Safeguarding FAQs: Ask the Experts

Ahead of our Annual Virtual Safeguarding Conference, we’re bringing together our panel of expert speakers to answer your questions on the safeguarding challenges that matter most to your setting.

From the phone ban and online safety to Ofsted expectations and the growing demands on DSLs, this special 45-minute Sofa Session will give you the opportunity to put your questions directly to the specialists delivering this year’s conference sessions.

We welcome questions on topics such as: 

• The growing DSL role: Building collaborative safeguarding cultures and supporting safeguarding leaders
• Looked-after and previously looked-after children: Working effectively with Virtual Schools to improve outcomes
• Ofsted and safeguarding audits: Using audit findings to strengthen practice and prepare for inspection
• Professional curiosity and family adversity: Understanding the wider picture when concerns arise
• Safeguarding children with SEND: Challenging assumptions, recognising diagnostic overshadowing and ensuring every child is heard
• MAT safeguarding and inspection readiness: Strengthening trust-wide oversight, assurance and accountability
• Phone bans and online safety: Protecting children with SEND from online harms beyond restrictions alone
• EYFS safeguarding: Understanding key requirements and identifying gaps in school-based provision
• Governance and safeguarding: Strengthening governors’ oversight, challenge and strategic leadership
• DSL wellbeing and supervision: Ensuring safeguarding leaders receive the support they need

Let us introduce you to our panel of professional speakers

Kate Massey 

Kate Massey is Head of Safeguarding with over 16 years’ experience in education, including 10 years in pastoral care and 7 years as a Designated Safeguarding Lead. She has led safeguarding across a large secondary school within a MAT, developing robust processes and providing strategic oversight. A qualified SENDCo with expertise in professional curiosity, multi-agency working, and safeguarding governance, she is recognised for her supportive yet solutions-focused approach. Kate has successfully guided schools through Ofsted inspections and is passionate about empowering them to strengthen child protection practices. Outside of work, she enjoys time with family and friends over good food.

Sarah Cook 

Sarah has thirteen years of experience in safeguarding in education, culminating in the role of Head of Safeguarding for a successful Multi Academy Trust. Running a multi-disciplinary team and working with DSLs across primary and secondary academies she enjoyed offering support, advice and challenge to colleagues to develop safeguarding practice across the Trust. Sarah is passionate about supporting DSLs and making their incredibly difficult role easier to navigate by offering engaging training, a supportive approach, and clear recommendations and advice. Outside of work she is a voracious reader and enjoys swimming and cooking.

Rik Chilvers 

Rik is a Safeguarding Consultant and the SEND Lead at Judicium. With experience of primary and secondary education, he brings to the team a detailed understanding of the cross-cutting nature of SEND and safeguarding, effective partnership working and management of resources.

While working as a primary school teacher, Rik completed a master’s degree in psychology of education. He then moved into secondary schools where he worked as a SENDCO, Senior Mental Health Lead and an Assistant Principal. Rik has played a central role in safeguarding and pastoral teams, championing a holistic approach to supporting children and their families. He developed whole-school policies and systems, led on best practice and has overseen systemic change including establishing a SEND department in a new secondary academy.