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Safeguarding

To view the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership; Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, please click on the link and you will be taken to the MNSP policy directory.

At St Matthias Academy, we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all our pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice. In order to tackle the threat of extremism and prejudice, we promote tolerance and respect and celebrate diversity.

Key Facts about child abuse

Abuse and neglect can happen to any child, boy or girl, of any race, culture, ethnicity or sexuality.

Disabled children and those with SEN are particularly vulnerable.

Many children are unable to disclose what is happening to them and rely on us to interpret their behaviour and spot signs of abuse.

If you have concerns for a child's health, welfare or safety in any way, you must speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), or if this is not possible, to a member of staff who will act on the concerns in line with our safeguarding policy and procedures.

The Designated Safeguarding Leads at St Matthias Academy are:

Designated Safeguarding Lead

  • Simon Quinn, Deputy Headteacher - squinn@stmatthiasacademy.org.uk
  • Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
  • Aileen Morrison, Headteacher
  • Dominique De illius, Deputy Headteacher
  • Simon Kershaw - Assistant Headteacher
  • Sarah Jones - Assistant Headteacher
  • Caletta Jordan - Learning Mentor
  • Julie Price - Learning Mentor
  • Dan McConville - Learning Mentor

Where can I find additional support as a parent?

For more information on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) check out the Parents Against Child Exploitation website or download Avon & Somerset Police's information leaflet shown in the documents below.

Off the Record is a longstanding and well regarded provider of group or 1:1 counselling and resilience building sessions and parents and students can refer themselves. Their parent support sessions are excellent and a number of students and parents have found their service to be very useful.

The link below will provide you with information about the Bristol hub:

Off the Record

Kooth is an online counselling provider for young people. 

XenZone is a provider of online mental health services for children, young people and adults. Kooth, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use.

For more information about XenZone, please visit XENZONE.COM.

If you’re a parent looking for more information about Kooth, please email PARENTS@XENZONE.COM