Safeguarding

The Redhill Academy Trust instils the ethos that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. 

The Redhill Academy Trust Executive Board understands the safeguarding responsibilities placed upon the Trust as outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.

The Trust has a rigorous recruitment process for all staff and checks for all visitors. The Trust meets its statutory requirements in relation to the Disclosure & Barring Scheme.  In conjunction with the Trust Safer Recruitment policy, the Trust ensures that all employees and volunteers who work with children and young adults have had an appropriate DBS check and this information is recorded, along with other pre-employment checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education on the Single Central Record of each academy.

Safeguarding policies are up to date, robust and relevant.  Policies are reviewed at least annually and updated to reflect national guidance from external legislation.

Each academy has a Designated Safeguarding Lead, one Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and a wider safeguarding team.  Training is completed in accordance with guidance set out in KCSIE 2023.

All staff and governors receive safeguarding training at least annually.  As part of their induction process, all new starters receive initial safeguarding training.  Further training on new guidance/updates is delivered to all staff through face-to-face sessions on INSET days and/or staff meetings.

All staff are aware of their responsibility to provide a safe environment for children to learn, which includes identifying children who may benefit from early help.  Staff are trained in their own academy’s processes in making referrals should they recognise any early identification of abuse or neglect of a student.  They are also trained in the process to follow should a student make a disclosure to them. 

All staff are made aware of the reporting lines in the event of a Safeguarding concern which concerns another member of staff, a Trust Whistle Blowing Policy is also in operation.

All staff are made aware of the Safeguarding & Child Protection policy, Behaviour policy, Code of Conduct, identity & role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding response to children who go missing from education on induction and at regular intervals or when guidance/legislation is updated.  All staff are provided with Part One of Keeping Children Safe in Education on induction or each time the document is updated.

Safeguarding audits are completed regularly in each academy by the Safeguarding & Compliance Officer.  Reports are produced and submitted to the Safeguarding Lead for the Trust.

Each academy has a named link Governor for Safeguarding, the link Governor reviews the Safeguarding arrangements for the academy on a termly basis.

There is a Safeguarding Lead for the Trust who is on the Executive Senior Leadership Team.  In addition, there is a Safeguarding Trustee who sits on the Executive Board.

Where an Alternative Provision is used, the academy concerned will ensure that they receive confirmation from the Alternative Provision that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out.