Safeguarding and Online Safety
Every Child Has the Right to Stay Safe
- Every Child has the right to stay safe
- Safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation
- Safe from accidental injury and death
- Safe from bullying and discrimination
- Safe from crime and anti-social behaviour in and out of school
- Have security, stability and are cared for
Every Child Matters: Changes for Children HMSO 2004
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
The responsibility to promote the welfare and safeguarding of all pupils both in our school and in the wider community is taken extremely seriously by the Trustees, Governors and all members of staff at Vale View School and across the Trust. This includes the protection of children from abuse or neglect. We recognise that everyone working with the school has a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm. Our policy applies to all staff, governors, volunteers, and other agencies (such as commissioned services or extended school services), who provide services or activities within or for the school.
Definition of Safeguarding
In Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, safeguarding is defined as the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Core Safeguarding Duties
- Promoting welfare: Protecting children from maltreatment and preventing impairment of their health or development.
- Safe environments: Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
- Taking action: Enabling children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.
Supporting Children
We recognise that the school plays a significant part in the prevention of harm to our pupils by providing pupils with good lines of communication with trusted adults, supportive friends and an ethos of protection.
The school community will therefore:
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Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel safe and secure and are encouraged to talk and are always listened to.
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Ensure that all children know there is an adult in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty.
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Encourage self-esteem and self-assertiveness whilst not condoning aggression or bullying.
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Liaise and work together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children.
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Notify Children’s Specialist Services as soon as there is a significant concern.
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Provide continuing support to a pupil about whom there have been concerns who leaves the school by ensuring that appropriate information is forwarded under confidential cover to the pupil’s new school, and other agencies as appropriate.
Named Persons
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Headteacher – Head Teacher / Designated Safeguarding Lead
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Beth Creed – Assistant Head / Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
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Ruth Bishop – Trust EYFS lead Practitioner / Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
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Kelly Brown – Trust Safeguarding Lead
If you have a concern about the safety of a child, then please contact any of the schools' Designated Safeguarding Leads straight away. During school hours this can be done by phoning 01304 202821 or emailing headteacher@vale-view.kent.sch.uk. Outside of school hours, please consult with the Police or Kent Children's Services (03000411111)
Key Documents can be opened and found below:
Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found below.