Open Visits available Wednesday to Friday 9:30 and 10:00am
call us on 01372 373717
or email us on
info@stmichaels-dorking.surrey.sch.uk
to arrange a visit.
Our Aims and Vision
The Small School with a Big Heart
Let everything we do be done in faith and love
Our Christian values guide us on our journey in faith and love. Together we open our hearts to the needs of others. We appreciate that each and every one of us can make a difference in our world community and are thankful for the opportunity.
St Michael’s Christian Values
As an infant school we provide the foundation for learning and work hard to make sure our children are prepared and ready for their next step in education so they will continue to flourish and grow as juniors, seniors and adults. We make sure children have opportunities to learn though play and ‘hands on’ activities that are meaningful, real and relevant to them.
We will teach children the importance of caring for and valuing others, regardless of difference, through our distinctive Christian ethos and Christian values that guides all that we do:
These values will form the foundation of our choices as adults and we will take the time to learn more about what they mean and question what they might look like in our community and beyond, making sure this is understood by children and relevant to them.
“Values are the principles we live by, informing how we behave in our dealings with others, defining our morality and our aspirations. They represent our vision of the person we would like to be and our vision of the world as we would like it to operate.”
Sustaining hope in School leadership, Alan Flintham
St Michael’s Bee Rules
We use the Bee Rules to support good choices.
SAFEGUARDING
St Michael’s C of E (A) Infant School Safeguarding Statement
St Michael’s C of E (A) Infant School recognises the important responsibility for Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children. The school’s policy applies to the whole of the school’s workforce, along with volunteers, governors, school club providers and any contractors working on the school site. In particular, staff recruitment and selection – ensuring that all staff, volunteers etc. have been appropriately checked for their suitability, using the Safer Recruitment procedures. In addition:
- Raising awareness of safeguarding issues and equipping children with the skills to keep them safe.
- Developing and implementing procedures and training for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
- Supporting pupils who have been abused, in accordance with an agreed, child-centered plan.
- Establishing a safe and nurturing environment, free from discrimination or bullying, where children can learn and develop happily.
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 a reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.
Our Designated Safeguarding Team is:
- Lead – Mrs Nicola Cleather
- Deputy – Mrs Paula Bliss
- With support from Mrs Gayle Priestley (Online Safety)
Link to online safety information for parents
Child Protection and Safety Policy 2021
As a Surrey School we work closely with Surrey County Council who provide us with training, resources and information as well as monitoring and auditing our safeguarding provision.
Education safeguarding
Safeguarding children and young people is everyone’s responsibility. However, school and education staff play a unique role due to their frequent contact with children and families and the relationships that develop over time. The Education Safeguarding Team provides advice, information and guidance to education settings on their safeguarding arrangements and practice. Our aim is to support education staff with the knowledge and skills to protect every child and young person in Surrey from harm, support them to develop their potential and to create an environment where they feel safe to learn.
Who to contact if you have concerns for a child or young person
If you are a parent/carer or member of the public
If you are worried about a child please contact the Children’s Single Point of Access on 0300 470 9100. In an emergency please phone 999.
If you are a parent/carer and would like advice or support about your child’s education please telephone the Contact Centre on 0300 200 1004 or email: contact.centre@surreycc.gov.uk.
Keeping Children Safe in Schools and Colleges
In order to safeguard children whilst in education all staff, volunteers and governors are expected to comply with the requirements of the current Department for Education guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 updated July 2021.
There are several safeguarding topics covered in this guidance
- Children missing from education
- Children with family members in prison
- Child sexual exploitation
- Child criminal exploitation
- Domestic abuse
- Homelessness
- So-called ‘honour-based’ abuse
- Preventing radicalisation
- Child on child abuse
- Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges
Surrey County Council are committed to working to reduce the impact of Domestic Abuse, Substance Misuse and Mental Health Issues on children and young people in our schools and colleges.
More information about these important issues can be found on the website page or in the useful links below.
Useful links
NSPCC for support with abuse
GOV.UK for statutory guidance from the Department for Education
Karma Nirvana for support with honour based abuse and forced marriage
Surrey Against Domestic Abuse for support with domestic abuse
Prevent working together to prevent terrorism
Centrepoint for support with homelessness
PACT support for children with a family member in prison
UK Safer Internet for information and support around internet safety
Partnership with Parents
We believe that parental support is vital to a child’s education. Parents know their child better than anybody and in the early days at school we need to share that information.
The partnership process begins before children start school. Parents/carers are invited to meetings in the summer term their child starts school to meet staff and explore the practical routines of life at school and find out a bit more about the curriculum. The children are invited to a series of play sessions to meet their teacher and the other children who will be starting school with them. These visits are fun and friendly.
Once a child has joined the school we continue to provide support that parents appreciate.
Ofsted reported on parents’ views:
“Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school. Every single parent who completed Ofsted’s online questionnaire said they would recommend the school.”
Ofsted December 2016
We hold regular parents evenings to discuss the children’s progress towards their targets. We also hold curriculum evenings to explain what and how we teach, and how parents can best support at home.
stmichaels-dorking.surrey.sch.uk 