Adam Walthaus

Safeguarding and Central Education Lead, Vanguard Learning Trust

Adam is the Safeguarding and Central Education Lead of the Vanguard Learning Trust, consisting of six schools in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Prior to this, Adam was a deputy headteacher and DSL of a new school in West London, leading on student behaviour and pastoral care. Adam's commitment to safeguarding has an international dimension, having spent part of his career teaching and serving on the board of a national helpline in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Adam has just started a professional doctorate (EdD) at the University of Derby, building on research from his master’s dissertation, which seeks to evaluate the working relationship between schools and children’s social care. His doctoral work aims to expand these findings and propose more comprehensive and integrated support structures, which will ultimately help to bridge the gap between the two sectors. Adam is also a member of Hillingdon’s Education Safeguarding Subgroup, where he collaborates with professionals from the local authority and other schools/trusts to share best practice and strengthen safeguarding efforts across the borough.

1 Workshop series two

Botheredness and belonging: A strategic approach to emotionally based school avoidance

Too many children and young people are not accessing the education they deserve, or the experience of belonging to a community, because of emotional barriers to school. There is no simple answer to this complex challenge, but trusts like The Howard Partnership Trust, are developing new strategies to address this over time through their culture and systems. In this workshop, Jonathan and Viv will draw upon their deep experience of working with children who avoid school for emotional reasons. They will consider how organisations can communicate that the adults are 'bothered', and how they can support children's ability to connect and feel a sense of belonging. They will also invite participants to share their experiences and insights into what's happening in this arena in their own trusts.

1 Workshop series two

Skill or will? Building strong safeguarding in small trusts

This discussion-led workshop explores the importance of building of strong relationships within schools, with governors and trustees, and wider networks to develop safeguarding capacity in small trusts. Our panellists will consider the challenges and opportunities of leading safeguarding in their growing trusts of six schools, including how to work smarter not harder to reduce risk and create a single shared safeguarding culture that holds space for the things that matter most.