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Happy New Year to you all. We hope that you have had a restful festive break and managed to recharge those batteries in readiness for what we are sure will be a busy Spring term! Whatever the term’s challenges may be please don't forget you can contact us, with any questions you have relating to the safeguarding of your pupils, training and DSL role, we are here to assist.
You will notice below there have been some changes to the Safeguarding Team over the winter break. We are working closely with the Locality Teams to provide overarching safeguarding support and guidance and as such have a member of the Safeguarding Team linked to each Locality. From February, your Education Safeguarding Partners will be:
Lead for Safeguarding:
Lara Stead – lara.stead@devon.gov.uk | 01392 287216
Locality Education Safeguarding Partners:
From February, should you have need of safeguarding support in the first instance contact your Locality Education Safeguarding Partner above by phone or email. Should you have an urgent enquiry, and your Locality safeguarding link is unavailable do contact another member of the team. For January this will be Lara Stead.
We are busy updating our team poster, contacts and biographies, once updated we will add this information to the website. As a team we will all continue to deliver training and forums so you will get the opportunity to meet us all during the year.
As ever looking forward to working with you all this term!
Lara, Hannah, and Tash
This year's S175 link is now OPEN. We will be notifying DSLs through the contacts we have and via school @Admin address this week but if you want to get ahead of the game, please use the link provided: Devon County Council S175/157 Safeguarding Audit 2026 (Academic Year 2024-2025).
Please ensure you have returned your completed Section 175 to us no later than the 13th February 2026.
The audit again is in two parts: part one reflecting compliance aligned with current KCSiE requirements and part two will focus on the following areas:
- Information and actions taken prior to children being reported as EHE and CME.
- Actions and assurances of a safeguarding nature regarding children who have a Part-time timetable.
- Actions and assurances of a safeguarding nature regarding children who have received a fixed-term exclusion or Permanent Exclusion.
- Questions relating to the priorities for each of the Partnership sub-groups that align to the 5 overarching Partnership priorities.
Any questions you may have about the Section 175, please contact Lara at lara.stead@devon.gov.uk.
We understand completing this document is time consuming, but an activity we feel sure will provide you with a good benchmark and help to inform you of next steps in your safeguarding action plan. Please be assured that ALL Section 175 returns will be read by us. Thank you for your support.
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The Department for Education is seeking views from children and families, frontline practitioners, local authorities, inspectorates, professional bodies, and voluntary, community and statutory organisations involved in safeguarding.
The consultation is open until 5 March 2026, and can be responded to on the Department for Education’s website.
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The Devon SCP are conducting a survey to gather your valuable feedback on recognising and responding to missing children and child exploitation in Devon. Your frontline experience is crucial in helping the Devon SCP understand the practical challenges and successes in our current approach.
This survey will ask about your confidence in identifying exploitation, the tools and strategies you use, and the support you receive from training programmes and leadership. Your responses will help Devon SCP improve practices and ensure that they are effectively supporting the needs of children and young people.
It is open to professionals/practitioners who work in organisations that provide services to children, young people, families and/or adults who live in Devon only. Survey will close on 12 Jan 2026.
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, SaFest 2025 has been rescheduled. We’re sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work to deliver the high-quality event you expect.
The festival will now take place during the week of 9 - 13 February 2026.
Book your place on our website. 👈
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Schools must share any safeguarding concerns with the Front Door and the EHE Service before removing the child from roll if the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.
Schools' responsibilities before removing a pupil from roll:
- Speak to the child (age-appropriate) about their feelings and concerns.
- Complete the EHE Safeguarding Pupil Form and send to the EHE Service.
- Send a copy of the parent’s letter/email requesting EHE to the EHE Service.
- Offer a School Exit Meeting to discuss responsibilities and ensure EHE is the right decision for the child.
If safeguarding concerns exist:
- Complete a Front Door Request for Support Form and send a copy to the EHE Service.
Sadly, there have been recent cases identified by the Front Door and EHE team where vital safeguarding information held by schools has not been included on the EHE Safeguarding Pupil Form.
The EHE Safeguarding Pupil Form MUST be completed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or a member of the safeguarding team who has access to all the schools' safeguarding records for that child).
🔗For further information visit: Elective home education - Support for schools and settings.
Safeguarding concerns often go unnoticed. This short video from Surrey Police is a powerful reminder that extra-familial harm can happen quietly in everyday spaces - while life looks normal. Take two minutes to watch and reflect: Can you spot the signs?
The following presentation has been compiled by LGfL and may well prove useful for your ongoing parent engagement endeavours.
LGfL have also produced the following resources drawing together materials from a range of sources.
The Molly Rose Foundation is a non-profit charity founded by the family of Molly Rose Russell to address suicide prevention in young people under 25.
The foundation is currently working with the University of Bristol on a project aimed at supporting young people to navigate the myriad complexities and challenges of social media. They invite colleagues in secondary settings to complete the following survey: Supporting students to navigate social media and algorithms.
Public Health Nursing team wants to make it easier for schools and families to access timely advice and support from their team. To achieve this, they’ve been piloting a dedicated advice line with practitioners available to respond to phone calls and texts.
Initially focused on 0–5s, the service has expanded to cover 0–8s and is now extending to include 9–19s. The aim is to improve responsiveness and explore options for a permanent, integrated 0–19 approach.
How it works
- Calls for ages 0–8’s are answered by their Community Health Worker team.
- Calls for ages 9–19’s will soon be answered by staff nurses from the School Nursing team.
- Practitioners are supported by health visitors and school nurses who also respond to calls and texts.
The team hopes this will make it easier for you and families to speak directly to them and access advice when needed.
Why your calls matter
Call demand will inform the future of this pilot and the resources required to sustain it. Historically, it's been heard that calls may have reduced because they were not answered directly for several years, which led to frustration. By using the advice line now, you help understand the real level of need and shape a service that works for schools and families.
What is being asked
- Please make use of the advice line for queries and support.
- Encourage families to do the same.
Your engagement will help Public Health Nursing team design a service that truly meets needs. Thank you for your support in making this pilot a success.
Locality Contacts:
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Eastern – East Devon, Cullompton & Tiverton
📍 St Michael’s, Orchard Way, Honiton, EX14 1HU
☎ 0333 234 1903 | ✉ easternphnhub@devon.gov.uk
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Exeter – Exeter & Crediton
📍 Room 267, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD
☎ 0333 234 1902 | ✉ exeterphnhub@devon.gov.uk
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Northern – North Devon, Torridge & Okehampton
📍 Taw View, Civic Centre, North Walk, Barnstaple, EX31 1EE
☎ 0333 234 1904 | ✉ northernphnhub@devon.gov.uk
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Southern – Teignbridge, South Hams & Tavistock
📍 Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE
☎ 0333 234 1901 | ✉ southernphnhub@devon.gov.uk
Young Devon are pleased to offer a programme to support young people affected by domestic abuse. The flyers giving all relevant information are shared below. To register your interest, please email referrals@youngdevon.org.
Spring Term 2026
Places are still available for Level 3 refresher training and other safeguarding sessions. Don’t miss out on these opportunities for support, guidance, and professional development.
Child Protection Refresher Training
- 04 February 2026 (Buckfast Abbey)
- 09 February 2026 (Online)
- 26 February 2026 (Future Skills Centre)
- 06 March 2026 (Manor Resort)
- 17 March 2026 (Online)
- 26 March 2026 (Tiverton Hotel)
- 20 May 2026 (Online)
- 05 June 2026 (Ashbury Hotel)
- 07 July 2026 (Tiverton Hotel)
Child Protection Initial Training
- 15 & 16 January 2026 (Online)
- 27 & 28 January 2026 (Tiverton Hotel)
- 02 & 03 June 2026 (Tiverton Hotel)
- 02 & 03 June 2026 (Online)
Safeguarding Forums
- 10 March 2026 (Manor Resort)
- 11 March 2026 (Tiverton Hotel)
- 18 March 2026 (Online)
- 08 June 2026 (Manor Resort)
- 09 June 2026 (Tiverton Hotel)
- 10 June 2026 (Online)
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