At Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust, keeping children and young people safe is our top priority. Our schools follow strong values of the International Co-operative Movement – like equality, fairness, democracy, self-help, and caring for others. These principles guide everything we do and help us create a safe, welcoming space where every child feels respected and valued.
Safeguarding Is Everyone’s Responsibility
The Trust knows it has a big responsibility to protect all students and staff. Every year, we hold safeguarding training for all staff at the start of the academic year. For those who join later, special training is provided through the National College of Leadership. Our team always stays alert to any signs of abuse or neglect and follows the local Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) guidelines to make sure every child gets the support they need.
We always act with the belief that “It could happen here,” meaning we stay alert and take every concern seriously. We also support the Everyone’s Invited movement, which helps tackle deeper issues in society like sexual harassment and abuse. These behaviours are never acceptable, and our schools have strict systems to deal with any reports quickly and fairly.
Ongoing Safeguarding Reviews and Checks
Each school’s safeguarding system is checked every year. Our Human Resources team also reviews staff records to make sure they’re complete and up to date. These reviews help us improve our policies, offer extra training when needed, and make sure every school is doing its best to keep children safe.
What Safeguarding Means at Osborne Trust
Safeguarding at our schools means:
- Giving support to children as soon as problems start.
- Protecting children from harm at home, in school, or online.
- Making sure their mental and physical health is not affected.
- Helping them grow up in safe and caring environments.
- Taking quick action to give every child the best chance in life.
Building a Safe School Culture
At Osborne Trust schools, we aim to create an environment where:
- Children feel safe to speak up about worries, knowing they will be listened to and supported.
- Parents feel confident that their children are protected and any concerns they raise will be taken seriously.
- Staff and volunteers feel safe and trained in how to handle safeguarding issues properly.
- A secure digital system (CPOMS) is used to report and track any safeguarding concerns.
- Everyone knows how to raise serious concerns through whistleblowing, and they’re trained to use this process.
Role of Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)
Every school has a senior staff member known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead. They take charge of all safeguarding matters and regularly meet with other DSLs to share learning and improve practices. They look out for students who:
- Are often suspended or might be expelled.
- Have a parent in prison or are affected by crime at home.
- Are missing from school or home often.
- Have ongoing unexplained absences.
What Each School Must Follow
All Trust schools must:
- Follow the Department for Education’s guidelines, including the Prevent Duty and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
- Show all key safeguarding info (like policies and contact names) clearly on their school websites.
- Make sure students can report abuse or harassment safely and confidently.
- Train staff to identify and act on signs of domestic abuse, child-on-child abuse, online threats, and more.
- Create an inclusive and supportive space for all students, especially LGBTQ+ children who may be more vulnerable.
- Share the NSPCC helpline widely to give victims of abuse access to help and advice.
Working With Others for Child Protection
Our schools work closely with local safeguarding partners and follow national rules like “Working Together to Safeguard Children.” Each school has a main DSL, a deputy DSL, and a governor in charge of safeguarding. Staff get yearly training, and schools use safeguarding software to track cases. All actions are recorded properly and discussed with local authorities when needed.
We also focus on student mental health, support for abuse victims, and make sure that no child falls through the cracks – especially those missing school often.
Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust takes safeguarding very seriously. From training staff and using proper systems to acting fast when there’s a concern – our aim is always to protect children and young people. By creating safe, respectful, and inclusive schools, we help every student feel valued and supported so they can thrive both in school and in life.
