Testimonials

As a Trust, safeguarding is our utmost priority. Our team of DSL’s need to be supported fully to ensure that they are well-equipped to discharge their duties effectively, and in doing so, we view the team at Safeguarding Support Ltd as a vital partner in this regard. The advice, guidance and support is valued tremendously, whether this is via face-to-face training, online training or through DSL Supervision. The team at Safeguarding Support Ltd are easy to talk to, extremely knowledgeable and they are also able to challenge our thinking to ensure our staff, trustees and governors have a deep understanding around the context of safeguarding and also their responsibilities around the management of safeguarding.

iExel Education Trust

In 2021, we sought a consultant to support the Trust in providing professional safeguarding expertise and to provide assurance that all primary schools within the Trust meet their safeguarding responsibilities and are compliant in keeping children safe.

Following a fully transparent procurement process we opted to work with Safeguarding Support Limited as they listened to our requirements and were able to offer a completely bespoke safeguarding package designed specifically to meet the needs of the Trust and ensure a standardised approach.

We believe working with Safeguarding Support Limited has strengthened our standardisation, improved our systems and procedures and given us the confidence and knowledge to challenge behaviours, attitudes, and cultures to achieve the very best outcomes for our pupils and their families.

Galileo Multi Academy Trust

I would recommend Safeguarding Support Ltd because the training they offer is excellent. Their knowledge of safeguarding processes, procedures, legislation and policies is outstanding. I have a greater understanding of safer recruitment thanks to the course. 

The Trust school’s have used Safeguarding Support for a number of years now and I can’t imagine moving away from the training they deliver. 

Assistant Headteacher – Pennine Academies – Farnham Primary School

I was unsure how the training would work with it being presented on Zoom due to the nature of the subject. My reservations were not realised due to the professionalism, experience and knowledge that the course facilitators brought. Thank you for your time and for making the training engaging, interesting and relevant. The course content was spot on.

Carl – Inclusion Manager

The audit we had with Yvonne was excellent. It delved into areas of Safeguarding which wouldn’t ordinarily be covered by other auditing processes. Yvonne also gave lots of really useful hints and tips as to how we could action things – it wasn’t just a list of things we need to do, but how to do them too.
Yvonne tailored the day to suit us – we covered a lot in one day and have come out of it with a really useful document which we’ve already begun to action. We will definitely schedule in another audit in the future.

I would recommend Safeguarding Support Ltd because the review was thorough and rigorous whilst also meeting our needs as a school.

Headteacher – Primary School

Excellent training, new knowledge acquired and some key actions for me to follow up. The training is always superbly delivered with lots of references to key documents and updates which we need to know about but don’t always have the time to keep up with. As always, the trainers depth of knowledge comes across and the information is always presented in a manner which makes you think carefully and promotes discussion. Thank you for such quality training.

The training is always high quality, presented in a way that develops even the most experienced DSL’s thinking and enables you, as a professional to feel confident in your role.

Co-Acting Headteacher – Cottingley Village Primary School

The [Reflective Supervision] session was absolutely brilliant. The Supervisor was amazing. We had a great discussion around different aspects of quite a few key families and she gave me some idea to research and think about. It was an hour well spent, so thank you for arranging it.

Active Learning Trust – Primary School

We found the Safeguarding review extremely useful and good value for money. The session felt very supportive- where gaps were identified, Yvonne worked with us on the day to ensure we had the most up to date legislation and appropriate paperwork, so we were able to immediately implement changes. Her safeguarding knowledge is exceptional. It is invaluable to have a safeguarding guru on your side. As a headteacher you often feel you have so many plates to spin and safeguarding is an area that you simply can not afford to get wrong!

The review feedback has been a very useful tool- we have been able to work quickly through the action points and now feel very confident that are safeguarding arrangements are effective. Governors also found the documents useful. Yvonne has been very supportive with any follow up queries, and we will certainly be making it an annual part of our school improvement cycle. I would highly recommend Safeguarding Support.

Headteacher – Canterbury Nursery School

Yvonne was an exceptional trainer, she was very clear and concise, would speak openly and respond to all questions in detail. I would highly recommend her. Fantastic!The training was thorough with a large range of case studies, information and new material which I did not expect to receive. It was thought-provoking and engaging throughout.

Jess – Assistant Vice Principal

Safeguarding support deliver all aspects of Safeguarding training and support in a very friendly, positive and helpful way. At our whole school training, they made us all feel at ease and during the training they gave scenario’s that could happen – which made us understand how, why and action to take. We will definitely be using them again – I highly recommend their service.

Business Manager – Primary School

Rachel Priestley

Rach has a background in Business Development and Administration, gaining much of her knowledge and experience through her 19 year career with the NHS working within the executive office, community services and public health. 

Before moving on from the NHS, Rach supported the Chief Executive, the Chairman and the Trust Board of a local NHS Care Trust, which managed Children’s Services. Her responsibilities spanned across HR, Finance, Governance, Compliance, Risk, systems and processes, and internal training. Rach also supported the Children’s Safeguarding Lead with safeguarding investigations.

In 2017, she left the NHS to pursue a successful self-employed career supporting business to grow, with flexible business development and administration support, which she continues to do on a part-time basis.

Rach is in house trained, and is passionate about delivering outstanding services and enjoys working as part of the safeguarding team to achieve a common goal.

In her own time, she loves spending time outside, and long walks with the two family dogs. 

Shelley Armstrong

Shelley joined Safeguarding Support in 2020 as an experienced AET-qualified freelance trainer, and now enjoys working across the business, keeping clients as up to date as possible with the ever changing challenges facing safeguarding children in education.

Whilst we aim to simplify safeguarding, Shelley’s passion is to ensure engagement, pride and confidence through training and support. Shelley enjoys applying the competencies gained in different industries and environments to researching, designing, and developing materials for those with the responsibility to safeguard children, and in return has enormous respect for their commitment.

Her experience across the private business sector brings commercial skills to training and her background in psychology and counselling ensure courses are designed and delivered with the learner in mind.

Shelley lives in Yorkshire and enjoys walking her springer spaniels – come rain or shine!

Abigail Havon

Abigail is an experienced AET qualified trainer who began her safeguarding career in the charity sector.  There she was a regional manager and part of the safeguarding leadership team.  She was involved in writing policies and procedures, developing, and delivering training and supporting staff and volunteers to work 121 with children struggling with their literacy. 

She has worked in a variety of business environments gaining experience in different sectors. She has always chosen roles that call for collaboration and communication to bring the best out in people and projects to completion.  Abigail passionately believes that empowering educators to work together as part of a safeguarding team will lead to better outcomes for children and young people. 

As part of the SSL training team her role focuses mainly on delivering virtual training. 

Abigail lives near the Jurassic Coast and enjoys long walks and caring for her jungle of houseplants.  

Carol Stephenson

Carol has spent her entire career teaching in Bradford primary schools. Most recently she was Head Teacher of a large, outstanding, multi-academy trust, inner-city
school where she gained Local Leaders of Education (LLE) status.

Carol is a highly experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead and safeguarding Governor, with an extensive range of expertise, skills and knowledge. It was through this depth of experience that she became a dedicated representative of Bradford Children’s Safeguarding Board. In June 2019, Carol was awarded a Bradford Safeguarding Champions lifetime achievement award 2019 for her continued work in safeguarding the children of Bradford.

Carol is in-house trained and is NSPCC certified to deliver Child Protection and Safeguarding training.

In her spare time, Carol enjoys working on her allotment.