Safeguarding at CEDARS Short Stay School
At CEDARS Short Stay School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are fully committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and protection of every student in our care. Our safeguarding practices are robust, proactive, and tailored to meet the unique needs of secondary-aged pupils, many of whom may be facing complex challenges. All staff are trained to identify and respond to concerns swiftly and sensitively, working closely with families, external agencies, and the wider community. We foster a culture of openness, trust, and respect, where students feel safe, valued, and empowered to speak up. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and at CEDARS, it is our top priority.
Specific areas of focus in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2025):
- Mental Health:
Research links mental health and safeguarding, making it essential for KCSIE to reflect this.
- Online Safety:
Strengthened expectations around filtering, monitoring, and cyber resilience.
- Alternative Provision:
Specific requirements for alternative providers to inform schools of any risks.
- Radicalisation:
The section on preventing radicalisation is no longer under review following the March 2024 definition of extremism.
- Alleged Child Perpetrators:
Signposting to resources like “Shore Space” for supporting alleged child perpetrators.
- Virtual School Heads:
Their role is extended to include promoting the educational achievement of children in kinship care.