LEO Safeguarding Strategy
‘Safeguarding is everyone ’ s responsibility all of the time’
At LEO Academy Trust we ensure a safe and enjoyable learning environment for all children, achieved through prioritising ongoing staff development and training.
All LEO schools hold as core to safeguarding that:
Schools will foster a safe and supportive environment where children feel comfortable discussing their worries and concerns with trusted adults through a means that suits their needs.
Pupils are actively listened to and the voice of the child is paramount
Staff take time to develop positive relationships with children and families
Staff maintain an ‘it could happen here’ attitude
Staff ensure that they are promptly responsive to information and action where needed whilst remaining supportive and nonjudgmental
Children are at the center of all decisions, maintaining a focus on the child’s emotional needs, experiences, wishes and feelings
The curriculum teaches children to know the risks in an age and ability-appropriate manner
Children are equally safe online as offline
Attendance is of Safeguarding importance
Training programmes and the safeguarding curriculum are both responsive to academy context, local information, monitoring, and national updates.
All DSLs are up to date with the most current KCSIE and regularly disseminate this in their schools.
Staff are trained to identify and report any unsafe adult behaviour in school
Trust-wide safeguarding thrives with empowered DSLs who cultivate specialised expertise, fostering a collaborative network that supports each other
‘At the LEO Academy Trust, there is a culture of vigilance where pupils’ welfare is actively promoted and embedded in all policies and procedures’. - External review
LEO Schools are safe places
The trust fosters an understanding that school ‘is a safe place’ and seeks to create an environment where it’s ok to talk even about the most difficult things. Children know that adults onsite are checked and safe. Opportunities are in place for children to speak in confidence to trusted adults and this enables swift identification of safeguarding needs. LEO staff are active in dealing with inschool incidents and are vigilant and ‘know’ children and families well
LEO Schools develop moral character
The trust prioritises developing children's character and teaches children about making a positive contribution to the development of a fair, just, and civil society This is part of the LEO aims for preparing Leaders of today and Lifelong Learners. In addition to core teaching in PSHE, RSE, and Computing, opportunities to teach safeguarding are woven through all aspects of school life and within all aspects of our curriculum from Nursery to Year 6. Safeguarding is at the heart of our school culture.
LEO Schools are at the heart of the community
"We make a difference to the communities we serve " is central to the LEO aims. Family and parent partnerships are key to securing child safety; all schools seek to support our families through a joined-up and preventative approach. Schools and the Inclusion Team work in a joined-up way to ‘triage’ children's needs. Family Support workers, counsellors, and therapy services are invested in by the Trust and deployed in all LEO schools to facilitate this
LEO Schools Promote Inclusion
We understand that children with additional needs (including SEND) are at increased risk of abuse and neglect and sometimes indications of abuse are harder to identify Parenting children with disabilities comes with additional stresses or challenges, which can heighten the potential for abuse or neglect Similar factors affect young people experiencing mental health conditions Professionals can sometimes miss signs of abuse due to the complexity of young people’s needs, an acceptance of things being how they are, or allowing their recognition of the challenges facing parents to cloud their judgement leading to abuse or neglect being under-reported Attendance is a safeguarding focus. The Inclusion Team actively supports academies in identifying persistent absence and school avoidance We then provide resources and strategies to promote good attendance for all students and ensure the prompt reporting of any missing children. beyond safeguarding, we are committed to ensuring that our pupils are taught through a curriculum that teaches them to value others' differences and prepares them for life in modern Britain. As well as teaching children to make decisions based on equality and informed choices, considering issues and attitudes
LEO Staff are safeguarding informed
All staff know any concerns should be raised immediately with the Designated Safeguarding Lead(DSL) and to keep taking action until a child is safe, including providing challenge to other agencies as needed. Staff stay up to date with current KCSIE safeguarding requirements and to support this the Trust invests in a Safeguarding Director to ensure that this training is disseminated and good practice shared in termly LEO DSL safeguarding meetings.
Safeguarding at LEO
Accountability
Systems/ Compliance
Governance
Curriculum/ CPD
Monitoring
Systems and Procedures
The LEO trust ensures that;
Systems and Compliance
Safeguarding and Child Protection / Online Safety policies are aligned to the most up-todate Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance
Data Protection policies are in place and adhered to
All systems and procedures take account of the local safeguarding procedures including the LCTP (Prevent)
All policies and processes adhere to the Statutory Framework for the EYFS
Our safer Recruitment processes reflect our commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of our pupils
Robust procedures are in place
Robust Safeguarding, Online safety, and Prevent training is in place for all stakeholders including annual updates and weekly briefings
Clear procedures are in place to ensure hirers of the school facilities align with our safeguarding procedures
Online safety reviews take into account Monitoring and Filtering standards
The curriculum is in line with RSE, PSHE, and Computing curriculums
Website compliance checks are completed termly
Support is sought from the Trust’s legal providers when necessary
Strong partnership working is adopted to meet the needs of children and their families
Clear procedures are in place for monitoring Low-Level Concerns
SENSO monitoring system is in place to ensure effective monitoring of all pupil devices
School Protect/Web screen provided by LGFL is used to support filtering requirements for all devices on the school network
Home Protect provided by LGFL is used to ensure additional filtering for pupils when using school devices in their home
Filtering tests are completed in all schools every half-term
SCR and training record checks are regularly undertaken including HR files
We utilise valid research, Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, and expertise in the field, for example, Confederation of School Trusts Safeguarding network, LGFL Safeguard, and Andrew Hall (Independent Safeguarding Consultant)
Curriculum and CPD
Annual CPD
Curriculum and CPD
Robust Induction training package (completed before starting) for all new staff and Academy Committee members (ACMs) including Child Protection, Safeguarding, Online Safety and Prevent
Annual updates are provided to all staff on Safeguarding, Online safety and Prevent
Weekly briefing/staff meetings with Safeguarding agenda items
SLT Weekly Agenda item
Trust Safeguarding Leaders - always accessible
Local Area updates attended and shared with all DSL teams
Outcomes of safeguarding reviews shared with staff
Bespoke Training provided for Academy Committee Safeguarding Leads within the 1:1 meetings with Trust Safeguarding Lead
Ongoing CPD
National updates shared with all staff from KCSIE, Child Practice Reviews, LGFL, Online Safety Alliance, NSPCC and many more
Bespoke CPD provided at the individual school level and to the Director of Safeguarding
Regular safeguarding updates shared with all staff and governors
Weekly briefing updates accessed from the Local Authority and several other safeguarding and online safety providers
Termly Network Learning Meetings for all DSLs and an annual conference day
Strong links with safeguarding partners in the local area and beyond
Ongoing CPD provided by the Trust Safeguarding Lead including lessons learned
Parent workshops on online safety
Information gathered from SENSo/CPOMS monitoring and local contextual information shapes ongoing CPD
Curriculum
The safeguarding curriculum is built on Education for a Connected World, RSE Framework, Jigsaw/SCARF PSHE schemes, and KCSIE
The curriculum is regularly reviewed by DSLs/Computing and PSHE leads to ensure it meets the ongoing needs of our pupils
The curriculum is also responsive to the internal ongoing monitoring and stakeholder feedback
Due to the use of enhanced use of technology in our Trust, the Online Safety content is more enhanced than might be found in other primary settings
Regular assemblies and awareness days complement curriculum teaching
Termly Monitoring
Monitoring - Central Team
Weekly monitoring of SENSO and CPOMS takes place by looking at trends and themes across the Trust
Weekly review of online safety concerns raised
Half termly monitoring of safeguarding data
Termly SCR (single central record) checks are completed
Termly HR file checks
Monthly Safeguarding/Compliance and HR Review Meetings
Termly Review of Online Checks
Half-termly review of Web screen logs
Termly website monitoring for Safeguarding statutory requirements
Filtering Tests in all schools each term
Regular review of Safeguarding action plan derived from Trust reviews
Termly supervision with all nominated DSL’s
Ongoing support is provided to all DSL teams by the Director of Safeguarding
Annual review of monitoring and filtering across the Trust
Termly meetings with the Safeguarding Lead ACM for each school
Annual review of cybersecurity plan
Monitoring - Individual schools
Daily monitoring of SENSO and CPOMS to ensure prompt response to concerns raised
Weekly monitoring of the above to look for trends and areas for further CPD / curriculum updates to be actioned
Monitoring of filtering system and logs of blocked sites to identify trends and actions needed
Termly third-party SCR checks
Termly training log checks to ensure all statutory training is up to date
Termly online safety audit review against actions
Review risk assessments for educational visits and trips as and when required
DSL termly networking meetings
Regular review against Individual academy action plans derived from Safeguarding reviews
DSL teams meet regularly to review the watchlist (minuted)
Completion of S175 audits for local authority
Termly Lead Safeguarding ACM meetings Monitoring
Governance
Trust Board
Safeguarding Lead
Leads on strategy development
Represents all committees on Online safety Working Party
Oversees compliance of safeguarding
Oversees outcomes of safeguarding reviews and monitors impact of actions
Academy Committee Chair (one per academy)
Leads the Local Committee for each school Manages agenda for meeting including gathering safeguarding updates from Principal’s report
Has awareness of safeguarding reviews and other accountability measures in place
Safeguarding Academy Committee Lead
Lead for safeguarding at local level for each school
Meets with Trust Safeguarding lead each term to discuss agenda items at local level
Meets termly with DSL at local level
Has oversight of Safeguarding reviews and other accountability measures in place and supports schools to implement actions
Active in seeking pupil voice in visits
Supports school with local contextual knowledge
Governance
Accountability
Feedback from DSL’s
Lessons Learned from Monitoring
Feedback from pupils and parents
Accountability
Feedback from staff, visitors and external agencies
Outward facingconstant review against others
Termly DSL Supervision
Governance
Bi-annual Trust led Safeguarding Review
Online Safety Reviews
Prevent Reviews
S175 Audits submitted to local authorities
Bi-annual external Safeguarding review