Safer Schools – Safeguarding Alert
Smart School Boy 9
Our online safeguarding team has received reports about someone who may be acting inappropriately online. This individual is potentially masquerading to be a child on social media in order to interact with children.
We have released a Safeguarding Alert our Safer Schools network to professionals, parents and carers providing further advice and information on what this is, the impact and risks and practical tips on protecting children and young people.
At Hillcrest Academy we are committed to safeguarding, and promoting the welfare and well -being of all of our pupils and adults. We recognise that some children may be especially vulnerable which can impact on other children either directly or indirectly. We always take a considered and sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our pupils and families.
Everyone working in our school has a responsibility to help keep children and young people safe by providing a safe environment for children and young people to learn and identifying children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in school.
The best advice that we can give any child, or adult, if they feel that they or someone else is unsafe is to TELL SOMEONE!
For all safeguarding issues or concerns please speak to the Designated Leaders for Safeguarding / Child Protection – Vicky Oddy, Sam Sharp, Aine Hildred, Karen Goody, Candy Evans and Laura Edwards.
Or if you are worried that a child is at risk of harm please contact Children’s Social Work Service on 0113 222 4403.
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact [email protected]
Downloads
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Guidance Leaflet – Staff
Quick Guide – Staff
Parents Guide to Safeguarding
Child Protection Information leaflet For Guests and Visitors
Visitors Guide to Safeguarding
Children Missing Education Referral Form
DV Notification Process
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Keeping Children Safe in Education – Translation
Professional Concerns Resolution Process
Social Media Guidance
Guidance for Safer Working Practice
Is your child safe online?
Useful Links for parents
Hub of Hope
NSPCC
Think u Know
Childline
Kidsmart
Childnet
Get Safe Online – Safeguarding Children
Leeds SCP
ParentZone
Childline – Remove a Nude Image Shared Online
This May Help
NSPCC – Virtual Reality Headsets
NSPCC – Roblox
WY Healthier Together – Mental Health
Our Safer Schools – Sextortion Rise of AI
INEQE – Add Everyone Whatsapp Group
SWGFL – Checklists
Hillcrest Academy are proud to be able to be part of the Safer Schools programme which provides a range of award-winning services that form our digital safeguarding ecosystem. These include a customised school app, educational resources, and both in-person and online training. This offers critical advice that is personalised for each member of a school community, with topics that include image sharing, social media, online bullying, safer gaming, and much more.
- Find advice on real issues facing families today, such as bullying, image sharing, mental health, consent and healthy relationships.
- Receive updates straight to your phone that will keep you informed on the latest online safeguarding news, threats, and advice.
- Get to grips with social media and all the various gaming platforms and find out about fake news, influencers, harmful content and more.
- Learn about the latest games, social media trends, apps, and websites that children and young people are visiting,
- Gain practical, useable advice that you can implement easily into your family life, including how to talk about the digital world and its risks, bringing your child’s online life off the devices and into the dinner table conversation.
Look out for coffee mornings where we will have a focus on the topics from Safer Schools.
The Underwear Rule
Simple conversations really can help keep your child safe, and that’s what we will help you do. We want to help parents and carers talk to their children about staying safe. The Underwear Rule is just one way that – together – we can prevent child abuse.
We teach our pupils the NSPCC’s Underwear Rule using the ‘PANTS’ acrostic.
PANTS stands for:
- Privates are private
- Always remember your body belongs to you
- No means no
- Talk about secrets that upset you
- Speak up, someone can help
Have a look at the poster to the right for more information.
How well do you know the rule?
Test your memory by hovering over the cards below to flip them and reveal the meaning.
is for...
P is for...
P rivates are private.
is for...
A is for...
A lways remember your body belongs to you.
is for...
N is for...
N o means no.
is for...
T is for...
T alk about secrets that upset you.
is for...
S is for...
S peak up, someone can help.Lets protect our girls
The Home Office has launched a campaign to raise awareness of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) called ‘Lets protect our girls’.
The campaign aims to educate communities about the long-term health consequences of FGM and it seeks to raise awareness that it is illegal and that it has to be signposted to the NSPCC FGM helpline for support, advice or also to report.
The campaign seeks to help prevent FGM by changing attitudes among affected communities through raising awareness of the negative long-term health consequences of FGM. The campaign also encourages communities to report via the NSPCC’s FGM helpline – 0800 028 3550
Look Again Campaign
We are supporting the ‘Look Again Campaign which is designed to remind us that males can be victims of CSE as well as females
Boys and young men are often overlooked as victims of child sexual exploitation. They are also less likely to report abuse or exploitation themselves, therefore we need to be aware of the signs and indicators of abuse that boys may exhibit.
The Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership are asking everyone to look beyond the behaviour and to question the reasons behind it.
Male victims of sexual exploitation are more likely to express trauma through anger, offending or aggression. As a consequence of this, many male victims are missed, because these types of behaviours may be seen as ‘typical’ in teenage boys.
We need to consider that males can be at risk of CSE as well as females and remind themselves of the signs and indicators.
Child sexual exploitation affects thousands of children and young people across the UK every year. Everyone working with children and young people, all have an important role to play in working together to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation to ensure that every child and young person in Leeds is protected from being at risk of, or experiencing sexual exploitation.
Further information can be found on the LSCP website: https://www.leedsscp.org.uk/children/cse
The dedicated and confidential NSPCC helpline – Report Abuse in Education can be reached on 0800 136 663 or by email at [email protected].
A guide to help parents and carers decide whether their child is ready to either stay at home or go out alone.
This guide provides practical tips and advice to help parents and carers decide what is best for their child when it comes to staying home alone or going out alone.
It covers some of the risks parents should consider before making a decision, such as how their child feels about the idea and who they should contact in an emergency.
There is also a checklist for parents and children to work through together to help them prepare for different types of scenarios. This includes questions about what to do if there is an accident at home or they are approached by a stranger outside.
