Safeguarding

At the Heartwood Federation, our vision describes 'placing children at the heart'. In our schools, the health, safety and wellbeing of every child is therefore our top priority. We expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguarding our pupils. We are committed to playing a full and active part in the multi-agency response to child protection concerns.

Safeguarding is EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY  

All staff have current safeguarding training and new staff have safeguarding training as part of their induction. All staff across the Federation receive an annual update from the Designated Safeguarding Lead in addition to this and regular updates through Support Staff/ TA/ Teacher CPD Meetings. 

We review our policy and procedures on an annual basis. 

Our Federation Safeguarding Team

Staff are asked to report any cause for concern to the Safeguarding Team. Concerns may range from children being visibly upset to persistent lateness to children ‘disclosing’ concerns. 

Concerns should be raised with the Safeguarding Team in each individual school if possible in the first instance but DSL's can be contacted for advice on a Federation level if required. 

Early Help

The Heartwood Federation is committed to providing Early Help to children and young people. Our priority is to focus on the needs and listen to the views of the child.

Early help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life, from the foundation years through to the teenage years

(Keeping Children Safe in Education, Sept 2024)

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

(Keeping Children Safe in Education, Sept 2024)

Click here to view our Offer of Early Help

What if I have a concern about a child?

If you have a concern about your own children or those of others at one of our schools, please contact the school office where the child attends and ask for a Designated Safeguarding Lead. These are your points of contact in relation to any safeguarding and child protection issues.

If you have concerns that a child may be at risk of serious harm, contact The Front Door (Children and Families Helpdesk) on 01452 42 6565 (9am-5pm).

In an emergency, where a child may be at risk of immediate harm, call the Police on 999.

Key documents and web pages: