The Beckmead Trust

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

2024- 2025

If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact the school on 01279 444101 and ask to speak to any of the staff members below.

Adrian Applewhite (Head Teacher) Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Melanie Goodger –Head of Primary and Deputy DSL (DDSL)

Cheryl Bebb – Safeguarding and Attendance and Deputy DSL (DDSL)

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance defines safeguarding as:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment 
  • Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
  • Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
  • Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes 

Safeguarding includes:

Safeguarding is underpinned by core working practices, including child protection, health care plans, health and safety, site security, safety on school trips, anti-bullying work, and so much more. The Trust’s central team plays a key role in training, leading and auditing safeguarding across the Trust schools. We work very closely with our Local authorities to ensure that we are fully joined in our approach and develop a strong and pervasive safeguarding culture in every aspect of school life.

Each school publishes its safeguarding policy, outlining local arrangements and noting all key safeguarding staff.

The Trust adheres to the following three DFE safeguarding documents:

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education
  • The Prevent Duty 

The Trust and its schools have a suite of Safeguarding documents reviewed regularly and found on this website.

All our staff, whatever their role, receive annual Child Protection and Safeguarding update training and know the procedures for passing on concerns within the school. If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a child in one of our schools, please pass them on to the named colleagues at the applicable school.

Please visit our Child Protection Policy on the Policies Page for further information.

Helpful links if you have a concern about a child or would like some more information:

https://schools.essex.gov.uk/pupils/Safeguarding/Pages/Safeguarding.aspx (This has lots of links to helpful organisations and information and is also where you can report a concern about any child living in Essex.)

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/   (helpful information about how to safeguard children and links to get support)