Education and Multi-agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MASA)

Representation of Education within the Local Safeguarding Arrangements

We know that the role of education is vital in keeping our children and families safe and we wanted to provide you with an update about how this is being recognised in Norfolk. Revisions made to 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' in 2023 expect that safeguarding partners locally will name schools and colleges as relevant agencies. Locally, partnership work between a group of education leaders from across phases, the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) Business Unit and the Education Safeguarding Team has been happening since the beginning of the Summer Term 2024 to try to realise this aim.  Initially, we looked at how to ensure the voice of education is represented in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements by building on feedback from DSL networks.

As a result, a small group of school leaders has agreed to represent their sectors within the local safeguarding partnership arrangements to find a way making sure the voices and opinions are represented when the Partnership is making strategic safeguarding decisions. Your NSCP MASA Education Representatives are:

	Name	Sector Representative
	Amanda Fewkes Headteacher Fen Rivers	Norfolk Association of Special Schools Headteachers (NASSH)
	Helen Richardson-Hulme Assistant Principal Student Services City College Norwich	Further Education Sector
	Jessica Balado Headteacher Thurlton Primary	Norfolk School Leaders' Association & Primary Sector
	Jon Ford Principal Open Academy	Secondary Sector
	Nichola Stewart Headteacher Suffield Park Infant and Nursery	Primary Sector
	Abigail McGarry	NSCP Business Unit
	Kelly Waters Senior Safeguarding Adviser	Education Safeguarding Team - Children's Services

This is as you will realise, a complex challenge however we are convinced that with the help of education settings across the County we can improve communication to ensure the voice of education is represented within Norfolk's Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements (MASA) as the fourth safeguarding partner. In order to do this we will find ways to:

• Communicate effectively with DSLs to gather their views on key topics and share representative views of the education sector to support decision-making.
• Raise the profile of the work of the NSCP with all schools and colleges by providing key updates from the NSCP to education settings via existing networks and forums and seeking settings' views on relevant safeguarding issues as required.
• Identify and discuss strategic issues being raised by educational establishments and, where required, make suitable recommendations to the Partnership Group for action.
• Feedback to the Delegated Safeguarding Partners (Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Constabulary and Norfolk & Waveney Integrated Care Board) and/or the NSCP Partnership Group on the implications of decisions and policy changes relating to safeguarding children in and out of education establishments.

Our attendance at NSCP Partnership meetings and our connection with you as school leaders and DSLs will ensure that the voice of education informs strategic thinking in response to local need and the changing national landscape. We will provide regular updates to you as this work progresses but if you have any questions in the interim, please contact your sector representative or Kelly Waters, Senior Safeguarding Adviser.