Safeguarding

Safeguarding at RESPECT Collaboration Trust

At the Respect Collaboration Trust our pupils are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that every day is a new day and are committed to the phrase ‘we never give up’. Our core values of RESPECT are our shared beliefs to promote positive and inclusive learning.
Our Commitment
Our Trust is committed to safeguarding children and young people and we expect everyone employed by us to share this commitment. All adults employed by the Trust are aware that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that they have a role to play in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children. All adults working within the Trust take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children to talk to us about anything that worries them whilst recognising that they may not feel ready or know how to tell someone they are being abused, exploited or neglected, and/or they may not recognise their experiences as harmful and/or find it difficult to speak about what they need.

• All adults are aware that no single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances. In order to ensure that the welfare of the child is paramount, adults will always consider and act in the best interests of the child.
• All children regardless of age, gender, culture, language, race, ability, sexual identity or religion have equal rights to protection, safeguarding and opportunities.
• We recognise that all adults, including temporary staff, volunteers, Governors and Trustees, have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm and have an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may suggest a child is at risk of harm.
• All staff believe that our schools should provide a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical, mental wellbeing and moral development of the individual child.

Pupils and staff involved in child protection issues will receive appropriate support and supervision

The Trust’s safeguarding strategy is led by the Director of Safeguarding and Attendance, who oversees policy development, staff training and oversee the effectiveness of safeguarding systems. The works closely with Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) across all schools to ensure that concerns are addressed swiftly and appropriately.

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. It includes:

• Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• Preventing harm to children’s health or development
• Ensuring children grow up with safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes

Child protection is a key part of safeguarding. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes procedures for responding to concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

Working in Partnership with Families
Parents and carers should be aware that our schools are required to take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of their pupils. Where there is concern that a child may be subject to ill treatment, neglect, or other forms of abuse, our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) or their Deputies will follow Child Protection Procedures and, where necessary, inform external agencies in line with legislative frameworks.

Further Information
Each school has a dedicated safeguarding page on their website with details on how to contact the school safeguarding team. We encourage parents, carers, and visitors to consult these pages for school-specific safeguarding procedures and contact information.