Safeguarding and Attendance at Millgate School – Information for Parents and Carers
At Millgate School, the safety, welfare and wellbeing of our pupils is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where all children are protected from harm and are able to thrive. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we work proactively with pupils, families and external agencies to ensure children feel safe, listened to and supported.
Safeguarding at Millgate School includes protecting children from abuse, neglect and harm; supporting pupils’ physical and emotional wellbeing; ensuring pupils grow up in safe and supportive circumstances; and taking action so that all children achieve the best possible outcomes. Our safeguarding arrangements are aligned with national statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) at Millgate School is Helen Little. Helen has the day-to-day responsibility for safeguarding and child protection and works closely with staff, families and external agencies to keep pupils safe. The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) is Amanda Tory. If the DSL is unavailable, the DDSL can be contacted. They can both be contacted at:
dsl@millgate.discoverytrust.org
The Headteacher, Louisa Robinson, has overall responsibility for ensuring safeguarding arrangements at Millgate School are effective and robust. If a safeguarding concern relates to the conduct of a member of staff, or if you feel it is not appropriate to raise the concern with the DSL, parents and carers are encouraged to contact the school office and request to speak directly with the Headteacher. Louisa can be contacted at:
lrobinson@millgate.discoverytrust.org
Parents and carers can raise safeguarding concerns by contacting the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy DSL, speaking to a member of staff, or by contacting the school office. All safeguarding concerns are taken seriously, handled sensitively, and responded to in line with the school’s safeguarding procedures.
We believe safeguarding works best when school and families work together. Parents and carers are encouraged to share any information that may impact a child’s safety or wellbeing so that appropriate support can be provided promptly.
Millgate School has a duty to work closely with Children’s Social Care and other external agencies, where necessary, to ensure that children are protected and supported. This may include sharing information, attending multi‑agency meetings, or contributing to assessments and plans where safeguarding concerns have been identified. Any information shared is done sensitively, proportionately and in line with statutory guidance, always with the child’s welfare as the primary consideration. Working in partnership with parents and professionals allows us to ensure that children receive the right support at the right time.
If a child is in immediate danger, please contact the police on 999 or children’s social care straight away.
At Millgate School, we recognise that barriers to attendance can be complex and may be linked to children’s individual needs, well-being, family circumstances, or previous experiences of education. Our approach to attendance is inclusive and supportive, and we work hard to identify and remove barriers wherever possible. This may include personalised support, meetings to discuss support plans, adjustments to routines, pastoral intervention, or working with external professionals. We aim to support every child to attend school regularly in a way that is realistic, compassionate, and focused on long-term success, while maintaining high expectations for engagement and learning. Attendance is closely linked to safeguarding, wellbeing, and inclusion, and our responses are always proportionate, child-centred, and informed by individual need.
If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance or would like support with any barriers preventing your child from attending school, please do not hesitate to contact us. A member of our attendance team will be only too happy to help.
Safeguarding and Attendance at Millgate School – Information for Students
At Millgate School, your safety matters. There are lots of adults in school whose job is to help keep you safe, happy and listened to. Asking for help is never a problem.
Grown-ups you can talk to:
Helen Little – Designated Safeguarding Lead. Helen’s job is to help keep students safe at school. You can talk to her if you are worried about yourself, worried about someone else, or something doesn’t feel right.
Amanda Tory – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. If Helen isn’t available, Amanda can help you. You could also speak to any of the adults on the safeguarding posters around school.
Louisa Robinson is the Headteacher. She helps make sure everyone in school does the right thing to keep children safe.
What should you do if you’re worried? You can tell a trusted adult in school, ask the office to find one of the safeguarding team, or talk to your teacher or support staff.
Remember: you will be listened to, you will be taken seriously, and you will be supported. You are never alone.
Coming to school matters, but we understand that being in school can feel hard sometimes. At Millgate School, we know that everyone is different. Some students may find attendance difficult because of worries, health, emotions, changes at home, or past experiences. That does not mean you are in trouble. We want attendance to be:
- Inclusive
- Supportive
- Fair
- Focused on helping you succeed
If coming to school feels difficult, we talk with you and the adults who support you to understand what is getting in the way. We look at what might help, such as:
- extra support from trusted staff
- changes to routines or timetables
- time to build confidence
- help with worries or emotions
Our aim is to help you be in school as much as you can, in a way that feels safe, manageable and positive.
Remember:
- You are not alone
- Asking for help is the right thing to do
- Attendance is about progress, wellbeing and feeling safe, not punishment
If you are finding it hard to come to school, talk to:
- a trusted adult
- your teacher
- the pastoral or safeguarding team
We are here to help you take the next step—together.
If you need help outside school, speak to a trusted adult at home or call Childline on 0800 1111.