Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding the welfare of our pupils and to providing a safe environment with robust systems to ensure the safety and healthy development of all our pupils within the academy and on related academy trips and other activities.
To ensure we achieve our objective we have the highest expectations that all staff, governors and volunteers working in or on behalf of Sudell identify children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer abuse and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in Academy. The safeguarding policy provides a comprehensive guidance to all of our procedures and highlights key safeguarding issues, which include the Prevent strategy, cyber bullying, FGM and Child sexual exploitation.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is recognised as a form of child sexual abuse and has become a great concern in society. At Sudell we strive to support and educate our students about how to make positive choices and informed decisions in their relationships. It is imperative that each student understands the importance of protecting themselves from all potential forms of sexual exploitation and abuse.
At Sudell our SRE Curriculum plays an important role in helping our students gain an understanding of acceptable and unacceptable relationships and sexual behaviour. As a school, we want our DACA students and families to be able to turn to us and practitioners for help and support from abuse and exploitation.
E-safety
Cyberbullying is bullying through the use of communication technology like mobile phone text messages, social media apps, e-mails or websites. This can take many forms, for example:
• Sending threatening or abusive text/instant messages or e-mails, personally or anonymously.
• Making insulting comments about someone on website, social networking site (e.g. Facebook, Instagram and snapchat) or online (blog or YouTube).
• Making or sharing derogatory, inflammatory or embarrassing videos of someone via mobile phone or email such as (‘Happy Slapping’ videos or physical/verbal assaults).
Cyber bullying is a critical issue which can be harmful for the young person involved. It is important that parents and carers understand the way young people communicate with others, the potential risks and implications to online behaviour. It is vital that parents/carers and Sudell work together to safeguard our students, to educate them on the dangers that come with being online and be aware of the repercussions that come with being involved in cyber bullying directly or on the periphery.
Sexting
Sexting is when someone shares sexual, naked or semi-naked images or videos of themselves or others, or sends sexually explicit messages. They can be sent using mobiles, tablets, smartphones, laptops – any device that allows you to share media and messages. Most young people today spent a lot of time on the online world and are comfortable with sharing their entire lives online. Young people can see sexting and risk-free and harmless but there all different types of risks which can be associated with sexting.
At Sudell we believe that parent and child relationship is paramount to the safety of our students. Communication is the key and if you have any concerns about the safety of your child you should talk to someone about this.
Promoting British Values (Prevent Strategy)
Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. Prevent is 1 of the 4 elements of CONTEST, the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
From 1st July 2015 specified authorities, including 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 means we have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism whilst protecting children from extremist and violent views.
This duty is known as the prevent duty. Indicators of extreme behaviour includes some of the following:
• Verbal comments-praising ISIS or Jihad: praising extreme figure heads (Hitler); discussing other religions in a disparaging way
• Peer actions-refusing to work with others owing to their religion/beliefs
• Personal beliefs- extreme views on foreign policy; claims they should fight for their people abroad
• Communications- the use of social media to publicise extreme views; drawing inflammatory images (swastikas)
Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the prevent strategy.
British values include:
• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty and mutual respect
• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Protecting our young people from radicalisation has always been top of our agenda. The academy leadership team and Governing Body have robust strategies in place to protect our students and their families, and we are very happy to share these and discuss our approach with parents.
It is our responsibility to ensure that young people at Sudell are not influenced by radicalisation but develop a deep understanding of the key positive values in British society. The guidance in our Promoting British Values policy aims to actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values were first set out by the government in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2011.
The internet is a go to place for young people with questions about sex, bodies and relationships. Brook have a range of resources that professionals can access and signpost young people towards to ensure that they are getting the right information.
https://learn.brook.org.uk/
The Mix – Support service for young people with information and advice on sex and relationships.
Online dating and teens - Meeting and chatting to others online is a normal part of life for most teenagers, but using online dating services could put them at risk. Here, NCA-CEOP tells parents what they should know.
Online risks for LGBTQ+ young people
Sexting and sending nudes – including how to report a sexual image or video.
Advice to help you understand the risks and support a child if they've been sending, sharing or receiving nude images.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/sexting-sending-nudes/
Unsolicited nudes: advice for teens
Unsolicited nude image sharing is when people share unwanted nudes. Young people have told us that this can feel 'normal' because it happens a lot, but that definitely doesn't make it okay.
Our new article for teens includes advice on what they can do if they receive an unwanted nude.
Keep them safe: an interactive CSE (child sexual exploitation) learning tool developed by PACE for parents and professionals.
https://paceuk.info/training/keep-them-safe/
*What is a money mule scam? - Criminals are targeting young people through Snapchat and Instagram promising that they can make hundreds of pounds in minutes by becoming a money mule.
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/money-mules-what-are-they-and-could-you-fall-victim
Online gaming risks – Murder Games (Breck Bednar).
These three short films tackle the issues around online grooming and safety and are aimed at Key Stage 3 and 4 students. Teacher and student notes accompany the clips which are designed to sensitively generate discussion about the events that led to the death of Breck Bednar.
TikTok – Learn how to set privacy and safety settings on the TikTok social platform to help your child have a safer experience.
https://www.internetmatters.org/blog/2020/04/16/tik-tok-app-safety-what-parents-need-to-know/
Who knows more about the online world, parents or kids? Get the whole family together and take the O2 NSPCC Parents vs Kids quiz. You can play on an Amazon Echo, or on your mobile, desktop or tablet. See who knows the most about the online world, and learn a bit more about staying safe.
https://www.o2.co.uk/help/nspcc/parents-vs-kids
Ready for your child to have their first phone – read this first.
https://www.o2.co.uk/help/nspcc/my-childs-first-phone
NSPCC Net Aware -Look here for advice on social networks, apps and gaming. Really easy search facility with up to date info.
For practical advice on privacy settings, parental controls and more there is also an online safety Advice Line 0808 800 5002
Government publication.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online
Online family agreement template – have a family meeting, get some rules negotiated then document it on this handy sheet.
https://static-www.o2.co.uk/sites/default/files/2020-01/O2_NSPCC_Family_Agreement_Template_v4.pdf
Online safety advice broken down into age ranges.
https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/
Online safety advice from NSPCC
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
Internet Matters – A useful tool showing how to set parental controls across a range of devices and websites.
http://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/interactive-guide/
Parent Info – Expert information for parents about building their child’s resilience both online and off. Produced by NCA-CEOP and Parent Zone. This free service can be embedded on to your child’s school website www.parentinfo.org. and https://parentinfo.org/ for more help and advice for families in a digital world
Young people can report a concern about online grooming or sexual abuse to CEOP at www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/ and get support from a specialist Child Protection Advisor.
Guidance on how to capture and report intel/information for families and professionals.
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/capturing-intelligence
Video chat during isolation: new for parents and carers
Two new Parent Info articles look at some of the things parents and carers should think about to make sure their child's experience of video chat is safe and fun
Video chatting: a guide for parents and carers of primary school-age children
Video chatting: a guide for parents and carers of secondary school-age children
Lucy Faithful Foundation
The Parents Protect! website has plenty of information and resources on how to keep children safe from sexual abuse, including our family safety plan and SMART rules for - parents and carers to share with children and each other.
Their confidential Stop It Now! helpline is available to anyone with questions or concerns about child sexual abuse prevention, including parents and professionals – call 0808 1000 900 (9am-9pm Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm Friday).
Cerebra provides an internet safety guide for parents with children who have learning disabilities and Autism. This contains information around grooming and online criminality, as well as links to support around helping children think about what is, or is not ok in their digital relationships.
Learning Disabilities, Autism and Internet Safety - Cerebra
Guidance and research
Staying Safe Online (Stonewall and Childnet)
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020 draft guidance (DfE)
Age-appropriate design code of practice (ICO)
Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report 2019 (Ofcom)
If you have any concerns about a child's safety or you are a child and need advice please visit the links below:
Care Network Information, advice and guidance on a wide range of community services including the Safe Trader scheme. Contact: 01254 507255
Age UK
Wide range of support services, information, advice and guidance for people over 55. Contact: 01254 266620
Blackburn Food Bank
Food supplies to people in need. Contact: 01254 672756
Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service
Support, information advice and guidance for people who care for friends and family. Contact: 01254 688440
Child Action North West
Range of services to support children, young people and their families. Contact: 01254 244700
Lancashire Women
Range of support services for women designed around individual needs. Contact: 0300 3301354
Health and wellbeing advice
Range of services to support people to improve their health and wellbeing. re:fresh website Contact 01254 682 037
Prescription medication
If you need prescription medication, we advise you to contact your GP surgery or local pharmacy.
We are also working with local community groups and charities who are keen to provide support to residents in need in their neighbourhoods.
Council Tax
If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax, there is support available. Call 01254 585585 for help.
Follow Darwen - coronavirus in need! on Facebook for local support