Welfare Services

Safeguarding Services for Schools

Our safeguarding services for schools, academies and trusts help build a strong, proactive safeguarding culture across your education setting. We ensure every child is safe, supported and ready to learn, while helping your organisation meet safeguarding responsibilities and best practice standards.

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The Rise of Gen AI in Schools

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Supporting Wellbeing Through Supervision

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We all share a duty to protect the physical and mental wellbeing of children. Our safeguarding specialists work with schools to create strong, reliable systems that keep children safe.

We help you embed a lasting culture of safeguarding across your school. With the right support, your safeguarding and child protection arrangements can be nothing less than outstanding.

Our wide range of CPD safeguarding training ensures staff at every level can recognise the signs of abuse. We also train staff to report concerns clearly and effectively.

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Safeguarding Supervision

Safeguarding Supervision

The government’s Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 document requires Safeguarding Lead professionals to receive appropriate supervision, echoed by learning from child practice reviews.

We provide supervision that goes beyond compliance, advocating best practice informed by the latest research and critical reflection.

NSPCC qualified and highly experienced, our professional supervisors will ensure you have all the support you need, from quality assuring casework to managing the emotional challenges associated with the role.

Reviewing and progressing caseload

Reflecting on current and past practice

Building networks of support

Caseload guidance and second opinions

Emotional support and reducing professional isolation

Safeguarding Assessment

Safeguarding Assessment for Schools

Our specialists will help you to review your school, academy or trust’s safeguarding and child protection arrangements. We will help with identifying areas of strength and potential development. The assessments includes:

Safeguarding arrangements
Staff training
Record keeping
Policies
Multi-agency working
Governance and accountability
Pupil welfare
Communication with parents/carers

We will hold discussions with staff members, senior leaders and pupils throughout the day. Supporting documents can also be shared as part of the process. We will assess your school alongside statutory guidance and Ofsted expectations, providing a report and action plan with recommendations for future practice.

CPOMS Quality Assurance

CPOMS Quality Assurance

Child Practice Reviews highlight the need for strong information sharing, recording, and reporting in safeguarding.

Our safeguarding consultants review your current systems, this helps ensure you meet all statutory duties for record keeping and information sharing.

We work closely with your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to assess incident logs and review interventions. This ensures your records support the best possible outcomes for every child.

DSL Mentoring

DSL Mentoring

Schools face growing pressure to protect pupils from external risks and harm. This means the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is more demanding than ever.

Our mentoring service supports both new and experienced DSLs. Sessions give you time to reflect on safeguarding procedures, review current law, and apply best practice in your school.

As a trusted mentor, we act as a critical friend. We share updates on safeguarding risks at local and national levels. We also give guidance on key areas such as:

Record keeping
Referral processes
Policy development
Staff training

Safeguarding Consultancy Package

Safeguarding Consultancy Package for Schools

Our team can tailor each support package to reflect the needs of your school. We understand the challenging situations that schools can be faced with and can quality assure your processes throughout the year to ensure that you are effectively safeguarding your pupils. From in-house support and assessment to supervision, we will ensure you have the tools to create a safe and supportive learning environment.

Policy Writing & Development

Safeguarding Policy Writing and Development

Highly qualified and experienced, our consultants can support you with policy and practice development, ensuring your school is compliant with the latest safeguarding legislation and national guidance. We will review your current procedures and make any necessary updates, always in line with your school community and vision. We can also work with schools to develop parent and child-friendly policies to reinforce the whole school responsibility.

Training and CPD

Training and CPD

With a variety of training and CPD options available, our specialists will help to embed effective safeguarding practice within your school. Our training sessions are CPD-certified.

Online Safety
Prevent Awareness
Safer Recruitment in Education
Governor Safeguarding
Whole School Safeguarding
Enhanced Safeguarding
DSL Training
DSL Training (Advanced)

Our DSL training is tailored for both new and experienced practitioners. Each course meets the statutory requirements set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.

We also provide safeguarding briefings on extra-familial risks. Topics include:

Child Criminal Exploitation
Harmful Sexualised Behaviour
Forced Marriage
And other key safeguarding concerns

Schools can also request bespoke training packages. These ensure senior leaders are confident that every staff member understands their duty to safeguard pupils across the whole school year.

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Safeguarding Spotlight

Safeguarding Spotlight

Each half term we deliver a FREE, live, virtual Safeguarding Spotlight on a specific topic of interest for safeguarding leads to access online. From Knife Crime, Honour-Based Abuse, Misogyny and Adultification, we ensure that professionals are kept up to date

Resource Packages

Resource Packages

Safeguarding Resource Package

Presentation on the most recent updates to KCSIE, to be shared with the whole staff team
Access to a range of safeguarding resources including: posters, 7 minute-briefings, policy checklists and helpful visuals
Access to our Safeguarding Helpline and email inbox, for any queries or advice.

DSL Package

As above, PLUS 1 place on DSL or DSL (Advanced) Training for the academic year
1 place on a DSL Briefing per year – These will be held in person, 3 times per year and will be focused on specific safeguarding topics.

Whole School Safeguarding Package

As above PLUS Whole School Safeguarding Training delivered in person to your full staff team, for 3 hours
2 Whole-School Briefings on a safeguarding topic of your choice. Delivered in person during INSET day or as twilights, for 1-1.5 hours.

The Complete Package

As above PLUS 1 place on DSL or DSL (Advanced) Training for the academic year
1 place on a DSL Briefing per year – These will be held in person, 3 times per year and will be focused on specific safeguarding topics.

Why choose One Education?

We have a large team of accredited and experienced professionals, including education practitioners, qualified counsellors, and supervisors trained by the NSPCC. With a deep understanding of safeguarding and associated legislation, we can support every member of staff in your school or trust, giving them the confidence to identify risks, raise concerns and effectively respond to challenges.

Our working relationships with leaders, governors/trustees, and school staff are based upon professional challenge and the opportunities to learn and develop.

We found the assessment useful and the final report has helped us structure safeguarding training for the current year. It was a supportive process and we have been able to use the report meaningfully and share it with stakeholders. It’s always useful to have that external appraisal which serves as a critique rather than a criticism.

Stuart Harris, Deputy HeadteacherGrange School

Safeguarding Supervision sessions are invaluable for staff, it is a chance to speak in confidence to someone about the challenges faced each term. The opportunity to offload and discuss difficult cases is crucial to support staff's mental health. Vanessa is a real asset to One Education, her personable nature and friendly attitude makes supervision sessions really easy and staff feel comfortable to open up about the challenges they face. Thank you for all the support you have offered our staff this year, we look forward to continuing with your service next year.

Kirsty Roban, Deputy HeadteacherThe Kingsway School

What a lovely meeting I had with your welfare adviser this morning. I did not know what to expect but I left the room very calm and felt our roles in safeguarding were appreciated, valued and our mental health was precious to you all. I cannot wait for our next meeting!

Birchfields Primary School

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FAQs

What is safeguarding in schools?

Safeguarding in schools is the process of protecting children from harm and promoting their well-being. It’s a collaborative effort that involves all stakeholders including pupils, parents and staff, from teachers to lunchtime supervisors.

Why is safeguarding important in schools?

All schools must adhere to keeping children safe in education (KCSE). Safeguarding ensures a safe and supportive environment where children feel happy and can learn to their full potential. As teachers and staff are responsible for children’s wellbeing, safeguarding helps to identify and address any issues that could be affecting a child’s safety or well-being.

Who is responsible for safeguarding children in schools?

Every adult is responsible for keeping children safe in education, including;

All staff

Teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, and any adult who comes into contact with children have a responsibility to be aware of safeguarding issues and report any concerns.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Every school has a DSL; a senior member of staff responsible for safeguarding. They are the point of contact for staff with concerns and oversee the school’s safeguarding procedures.

What is contextual safeguarding?

Contextual safeguarding recognises that children can be at risk from a variety of factors in their lives, not just abuse or neglect within the family home.

It includes things such as, criminal and sexual exploitation, online grooming, vulnerablility to radicalisation.

Contextual safeguarding is also referred to as extra-familial harm.

What is a safeguarding policy?

A safeguarding policy is a formal document that outlines the school’s procedures for protecting children. It details how staff should identify, report, and respond to concerns about a child’s safety.

What is the difference between safeguarding and child protection?

Safeguarding is a broader term encompassing protecting children from harm and promoting their well-being. Child protection is the specific intervention when a child is believed to be at immediate risk of abuse or neglect.

Safeguarding helps to prevent child protection situations from arising.

What does DSL stand for in safeguarding?

DSL stands for Designated Safeguarding Lead.

What does CSE stand for in safeguarding?

CSE stands for Child Sexual Exploitation.

What does ACE stand for in safeguarding?

ACE stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. These are potentially traumatic events a child may have experienced, such as neglect or abuse.

What does SCR stand for in safeguarding?

SCR stands for Serious Case Review. This is a process undertaken when a child dies or is seriously injured, and abuse or neglect is suspected, these are also referred to as Child Practice Reviews.

In schools, you may also see SCR used to refer to the Single Central Record, which is the record held by schools about their staff including DBS status, qualifications and training that they have accessed as well as statutory safer recruitment checks that have been undertaken.

What does CCE stand for safeguarding?

CCE stands for Child Criminal Exploitation, a form of abuse whereby children are groomed into performing criminal acts such as dealing drugs or concealing weapons.

What is early help in safeguarding?

Early help refers to identifying and addressing concerns before they escalate into more serious problems.

What is child on child abuse?

Child on child abuse refers to bullying, cyberbullying, or physical violence or sexual abuse between children.

How often should staff be trained in safeguarding?

Keeping Children Safe in Education states that staff should receive safeguarding training on beginning their role and then receive regular training and updates at least annually. The Designated Safeguarding Lead must access statutory training every 2 years.

What are the 6 principles of safeguarding?

The 6 principles of safeguarding are:

Empowerment: Supporting children to protect themselves.
Prevention: Proactive measures to stop harm from happening.
Protection: Taking steps to protect children identified as being at risk.
Partnership: Working together with parents, families, and other agencies.
Proportionality: Taking action that is proportionate to the risk.
Accountability: Taking responsibility for safeguarding children.

How does safeguarding impact on SEND pupils?

Evidence suggests that children with special educational needs or disabilities are 3.7 times more likely than their peers to become a victim or abuse or neglect.

It may be that a child who is socially isolated is therefore more susceptible to being groomed or radicalised online.

Or perhaps their communication difficulties and trust in adults and other children can make them more vulnerable. Safeguarding strategies are then put in place involving alternative communication methods, increased staff observation, and tailored procedures that consider their specific needs.

This is achieved through stronger partnerships between schools, families, and specialists to create a comprehensive support network for each child.

What does Ofsted look for in a school's safeguarding practices?

Ofsted seeks a school with strong safeguarding practices, evident in clear policies, trained staff, a capable DSL, open communication, and information sharing as well as a well embedded culture of safeguarding throughout the school.

They’ll also assess how the school tackles specific risks and maintains proper safeguarding records.

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