Safeguarding

If you are concerned about a child, young person or a member of staff, please ask to speak to a member of the School’s Safeguarding Team.

“The school may share information regarding your family circumstances with the Local Authority Children’s Services if there are safeguarding concerns or with the Early Help Service if there are issues which may affect your child’s welfare or happiness.”

 

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr R Kenyon

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:

Mrs L Hopley

Miss M Wright

Mrs W Richards

Miss B Scoltock

Mrs S Dorofte

Please click the links below to read our Safeguarding policies

Safeguarding and child protection policy

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education–2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation Encompass is a partnership between police and schools, a school can only join if the local police force has already joined Operation Encompass. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the principles of Operation Encompass is  that all incidents of domestic abuse are shared with schools, not just those where an offence can be identified.

Operation Encompass is very simple and easy to implement within a school.

 

 

West Midlands Safeguarding Children Group (procedures.org.uk)

 

Click the link to see the NSPCC Speak Out, Stay Safe Assembly featuring Any & Dec – https://youtu.be/qm0kccbZpYY

Childline is a free 24-hour counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday in the United Kingdom provided by the NSPCC. Childline deals with any issue which causes distress or concern, common issues dealt with include child abuse, bullying, mental illness parental separation or divorce, pregnancy, substance misuse, neglect and psychological abuse.

 

Childline is yours – a free, private and confidential service where you can be you. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, however you want to get in touch. They are there for you online, on the phone, anytime.

A childline counsellor:

• Will listen to you
• Knows it takes courage to contact us
• Is genuine, open and friendly
• Knows about the problems young people can face
• Wont judge you or put you down
• Isnt easily shocked
• Will let you take your time

6 Facts about Childline:

• They were started in1986 by Esther Rantzen
• They help any young person in the UK
• You can talk to them in English or Welsh
• They can help with anything – from abuse and bullying to exam stress and relationships
• Calling Childline is free and doesnt show up on the phone bill
• In 2006 they joined the NSPCC to help even more young people

 

CONTACTING CHILDLINE

You can talk to them about anything. No problem is too big or too small.

Call them on 0800 1111 or get in touch online. However you choose to contact them, you’re in control. It’s confidential and you don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to.

 

 

Attendance

Dear parents/carers,

RE: Attendance Reminder

We believe that we do amazing and important things every day in school and that every day and every minute matters – that’s why we work to ensure that every child has good attendance. We hope you can help us with this goal.

Children’s attendance at school is very important so they do not miss out on valuable learning as well as developing relationships with their peers. We closely monitor attendance across the year and we expect it to remain above 95%. Anyone with attendance below 90% is classed as a persistent absentee. As per local authority guidance we are unable to grant children with attendance below 90% authorised time out of school and therefore any child who has attendance below 90% will not have their absence authorised by school without medical evidence or proof of exceptional circumstances.

We work hard to support children and families who are experiencing problems with attending school. If you would like someone to talk to about attendance or need some additional help and advice around your own child’s attendance please contact Mrs. Richards  on 01691654832.

Children whose attendance goes into the Amber at risk zone (below 95%) or the Red danger zone (below 90%) will have their attendance monitored on a weekly basis and from Monday 20th October 2023 parents of children who have attendance in these zones will receive weekly messages via our app/text message to keep you up to date with your child’s attendance.

I am me!

i am ME! is a project designed to help communities, statutory agencies and any workplace setting, recognise and understand the impact of hate crime.

Hate crime is the term used to describe an incident or crime against someone based on a part of their identity. It can take the form of any criminal or non-criminal act such as graffiti, vandalism to a property, name calling, harassment, assault or online abuse using social media.

We will support you whether you have reported the crime or not. We understand that some people may not want to report hate crime to the police and that’s fine. However, if you did want to report you can do so in the following ways:
■ Direct reporting to the police (101 or 999 in emergencies).
■ Using a third party reporting centre – reporting to a third party organisation who will communicate with the police and other agencies on your behalf. Victim Support is a third party reporting centre.
■ Anonymous reporting on the internet via True Vision www.report-it.org.uk. Victim Support can also support you with this.

P2811 i am Me! leaflet_v3

 

County Lines 

County Lines exploitation is the process by which drug networks or gangs groom and   exploit children and young people to carry drugs and money from urban areas to suburban and rural areas, market and seaside towns, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”.  They will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons. County lines activity and the associated violence, drug dealing and exploitation has a devastating impact on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities.

The County Lines process is now understood as a driving causal factor in youth violence and, in some cases, includes elements child trafficking.  An updated report by the National Crime Agency (NCA) has found that the use of ‘county lines’ by gangs, is a growing issue, and is exploiting ever-younger victims.

Signs of County Lines or other forms of Criminal Exploitation

• Returning home late, staying out all night or going missing
• Being found in areas away from home
• Increasing drug use, or being found to have large amounts of drugs on them
• Being secretive about who they are talking to and where they are going
• Unexplained absences from school, college, training or work
• Unexplained money, phone(s), clothes or jewellery
• Having a second, old phone (i.e. not a smart phone)
• Increasingly disruptive or aggressive behaviour
• Using sexual, drug-related or violent language you wouldn’t expect them to know
• Coming home with injuries or looking particularly dishevelled
• Having hotel cards or keys to unknown places.

What to do if you suspect a child is involved in County Lines or other gang activity

Parents/carers should report your concerns to one of the Safeguarding Leads:

• Mr Kenyon
• Mrs Richards
• Miss Wright
• Miss Scoltock
• Mrs Dorofte

Alternatively, you can report your concerns directly to the Police or the MASH team.

Members of the public should report County Lines, or other related concerns, directly to the police or the MASH team. https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/drug-trafficking/county-lines

_County_Lines__preventing_vulnxploitation_A4_editable_poster1

 

PREVENT

As part of our ongoing safeguarding and child protection duties we are fully behind the government’s Prevent Strategy.  At the end of March 2015, the Counter Terrorism and Security Act received Royal Assent. The Act includes a new duty to Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. This duty applies to a range of organisations, including schools. Extremism and radicalisation are just another part of our school’s safeguarding duties. From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools. What is the Prevent Duty? There are four key duties for schools: Identify local risks, identify at risk students, work in partnership with other agencies and to keep children safe online, where much of the radicalisation takes place. The Prevent duty applies to all schools, whether state-funded or independent, as well as early years providers and children’s homes.

Guide for parents – Prevent Guide

What are my school’s responsibilities under the Prevent duty? – Educate Against Hate

 

 

 

OUR CONFIDENTIALITY PROMISE

Confidentiality means not telling anyone else about what you’ve said. So whatever you say will be just between you and Childline and you can feel safe talking to them, knowing that no one else will find out. But sometimes, if they are worried about your safety, they may need to get you help.

Online Safety

e-Safety is an important part of keeping children safe. We have extensive security measures in place , which are monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any e-Safety incidents are recorded and managed.  e-Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.

We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents/carers to ensure the e-Safety message is consistent. It is important that parents/carers speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online.

It’s essential to be realistic – banning the or technology will not work and it often makes a child less likely to report a problem. Education around safe use is essential.  Please take a look at these useful guides.  

Digital Lives

Social Media and Mental Health

TikTok 

Roblox