At Learn Academies Trust, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. The safety, wellbeing, and happiness of every child are our highest priority. We are committed to creating nurturing, inclusive, and secure environments where children feel safe, valued, listened to, and ready to learn.

We believe that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Working together with children, families, staff, governors, trustees, and external agencies, we strive to ensure that every child receives the care, support, and protection they need to thrive.

Our primary schools are places where children are encouraged to develop confidence, resilience, curiosity, and independence. We foster a strong culture of vigilance and care, ensuring that concerns are identified early, and that appropriate support is put in place as quickly as possible.

Safeguarding extends beyond protecting children from harm. It includes promoting children's physical and emotional wellbeing, supporting positive mental health, encouraging good attendance, teaching healthy relationships, and helping children understand how to stay safe both in the real world and online.

Safeguarding Policies

Learn Academies Trust is committed to maintaining robust safeguarding arrangements across all its schools. Our safeguarding arrangements are informed by statutory guidance including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), Working Together to Safeguard Children, and relevant safeguarding legislation.

Trust-wide policies provide a clear framework for safeguarding children, promoting their welfare, and supporting staff to respond effectively to concerns. Alongside Trust policies, each school maintains procedures and practices that reflect the needs of its individual community.

Key safeguarding related policies include:

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Staff Code of Conduct
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Safer Recruitment Policy

Copies of Trust-wide policies can be found on our website, and school-specific safeguarding information is available on individual school websites. We are committed to ensuring that safeguarding remains a continuous priority across the Trust, with policies that support a culture of vigilance, accountability, and care for every child.

Online Safety

Children are growing up in an increasingly digital world and helping them to stay safe online is a key part of our safeguarding responsibility.

Across our schools, children are taught age-appropriate online safety skills through the curriculum, assemblies, and wider school activities. We help pupils understand how to use technology safely, responsibly, and respectfully, while developing their confidence to seek help when needed.

Our online safety education includes:

• Safe use of the internet, apps, age-appropriate games and emerging technologies.
   
• Understanding how to protect personal information.
   
• Recognising cyberbullying and knowing how to report concerns.
   
• Learning about healthy online relationships and respectful communication.
   
• Identifying inappropriate or harmful content.
   
• Understanding the importance of digital wellbeing and managing screen time.
   
• Knowing how and when to seek support from trusted adults.
   

We also work closely with parents and carers, providing guidance and resources to support children's online safety at home.

Appropriate filtering and monitoring systems are in place across our schools to help protect pupils while using technology.

Safeguarding Training

Maintaining a strong safeguarding culture depends on well-trained and knowledgeable staff.

All staff, volunteers, governors, and trustees receive safeguarding and child protection training appropriate to their role. Training is updated regularly and includes:

• Child protection and safeguarding induction for all new staff.
   
• Annual safeguarding updates.
   
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) updates and briefings.
   
• Online safety and cyber-awareness training.
   
• Prevent Duty training.
   
• Child-on-child abuse awareness.
   
• Mental health and wellbeing awareness.
   
• Attendance and safeguarding responsibilities.
   
• Safer recruitment training for designated leaders and governors.
   
• Advanced safeguarding training for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and Deputy DSLs.
   

Regular updates ensure that staff remain informed about emerging safeguarding risks and local safeguarding priorities.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

Every school within our Trust has a trained Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSLs who are responsible for overseeing safeguarding and child protection arrangements.

Trust Safeguarding Lead

The Trust's Head of Safeguarding is Sara Bryson, who provides strategic oversight of safeguarding arrangements across all schools within the Trust.

All safeguarding concerns should be reported to the child's individual school in the first instance. Each school has a dedicated safeguarding team that is best placed to respond to concerns and provide support.

Please visit each school's website for details of its safeguarding team and contact information.

Working with Parents and Carers

We recognise that strong partnerships with parents and carers are essential to keeping children safe. We are committed to working openly and collaboratively with families, offering support, guidance, and signposting where appropriate.

If you have concerns about your child's wellbeing, or the wellbeing of another child, we encourage you to contact your school's safeguarding team. No concern is ever too small when a child's safety and welfare may be at risk.

Reporting a Concern

If you are concerned about a child's safety or wellbeing, please contact your school's Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately. No concern is too small, and early sharing of information can help ensure children receive the support they need.

If a child is in immediate danger, contact the police by calling 999.

 

Our Commitment

Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, respected, and supported so they can achieve, thrive, and reach their full potential.

At Learn Academies Trust, we are committed to ensuring that every child in every school is protected, nurtured, and empowered to achieve their very best. Through a culture of care, vigilance, and partnership, we work together to create environments where children can flourish and where families can have confidence that safeguarding always comes first.