Safeguarding
If you have a concern that a child is being harmed, is at risk of harm, or you receive a disclosure (intentionally or unintentionally) you must contact the following specialist trained members of staff with responsibility for Child Protection/Safeguarding as quickly as possible:
Mr Eaton (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Miss Dale (Deputy Safeguarding Lead)
Mrs Davis (Family First / CIC Coordinator)
Mrs Lees (Family First / CIC Officer)
Miss Millen (Family First / CIC Officer)
Walsall Early Help & Families First Offer
At times, every family needs a little extra support, and Walsall’s Early Help and Families First offer is here to provide just that. This service works with families to identify needs early and offer practical, tailored help before problems escalate. Through a simple assessment called Our Family, we listen to your story and agree a plan together, ensuring you are at the heart of all decisions. Support may include advice on parenting, emotional wellbeing, health, education, or connecting you with local services. Our aim is to help your family thrive by bringing together the right people—such as schools, health professionals, and community partners—so you receive the right help at the right time. Early Help is voluntary, confidential, and designed to build resilience and improve family life.
Our Aldridge School Offer
To support the Walsall Early Help and Families First Offer, we have dedicated members of staff on the Safeguarding Team in school who specialise in supporting with the process. They are Mrs Davis, Mrs Lees and Mrs Millen. If you are interested in Early Help support, or would like to know more, please get in touch with Mrs Davis via the email address below.
Contact and Useful Links
- Family Information Service: Call 01922 653344 or email fis@walsall.gov.uk
- Early Help Team: Call 01922 652600
- Find your local Family Hub: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/children_and_young_people/family_hubs
- More about Early Help: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/children_and_young_people/early_help
Aldridge School Help and Support: v.davis@ald.merciantrust.org.uk
Safeguarding Statement
Aldridge School recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all its students by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying.
Aldridge School acknowledges that child abuse can be a very emotive and difficult subject. It is important to understand the feelings involved but not to allow them to interfere with judgement about the action to be taken.
All applicants for employment within The Trust will be fully screened in accordance with DfE Guidelines – Keeping Children Safe in Education.
All staff are trained on Child Protection Procedures.
The key principles of our Safeguarding Statement are that:
- The student’s welfare is, and must always be the paramount consideration.
- All students have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious belief, sexuality, or sexual identity.
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately by following our Child Protection Policy.
Taking of unauthorised photographs or video footage within the school grounds is strictly prohibited.
The Prevent Duty
From 01st July 2015 educational establishments are subject to a duty under Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 in the exercise of their functions to have 'due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism'. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty.
Aldridge School is committed to fulfilling this duty and to carrying out the four main actions responsibly, namely: risk assessment, working in partnership, staff training and IT policies.
Risk Assessment - The statutory guidance makes it clear that the Academy is expected to assess the risk of children being drawn into terrorism. Aldridge School has a clear policy in place for protecting children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation. This is not a distinct policy for the 'Prevent Duty' but is included within our Safeguarding/Child Protection policy.
Partnerships - The Trust works with partner agencies to seek advice, support and guidance to draw on multi-agency expertise.
Training - The Designated Safeguarding Lead has undertaken Prevent awareness training to enable them to offer advice and support to other members of staff. All staff undertake training on how to identify factors that can make students vulnerable to radicalisation.
IT - The Academy ensures that students are safe from terrorist and extreme material when accessing the internet within the Academy. The Academy uses web and email filtering appliances as well as screen monitoring software to identify any potential risks or safeguarding issues which are checked on a regular basis.
For more information please see the Educate Against Hate website: Educate Against Hate - Prevent Radicalisation & Extremism
Walsall Reflexions
Reflexions Leaflet Reflexions Poster Reflexions Newsletter Dec 2025
Additional Information
FGM Awareness Letter Safeguarding Newsletter Sept 2025