Safeguarding Statement 

At The Southfield Trust, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is our highest priority. We are committed to providing safe, inclusive and nurturing environments where every child feels valued, protected and supported to achieve their full potential. Our safeguarding culture is underpinned by strong leadership, effective multi-agency working and a commitment to acting in the best interests of every child. 

We recognise that supporting children means supporting families. We work in partnership with parents, carers and external agencies to provide early help, reduce barriers to learning and wellbeing, and ensure families receive the support they need at the right time. Through positive relationships, open communication and child-centred practice, we strive to ensure that every child is safe, well and able to thrive

Operation Encompass statement 

All schools within The Southfield Trust are proud to be part of Operation Encompass, a national safeguarding initiative that supports children who may have been exposed to domestic abuse.

Through Operation Encompass, schools receive timely information from the police before the start of the next school day when a child has been present at, exposed to, or affected by a domestic abuse incident. This enables our safeguarding teams to provide appropriate support, understanding and care to children who may be experiencing emotional distress or trauma.

At The Southfield Trust, we recognise that domestic abuse can have a significant impact on a child's emotional wellbeing, behaviour, attendance and ability to learn. By working in partnership with the police and other safeguarding agencies, we can respond quickly to ensure children feel safe, supported and ready to engage with school.

Information shared through Operation Encompass is treated confidentially and is only shared with trained safeguarding professionals on a need-to-know basis, in line with statutory safeguarding and data protection requirements.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do, and our participation in Operation Encompass forms part of our wider commitment to protecting children, promoting their welfare and supporting families

Prevent Duty

The Southfield Trust is committed to safeguarding children from all forms of harm, including radicalisation and extremism. Through our Prevent Duty responsibilities, staff are trained to identify and respond to concerns, promote British values, support online safety and help pupils develop the resilience and critical thinking skills needed to keep themselves safe. Any concerns are managed through our safeguarding procedures and, where appropriate, in partnership with external agencies.