Safeguarding and Child Protection at CELC

March Safeguarding Newsletter

Newsletter archive

February 2024


We recognise that safeguarding and child protection is an essential part of our duty of care to all students and all staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn. We understand that safeguarding, child protection and promoting the welfare of all children is everyone’s responsibility and everyone has a role to play in protecting children. We recognise that our school is part of a wider safeguarding system for children and work closely with other agencies to promote the welfare of children. We maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ and will consider the wishes of, and always, what is in the best interests of each child.

Our hope is to be able to support every member of our school community. Please see below for links to information, advice and guidance.

Under the Education Act 2002 (Section 175), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Parents/carers should know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information that gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

The staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer, and where possible, seek their consent to a referral to Social Care. This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm. Schools will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the designated person for safeguarding (child protection) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.

Read the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Reporting a concern

If you are worried about your own child, another young person or if you want to discuss any other concerns, please speak to your child’s Pastoral Manager or the strategic DSL (details below).

Name Email Telephone

Zoe Johal – Strategic DSL

zoe.johal@coventry.gov.uk

024 7678 7832

Cathy Warner- DSL KS3

cathy.warner@coventry.gov.uk

024 7678 7832

Kerrie McKittrick – DSL KS4

kerrie.mckittrick@coventry.gov.uk

024 7678 7951

Catherine Osborne- DSL KS4

catherine.osborne@coventry.gov.uk

024 7678 7951

Named Management Committee member for Safeguarding

Phil Healy

 

Chair of Management Committee:

Phil Healy

 

Safeguarding from sexual harassment and sexual violence

In order to address sexual harassment and violence in schools, even if there are not specific reports of it happening, the assumption is always that sexual harassment and online sexual abuse are happening in school and therefore we have put in place a whole-school approach to address them.

This includes:

  • A carefully sequenced RSHE curriculum, based on the Department for Education’s (DfE's) statutory guidance, that specifically includes sexual harassment and sexual violence, including online. This includes time for open discussion of topics that children and young people tell us they find particularly difficult, such as consent and the sending of ‘nudes’
  • High-quality training for teachers delivering RSHE.
  • Routine record-keeping and analysis of sexual harassment and sexual violence, including online, to identify patterns and intervene early to prevent abuse.
  • A behavioural approach, including sanctions when appropriate, to reinforce a culture where sexual harassment and online sexual abuse are not tolerated.
  • Working closely with professionals in the area so we can access the range of support available to children and young people who are victims or who perpetrate harmful sexual behaviour.
  • Support for designated safeguarding leads (DSLs).

Training to ensure that all staff (and management committee members, where relevant) are able to:

  • Better understand the definitions of sexual harassment and sexual violence, including online sexual abuse.
  • Identify early signs of peer-on-peer sexual abuse.
  • Consistently uphold standards in their responses to sexual harassment and online sexual abuse.

Coventry ELC takes its responsibilities to safeguard and support students around these issues very seriously. The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and the Behaviour policy and addendum makes clear that no form of sexual harassment, bullying or violence will be tolerated. Victims and perpetrators will receive a comprehensive response.

If any young person or parent/carer wants to raise a concern about any incident in school or out of school, then the school will work closely with the victim and the parents and ensure the relevant agencies, such as the police and social care are involved as appropriate. Please contact one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads at the school if you have any concerns about young people.

New dedicated NSPCC helpline (0800 136 663).

The new helpline will provide both children and adults who are potential victims of sexual abuse with the appropriate support and advice. This includes how to contact the police and report crimes if they wish. The helpline will also provide support to parents and professionals.

There is further helpful information on the NSPCC website.

Information for parents / carers - PHSE @CELC

Parental controls and security

Students’ safety is our first priority and everyone’s responsibility. Follow these guidelines to help keep young people safe online

Experts at Virgin Media have launched handy tools to help parents of web-ready kids stay ahead of the curve, including ‘Switched on Families’ and Internet Matters’. Read more information - Parental Controls and Security

Internet Safety Workshops

Useful resources for students

Useful resources for parents/carers

Helplines

Talking things through usually helps! These lines are available if you need to talk to someone or if you feel at risk in any way.

  • Papyrus: Thinking about suicide, please call 0800 068 4141 or TEXT 07786 209697
  • Bullying UK: 0808 800 2222
  • Child Line: Talk to a child line counsellor, no problem too big or small! 0800 1111
  • Samaritans: Someone to listen 24/7 free of charge. 116 123 or TEXT 07725 909090
  • Compass: Support and advice for young people using substances. 0800 121 4043
  • Coventry CAB: Info/advice on issues facing young people. 02476 252066
  • NSPCC: If you feel you or someone you know is a victim of abuse. 0808 800 5000
  • Stonewall: Support for anyone around issues of sexuality. 0800 0505 2020
  • Winston’s Wish: Helpline to support young people with the death of a loved one. 08088 020 021

Apps

These free apps mean you can access support wherever you are.

  • Stressheads: Support to lower our stress levels.
  • Stay Alive: Support to those who may experience suicidal thoughts/feelings.
  • Self Help Anxiety Management (Samapp): Support and techniques to help manage anxiety and panic.
  • Moodometer: Created by the NHS. Allows you to track your moods and what has influenced it. Also provides ways to lift your mood.
  • Calm Harm: Activities to assist in the management of self-harm.
  • Grief support for young people: Information about grief, bereavement and the feelings we may experience when we lose a loved one.
  • Insight Timer: A large collection of free guided exercises to help relieve stress, improve relaxation and wellbeing.
  • Calm: A large collection of exercises designed to calm us down.