IF YOU HAVE A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, PLEASE FIND THESE CONTACT NUMBERS TO USE AS BELOW:
ESCC Single Point of Advice (SPOA)
Childline –08001111
NSPCC – 0808800 5000
BEXHILL ACADEMY SAFEGUARDING : TERM TIME INFORMATION
Please feel free to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mrs Holter) or the Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@bexhillacademy.org
Bexhill Academy recognises its legal duty to safeguard and protect students from abuse as defined in the Children Act 2004 and section 175of the Education Act2002. The overall intention and purpose behind the school’s safeguarding policy is underpinned by the fundamental principle of the 1989Children Act:
‘the welfare of the child is the paramount concern’
Our Academy takes seriously its responsibilities to protect and safeguard the interests of all children. We recognise that effective child protection requires sound procedures, good inter-agency co-operation and a workforce that is competent and confident in responding to child protection situations. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
The Academy has updated its Safeguarding and Child Protection policy (Sept 2022) in line with the updated Keeping Children Safe in Education2022. This policy is available in the policies section of the website. The key changes included in KCSIE 2022 include:
1. Whole school approach to safeguarding
2. Peer-on-peer Abuse now referred to as Child on Child
3. Low level Staff Concerns
4. Time constraints added to the transfer of pupil data
5. The need for pupils to have an ‘appropriate adult’ during police investigations
6. All governors to receive safeguarding training
7. Prevent update
8. Online Checks for new staff
CEOP have developed a new website for teenagers.
The website offers advice articles and signposts clear ways young people can access help and support across 7 key categories:
1.Relationships
2.Socialising online
3.Nudes
4.Sex and sexual content online
5.Sexual abuse
6.Support
7. Online safety
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Child Online Safety: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media
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This booklet is written for parents whose children are being sexually exploited by an individual or group of adults outside of the family unit.
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Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online?
Information for Parents/Carers on County Lines
Advise for young people worried about gangs and violence
Data Protection
Information for parents and carers
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Everyone has different eating habits. But if you’re worried about your child’s relationship with food or their body, it might be worth looking for some support.
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An NHS Sussex Partnership Service that work with children, young people and their families to treat eating disorders
Bexhill Academy demonstrates a clear commitment to the promotion of diversity and equality as highlighted in its Friendship and Anti-Bullying Policy and other policies and related documents.
Bexhill Academy aims to create a fair and just school community that promotes social inclusion, community cohesion and equality that respects diversity and which challenges and acts upon all forms of discrimination and inequality, including bullying.
Bexhill Academy works actively to celebrate difference and challenge racism, sexism, homophobia and all other forms of prejudice through assemblies, the curriculum and special projects throughout the year.
There is a continuous focus to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to achieve to the best of their ability regardless of their gender, ethnic or racial background,religion, ability or sexuality.
We actively promote the British Values of tolerance, fairness, respect for other faiths, and the rule of law and democracy. Our Bexhill Academy Values underpin our whole school behaviour and rewards system.
EXTREMISM AND PREVENT
Building the resilience of young people and the promotion of fundamental British values is at the heart of preventing radicalisation. Schools can do this by providing safe places in which children can discuss controversial issues, and be given the knowledge and confidence to challenge extremist beliefs and ideologies.
Schools play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in their care.
For an introduction to the Prevent duty and an explanation of how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised, HM Government has created an e-learning module following consultation with a range of individuals and organisations. The module has been created withthe feedback of teachers, local authority officials, community-based groups, youth workers and many others.
https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/
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Channel is a voluntary, confidential programme which operates throughout England and Wales to safeguard people identified as vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
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As a parent you may be worried about how extremism and radicalisation might affect your child. We have put together this leaflet to help you understand more about extremism and radicalisation, and how you can deal with these issues.
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Bexhill Academy is committed to providing a secure environment for pupils, where children feel safe and are kept safe. All adults at Bexhill Academy recognise that safeguarding is everyone?s responsibility irrespective of the role they undertake or whether their role has direct contact or responsibility for children or not
It has been estimated that over 20,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK each year, and that 66,000 women in the UK are living with the consequences of FGM. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a growing cause of concern in schools.
FGM is child abuse and a form of violence against women and girls, and therefore it is dealt with as part of existing child and adult safeguarding/protection structures, policies and procedures. It is illegal in the UK to subject a child to female genital mutilation (FGM) or to take a child abroad to undergo the procedure – Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. Despite the harm it causes, FGM practising communities consider it normal to protect their cultural identity. The age at which girls are subject to FGM varies greatly from shortly after birth to any time up to adulthood. The average age is 10 to 12 years.
At Bexhill Academy, our staff are trained in dealing with FGM and are alerted to the following key indicators:
Any female child born to a woman or has a sister who has been subjected to FGM will be considered to be at risk, as much as other female children in the extended family. Any information or concern that a child is at risk of FGM will result in a child protection referral to Children’s Social Care.
The new mandatory reporting duty for FGM under the Serious Crime Act 2015, requires teachers in England and Wales to report known cases of FGM in under 18-year-olds to the police. Guidelines on mandatory reporting can be found here.
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Helpful information and advice. Information required in all cases and Support Agencies.
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Find out what online harm is and how you can effectively support your child
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A charity working directly with children and their families to enable recovery following sexual abuse using technology. They have produced a new guide for parents aimes at reducing online sexual harm
We have a dedicated page for Mental Health and Emotional Well being
Please see http://www.bexhillacademy.org/about/mental-health-and-emotional-well-being
This year’s Safer Internet Dayis fast approaching. With a title of ‘All Fun and Games? Exploring Respect andRelationships Online’, the 2022 event (8th Feb) empowers young people to createa better digital world by challenging them to play a part in fosteringsupportive relationships and more respectful communities online.
Encouraging good digitalcitizenship and making the online landscape a less dangerous place for youngpeople are fundamental in our online curriculum and we will be delivering PHSElessons to all year groups looking at topics such as: spotting fraud online,online gaming and addiction, cybercrime, and online grooming.
CEOP have launched a newwebsite for teenagers.
The website offers advicearticles and signposts clear ways young people can access help and supportacross 7 key categories:
1.Relationships
2.Socialising online
3.Nudes
4.Sex and sexual content online
5.Sexual abuse
6.Support
7. Online safety
Ultimate Guide to TikTok for parents and TikTok app safety
Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok(Commonsense Media)https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-tiktok
TikTok app safety – What parents need to know (Internet Matters)https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/esafety-news/tik-tok-app-safety-what-parents-need-to-know/
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This is a link to the BBC Own It App. This app will provide a helping hand to your child when they receive their first smartphone, supporting their digital wellbeing, showing them how to make smarter and better informed choices and helping them grow into confident, positive and happy digital citizen
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We would like to support parents and carers to have a better understanding of the social media apps that are popular at the moment and how to have conversations with your children so they understand how to stay safe online.
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Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online?
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Updated guides for parents/carers, including Snap Chat, Tik Tok and Squid Games
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A resource to provide useful instructions on how to set parent controls on electronic devices, including gaming systems, smartphones, tablets and smart TV’s
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A not-for-profit organisation, owned by the police
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Childline has launched Report Remove, a service that allows children and young people under 18 to report and get removed from the internet a nude image or video of themselves that might have been shared online. The webpage includes links to services and information offering emotional and safeguarding support
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A website designed for parents/carers regarding up to date social media information and support
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The world's first tool to help children and young people get naked images of themselves removed from the internet
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Provides advice to children and parents about keeping children safe online
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Useful websites to get up to date information and advice if you have concerns regarding a young person
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Frequently asked questions regarding the Law and Offensive Weapons
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An online child sexual abuse and exploitation awareness learning programme for parents and carers
This information, produced by Sussex Police, is the latest guidance in relation to various social media platforms to make them safe for young people.
Teaching Road Safety: A Guide for Parents
Every year, private tutors help children catch up with missed work or address area they are struggling in, or with extra-curricular activities. Lockdown has led to major growth in this area, especially online, and this is expected to continue with further bubble and school closures. Please see the link which provides information and advice for parents/carers if they wish to recruit a tutor
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A list of helplines to support young people and their families during a time of crisis
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Introduction Bexhill Academy recognises its legal duty to safeguard and protect students from abuse as defined in the Children Act 2004 and section 175 of the Education Act 2002. The overall intention and purpose behind the academy’s safeguarding policy is underpinned by the fundamental principle of the 1989 Children Act:
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STAY AT HOME: GUIDANCE FOR GYPSY, TRAVELLER AND LIVEABOARD BOATER HOUSEHOLDS WITH POSSIBLE OR CONFIRMED CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFECTION
Bexhill Academy is participating in Safer Internet Day Feb 2021. This is a global annual event and supports the academy’s wider Online Safety education programme. Once the event finishes, the materials will remain on our website as they contain many useful references and contacts for our students and parents/carers.
The theme for February 2021 is “An internet we trust: exploring reliability in the online world”.
The internet has an amazing range of information and opportunities online, but how do we separate fact from fiction? Dueto the national school closures because of the Covid pandemic, and the increased use of technology to support remote home learning, the Academy is increasingly aware of the need to support students, parents and carers to use the internet safely.
The Academy has regularly sent parents and carers information via the academy newsletter to support this (copies available on the website).
Further information and advice for parents/carers can be found in the parent/carer Information and support section on our website. In addition, further information is available in the Covid 19 section on the website, including advice on supporting your child to keep safe online at home. This is a key focus in the updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020.
A Guide for Parents/Carers on self harm and suicide
A resource that helps and advises young people who may find themselves in a situation where they (or a friend) have put a sexting image or video online and have lost control over that content and who it’s being shared with
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A resource that helps and advises young people who may find themselves in a situation where they (or a friend) have put a sexting image or video online and have lost control over that content and who it’s being shared with
Parents seeking health support and advice for their student can contact the School Health Team on a dedicated line on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 and 3pm: 03001234062
Our Academy participates in an operation that runs jointly with Sussex Police called Operation Encompass.
Operation Encompass has been designed to provide early reporting to schools and colleges of any domestic abuse incidents that occur in which a child was present, ordinarily resides at the incident location or with an involved party. We know that children can be significantly affected through witnessing or being exposed to domestic abuse and this operation will allow us to better support our students and their families.
Nominated members of staff at the academy regularly liaise with the police, including our Safeguarding Team. They will be able to use information that has been shared with them, in confidence,to ensure that the right support is available should it be required by a child and/or their family.
We are keen to offer the best support available to our students and we believe this is going to be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
If you have any concerns or questions then please contact the Safeguarding Team and we will be happy to discuss this further
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Contact information for families and individuals experiencing domestic abuse
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An Information and Support page, run by Women’s Aid, for young people who have experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse
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Introduction: What do children need? We know the answer from our own childhoods. First and foremost, children need a safe and secure home, free of violence, and parents that love and protect them. They need to have a sense of routine and stability, so that when things go wrong in the outside world, home is a place of comfort, help and support.
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UK SAYS NO MORE has developed a specific toolkit written by young people and designed to help parents speak to teenagers about healthy relationships and topics such as sex, consent and abuse.
All schools have safeguarding duties under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 in respect of their students, and as part of this should investigate any unexplained absences and gives due regard to this responsibility and the attendance policy is written in accordance with “Children Missing Education:Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities” (January 2015)
The academy collaborates closely with the education welfare service (ESBAS), other schools and local social services to ensure that children do not go missing from education: no child of compulsory school age is removed from the school roll at the Academy without the authorisation of the designated safeguarding lead and without confirmation from the school the student is joining or without the academy notifying the local authority/ESBAS.
Nationally, students with school attendance average of 90% or less are considered persistently absent and therefore at risk of becoming NEET or being the victim of abuse or exploitation. As such, the Academy can refer students with an average attendance of less than 90% to ESBAS. ESBAS and the academy will work collaboratively with families who have children who are at risk of becoming persistently absent in order to improve the attendance of their children.
Provides information, advice, guidance and training for both GRT families and professionals. The website offers resources and positively promotes an understanding of the GRT community with a focus on education.
https://thestoppingplace.eastsussex.gov.uk/
