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Safeguarding
Ridgeway Education Trust Safeguarding Framework, 2023-2026
Ridgeway Education Trust is a trust rooted in strong shared values of inclusivity, high standards and respectful relationships. These relationships are underpinned by a deep care for the wellbeing of our young people, and a commitment to ensuring that all children and young people in its schools are safe, protected from harm and able to thrive. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play within this. We believe that “true safeguarding excellence has to be measured by outcomes: our greater understanding of safeguarding concerns leads to better resolutions for the children and families concerned” (from Safeguarding at Scale, CST, 2023).
Local Authorities retain overarching statutory responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in their area. Alongside this, and as outlined in the Academies Handbook 2025, Trust Boards of Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) have a duty to:
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Safeguard and promote the welfare of children;
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Have regard to any statutory guidance on safeguarding, issued by the Secretary of State;
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Ensure the suitability of staff, supply staff, volunteers and contractors.
Given that, in a MAT, these duties are fulfilled by trustees, we acknowledge that safeguarding in a school within a trust differs from safeguarding in a single school. While working in a community-based MAT means the issues impacting children and their families are likely to be very similar, there are significant practical and operational differences in the leadership and management of safeguarding in a trust compared to a school. The RET Safeguarding Framework is intended to outline roles, responsibilities and key processes around safeguarding to ensure these are clearly defined and well understood, resulting in improved procedures and stronger support – and outcomes - for children across all Ridgeway Education Trust schools.
Information on safeguarding arrangements at each of our schools, including their safeguarding and child protection policies, can be accessed below.
