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Safeguarding

EKC Ashford College is committed to safeguarding all of our students. We all want College to be a safe and secure place for everyone to work and learn together.

Learn more about our safeguarding practices.

Safeguarding is about our legal duty and moral obligation to ensure that the welfare of all young people and all vulnerable adults is promoted. It means that all staff are trained to provide help as soon as possible, always act in the best interest of the young person and know about systems to make referrals. 

In relation to young people and vulnerable adults, safeguarding means:

  • Protection from harm
  • Preventing impairment of young people’s health or development
  • Making sure that the environment is safe and provides effective care
  • Taking action to make sure that the best outcomes can be achieved

Safeguarding action may be needed to protect young people and vulnerable adults from any forms of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse or emotional abuse. A fuller list can be found in “Working Together to Safeguard Children” (DfE latest update September 2016).


Safeguarding is not just about protecting young people and vulnerable adults from deliberate harm, neglect and failure to act. It relates to broader aspects of care and education including:

  • Learners’ health and safety and wellbeing including their mental health
  • Meeting the needs of learners who have special educational needs and/or disabilities
  • The use of reasonable force
  • Meeting the needs of learners with medical conditions
  • Providing first aid
  • Educational visits
  • Intimate care and emotional wellbeing
  • Online safety and associated issues
  • Appropriate arrangements to ensure learners’ security, taking into account the local context

What do I do if I or someone I know has a concern about Safeguarding?

Tell someone. Any student or visitor can approach any member of staff anytime about safeguarding and they will listen to you sensitively and act upon what you say.

The College has procedures in place to investigate and deal with any safeguarding concerns and we take these very seriously.

If you have concerns about your wellbeing or that of others, please share them with a member of staff on the list, your personal tutor, any tutor or any member of staff.

How can I contact someone?

You can contact a Safeguarding Officer by calling 01843 605005 or emailing safeguarding.ashford@ekcgroup.ac.uk

Safeguarding Contacts

  • Susan Bonett (Principal of EKC Ashford College)
  • Joanna Brown (Assistant Principal)
  • Emma Steward (Head of Inclusive Learning and Student Support)
  • Dawn Tyas (Student Progression Mentor)
  • Trudie Heathcote (Student Progression Mentor)
  • Cameron Bramwell (Student Progression Mentor)
  • Daniel Habte (Student Progression Mentor)

We’re part of six community-based colleges

Our mission is to play a leading role for East Kent in developing the economic and social prosperity of the diverse communities we serve.

We’re part of six community-based colleges

Our mission is to play a leading role for East Kent in developing the economic and social prosperity of the diverse communities we serve.