Our role is to continue and build upon the statutory LADO function for the whole of the children’s workforce and support education settings (early years settings, childminders, schools, and colleges) in Kent who work with children aged 0-18 to meet their safeguarding responsibilities and respond to safeguarding concerns.

Our team is made up of experienced social work and education professionals who have a thorough understanding of key local and national legislation and statutory guidance related to safeguarding and education safeguarding practice.

We provide a variety of different types of support to education settings in Kent, this includes:

• undertaking the LADO statutory function; primarily this involves managing the process when an allegation is made against a member of the children’s workforce, not just education specific, in Kent
• advice for education settings on how they can meet their safeguarding responsibilities, including online safety specific advice, via an enquiries service. This does not include queries relating to individual children; in these cases, a request for support should be submitted to the Front Door Service
• up-to-date exemplar Child Protection policy and Acceptable Use Policy for education providers to adapt
• support for education settings in times of crisis and unexpected critical incidents, for example following the unexpected death of a child who attends the setting
• a termly newsletter for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) in education settings
• termly Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) ‘catch up’ meetings to share local information and guidance
• targeted outreach work and subsidised support for education settings following critical safeguarding needs.

The service can also be commissioned to provide a range of high-quality training and other safeguarding support products for DSLs and staff within the children’s workforce, including safeguarding reviews which promote best practice and empower education settings to ensure their learners are as safe as they can be. To see a comprehensive list of the training and other services we can be commissioned to provide, please see our Training and other services menu.

If your concern relates to the welfare of a child: Please contact the Front Door Service via the Kent Integrated Children's Services Portal.

If you need to make a referral to the LADO regarding an allegation against a member of staff: Please complete a LADO referral via the Kent Integrated Children's Services Portal.

If you need clarification on whether to make a LADO referral, need general education safeguarding or online safety advice, or would like to enquire about training or other safeguarding products: Please use the LESAS enquiry form.

Please view the LESAS Acces to Support Flowchart (PDF, 122.9 KB)