety of A Child in School.’

For further information please see the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Safety

The journey to school should be a safe, pleasant and healthy activity, with opportunities for pupils to develop good road sense. The school has met with the Road Safety Travel Advisor from Lancashire County Council to ensure our children stay safe on the way to and from school and find ways to encourage more pupils and staff to walk, cycle or use public transport for the journey to and from school.

Car Parking

Parents are asked to park considerately around school and not down Brundhurst Fold. Please do not park across driveways and respect our neighbours’ rights to access their property at any time of the day. Please also observe the highway code regarding the yellow zigzags outside the school.