Safeguarding

The Royal Kent School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children - we aim to promote a culture of safeguarding and all staff recruitment and appointments, school policies and procedures prioritise safeguarding. 

We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and to keep in mind, 'it could happen here'.

We have a Safeguarding and Child Protection policy and a Staff Code of Conduct, which reflect the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education (most recently updated September 2023). All staff (including supply staff, volunteers and governors) must ensure that they are aware of these, and they are also available on the policies page of this website. Volunteers working in school have appropriate safeguarding checks and sign a Code of Conduct relating to safeguarding.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with their parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL) team

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) are Vanessa Cooper (HT), Hannah White (DHT) and Vicky Gibbons (Y1-4 Phase Leader)

Our Safeguarding Governor is Ruth Samson

Our Chair of Governors is David Young

Concerns about a child

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the Designated Safeguarding Lead team as soon as possible and always on the same day. You should not NOT conduct your own investigation. 

Concerns about an adult

If you have a concern, suspicion or allegation about the behaviour of an adult (which could suggest that s/he is unsuitable to work with children) then you should report this to the Headteacher. In her absence, or if the concern is about her, you should report it to the Chair of Governors, David Young, at chair@royal-kent.surrey.sch.uk.

Please note a concern about the Chair of Governors should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) without informing the Headteacher or Chair of Governors. The LADO's duty number is 0300 470 9100 (option3) or cspa@surreycc.gov.uk.

If you need any advice, you can contact the LADO yourself. The LADO's duty number is 0300 470 9100 (option3) or cspa@surreycc.gov.uk.

Further resources

Key documents/ links for The Royal Kent School

Child Protection and Safeguarding (policy)

You can also report any Child Protection concerns you have to Surrey Children’s Single Point of Access (C-SPA) directly: 

Phone: 0300 470 9100 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm) 

Out of hours phone: 01483 517898 to speak to the emergency duty team

Email: cspa@surreycc.gov.uk

Please complete a Surrey Children’s Services Request for Support Form (this replaces the Multi-agency referral form (MARF)

Are you concerned that someone you know may be at risk of being drawn into terrorism?

Surrey is a low risk county for terrorist activity, but we still need to be alert to tensions and extremist groups in our communities. If you are a member of the public who is concerned that someone you know may be at risk of being drawn into terrorism, you have several options:

• Contact Surrey Police by dialling 101
• Report your concerns anonymously to Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111
• Call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321
• If it's an emergency, always dial 999
• A 'Prevent' referral form can be found here.