Safeguarding and Inspection: A 'Deep Dive' into What Every Leader Needs to Know - Episode 2
Safeguarding and Inspection: A 'Deep Dive' into What Every Leader Needs to Know Episode 2 – Free Version
Welcome back to The Leadership Lens with me, Rachael Snowdon-Poole — headteacher, Trust leader, Trust safeguarding lead, and passionate advocate for making professional development more accessible and affordable for schools.
In this episode, we continue our safeguarding mini-series by unpacking what Ofsted actually mean when they talk about “effective safeguarding.”
We’ll explore:
• How inspectors begin forming a picture of your safeguarding culture before they even arrive
• What to expect in the pre-inspection phone call
• The key principles Ofsted look for: vigilance, transparency, persistence, and stakeholder voice
• Practical examples of how schools can embed safeguarding into everyday routines
• Why it’s okay (and even powerful) to show professional reflection when things haven’t gone perfectly
This episode is designed to help you feel more inspection-ready and confident in evidencing your safeguarding culture.
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If you’d like to go deeper and access the practical resources mentioned in this episode, join the premium version of The Leadership Lens podcast: 👉 Click here to unlock the premium podcast + resources Premium members get access to:
• A pre-inspection safeguarding checklist (documents and actions to review)
• A detailed breakdown of paragraph 367 of the Ofsted Handbook
• Sample inspector questions for the pre-inspection call
• Direct links to DfE guidance and a time-saving webinar on the Single Central Record
• Episode 1’s exclusive resources, including a fully worked safeguarding curriculum model for primary pupils and a 39-week safeguarding training plan for staff
Safeguarding isn’t about perfection — it’s about vigilance, transparency, and persistence.
Next time, in Episode 3, we’ll dive into the specific questions inspectors ask DSLs, staff, and pupils — and why they matter.