Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility  

Safeguarding and Home Visits 

Statement of Intent 

At St Paul’s, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times, while building strong and effective partnerships between parents, carers, guardians and school staff. By working collaboratively and sharing knowledge about each child, we ensure that individual needs are fully understood and met in the best interests of every pupil. 

Introduction 

While regular school attendance is expected, we recognise that there may be occasions when a child is unable to attend or requires additional support at home. In such circumstances, a home visit may be necessary to maintain continuity of care, education, and communication. Maintaining strong links between home and school is essential to support children’s learning and to facilitate a successful return to school wherever possible. 

Definition 

A home visit is defined as a visit by school staff to a pupil’s home to see the child and, where appropriate, speak with parents, carers or guardians. This may take place as part of absence management, a wellbeing check, or an agreed plan of support, particularly where a child is unwell, not attending school, or where concerns exist. 

Home Visit 

Home visits form an important part of our commitment to developing positive relationships with families. They are particularly valuable in supporting engagement where communication has been difficult, in welcoming new families, or where families are unable to attend school due to health, medical or other circumstances. Visiting families in a familiar environment can help to build trust and enable more effective, personalised support. 

Visits may be undertaken for a range of reasons, including when other communication methods have been unsuccessful, where there are concerns about attendance or school refusal, or where safeguarding or welfare concerns require a wellbeing check. They may also be used to provide pastoral support and to work collaboratively with families to identify strategies that support a child’s wellbeing and return to school. 

The safety and wellbeing of both children and staff is always our highest priority. All home visits are carried out safely, professionally, and in line with clear procedures designed to support staff and minimise risk.