Safeguarding

e: cindy.pritchard@hants.gov.uk

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Cindy moved into the role of Lead Safeguarding Advisor (Education) in April 2025 having previously worked in primary, middle and secondary education in Hampshire, Dorset and Hertfordshire for nearly 25 years. She has been Headteacher in both the middle and primary sector, a senior leader in secondary schools and, prior to teaching, an SEN Officer in Hertfordshire. Most recently, Cindy was Headteacher at Whitchurch Primary School, leading the school through a successful SIAMS and Ofsted inspection.

Her main areas of work include:

• being lead professional in terms of safeguarding policy and practice, and initial point of contact for schools and colleges on a range of safeguarding matters
• acting as DSL for HIAS and working with colleagues across the Education and Inclusion Branch and wider children's partnership (e.g. LADO and DSLS) to support the welfare, protection and safeguarding of children and young people across Hampshire
• developing and providing high quality safeguarding training to LA colleagues, senior leaders, governors, staff, and DSLS in education settings across Hampshire
• developing resources, publications and updates to ensure professionals across education remain up to date on national and local safeguarding initiaties, including revisions to 'model' Child Protection and Safeguarding policies to reflect KCSIE changes
• undertaking Safeguarding Reviews and audits in schools, as commissioned by the County Education Manager or by schools and colleges themselves
• promoting the safeguarding curriculum in schools, providing support and advice and working with HIAS RSHE lead and other agencies such as Public Health
• taking the lead role for all aspects of Prevent across education, both strategic and operational.

Cindy works with schools and settings, as well as local authority colleagues, to support all aspects of their work aimed at strengthening and securing highly effective safeguarding practice and championing the educational experience and welfare needs of all children and young people.