Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children refers to the process of; protecting children from maltreatment, preventing the impairment of health or development, ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

At Eldon we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all 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.

At Eldon we will always work with the following principles at the heart of what we do:

• The welfare of the child is paramount
• All children regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection
• All staff have an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may suggest a child is at risk of harm
• Pupils and staff involved in child protection issues will receive appropriate support