How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:17-18
The Southwell and Nottingham Diocese Multi Academy Trust core values state that the trust encourages a holistic approach to the development of pupils, believing that each person is an individual made in the image of God and should, therefore, be supported to reach their full potential by receiving the very best education possible. In order to do this the trust is committed to ensuring each academy is a place of safety for pupils as well as a place of refuge and support in times of need.
First and foremost, the Trust recognises that all people working in their academies contribute to the safeguarding and promoting of children’s welfare, The Trust, and each academy, also recognise that they have statutory duties to safeguard children and protect children from harm. Safer working practices and child protection underpin everything that takes place in the academies; safeguarding is woven through every aspect of academy life.
We also recognise that our adults too need to flourish and so have in place systems to protect and support them within the workplace.
In order to achieve this we have the following in place:
A Trust Safeguarding Team
Samantha Dennis – Trust Safeguarding Lead
Rachel Baker – Trust Safeguarding Officer
Jane Brown – Trust Safeguarding Officer
Lindsay Gilbert – Trust Safeguarding Officer
The team are all trained to at least Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) level and have extensive experience in safeguarding in a school context. They conduct detailed annual audits in all academies, provide end of phone advice, lead termly DSL network meetings and induction sessions, support academy leads with allegations made and work closely with the Trust HR department when necessary.
The supervision is offered to all DSLs from trained members of our team.
Training Expectations
All academy staff, governors and trustees complete safeguarding training annually. In addition, academies are expected to have members of staff trained in first aid, prevent, harmful sexual behaviours, safe recruitment, managing allegations and specific themes to meet the needs of their individual contexts. We encourage DSLs to have a broad range of specialised training in preparation for whatever may be the needs of their pupils.
All staff, governors and trustees are expected to read the relevant aspects of the current Keeping Children Safe in Education, be conversant with the trust safeguarding policy, the staff or governor code of conduct, the whistleblowing policy and academy specific policies linked to safeguarding.
Monitoring
In addition to a full annual audit, remote audits cover checking of the SCR, training and governor monitoring more frequently. Governors are supported with monitoring exercises with question prompts and clear guidance as to what to look for.
The safeguarding governor reports to the full governing board each term on their monitoring activities.
There is sub committee of the main trust board which has responsibility for safeguarding across the trust and provides accountability for the trust safeguarding team.
Attendance
For our vulnerable pupils attendance at school is about far more than academic success. Our academies are vigilant about the safety of their pupils and ensure when a vulnerable child is absent, they have frequent sight of them, develop positive relationships with parents and work to improve attendance. Every child attending a SNMAT academy will be seen by a member of school staff on the fifth day of absence regardless of their level or vulnerability and reason for absence (with the exception of family holidays) to ensure they are safe and well.
Statutory Duties
Each academy fulfils their statutory duties with respect to policies and procedures, training, record keeping and recording, reporting concerns, online safety and filtering requirements and maintaining a safe environment.
SNMAT is clear that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and is committed to improving the life chances for all of our pupils including the most vulnerable.