Safeguarding at Acorn Education Trust

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has an important role to play in safeguarding children.

School staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children, to prevent concerns from escalating.  Schools and their staff form part of a wider safeguarding system for children. At Acorn Education Trust we are committed to the well-being and safety of all our children and we will always adopt a sensitive and caring approach to support them and their families.

What is Safeguarding?

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

Safeguarding means:

• protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• preventing harm to children’s health or development ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. 

What is Child Protection?

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.

Safeguarding at Acorn Education Trust

At Acorn Education Trust we work to our values to ensure that every child, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, has a right to equal protection from harm. 

Jo Ronxin is the Trust’s Safeguarding link Academy Councillor and works with the school safeguarding team to support and sustain a safe and child-centred culture across all our school. Email: ro@acorneducationtrust.com

School Safeguarding Teams Contact Information and Policy

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Jo Ronxin

Email: ro@acorneducationtrust.com

Telephone number: +44 (0) 1985 801060

Telephone number (out of school hours or term term): +44 (0) 1985 801060

Out of hours Children/Students can seek support via Childline on 0800 1111. The phone call is free and it is a confidential helpline. 

Click here to see our Safeguarding Policies, including the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

If you have a concern about a child

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. The Police will assess the situation and take the appropriate action to protect the child.

If you are a parent or another adult who has concerns about the safety of one of our children/students, please contact Jo Ronxin, our Designated Safeguarding Lead.

If the child is not at immediate risk, contact your local child protection services. Their contact details can be found on the website for the local authority the child lives in. Wiltshire Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub can be contacted on: 0300 4560108  8.45am- 5pm, out of hours 0300 456 0100.

Many people worry, “What if I am wrong?” but if we take a child-centred approach to safeguarding, we should all be asking, “What if I am right?” By raising a concern, you could be protecting not just one child, but future children. Whenever you are worried, whether it’s a big or little worry, always tell someone who can help.

In England, the Department for Education is the government sector responsible for all child protection policy. On a local level, local safeguarding partners such as the police, the local authority and designated safeguarding groups are in charge of managing any complaints or issues and ensuring that the principles of the Children Act are upheld.