Safeguarding

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads

To contact a safeguarding lead please email safeguarding@williamlaw.pdet.org.uk . This is an inbox that all the safeguarding leads have access to. Our safeguarding leads are listed below. 

Under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 (as amended), *the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015, and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended) to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.

The school will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Children Partnership Board’s procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection. 

Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Parents/carers should know that records of safeguarding concerns may be kept about their child. They should be informed that school staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies. 

Local procedures state that “Consent should always be sought from an adult with parental responsibility for the child/young person before passing information about them to Children’s Social Care, unless seeking consent would place the child at risk of significant harm or may lead to the loss of evidence for example destroying evidence of a crime or influencing a child about a disclosure made.” This includes allowing them to share information without consent, if it is not possible to gain consent, if it cannot be reasonably expected that a professional gains consent, or if to gain consent would place a child at risk.

Where there is a need to share special category personal data, the Data Protection Act 2018 contains ‘safeguarding of children and individuals at risk’ as a processing condition that allows professionals to share information.

In accordance with legislation and local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service. In all circumstances, the safety of the child will be the paramount concern.

Schools will contact Children’s 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 member of staff in the school with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.  

Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, any person who has care of a child “may….do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the Police investigate any concerns further.

*The word ‘school’ is used throughout but this would include all educational settings e.g. Academies, Pupil Referral Units, Further Education establishments and Independent schools.

As a school, if we have any concerns regarding the safeguarding of a child, we may make a referral to Peterborough Children Social Care. We shall inform parents that a referral to Children's Social Care is being made unless this will put the child or family at further risk of significant harm. 

A copy of our safeguarding policy can be found on our policies page. 

What to do if you have concerns about a child or family

Speak with one the safeguarding leads at school.

Reporting Lines within school

If you wish to report concerns yourself regarding a child to the local authority, please use the link provided. https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/concerned

What to do if you have concerns about an adult

When an allegation is made against a member of staff/volunteer or organisation using the school premises, it may be appropriate to refer this to the LADO for further guidance.

We have a policy on Safeguarding concerns or allegations made against adults which you can find on our Policies page. 

The LADO procedures are outlined on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Board Partnership website and are available using this link https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/children-board/professionals/lado/ . 

Local Authority Designated Officers can be contacted for allegations against all staff and volunteers via:

Email	LADO@peteborough.gov.uk
Telephone contacts	01733 864038 - Peterborough    Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 01733 864180 - Peterborough

Safeguarding themes and further information for parents / carers

County Lines

County lines is when criminals from larger cities expand their drug networks to other areas of the country – usually rural and suburban areas.

The crime is called county lines because dealers use dedicated mobile phone ‘lines’ to supply drugs. These criminals often exploit vulnerable adults to move and store drugs and money and regularly use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons.

County lines activity can still be exploitation even if it appears consensual. It can involve force and/or enticement-based methods of compliance and is often accompanied by violence or threats of violence.

Vulnerable adults who use drugs, are in financial difficulty or have mental health problems are at greatest risk of being exploited by county lines gangs. These adults are groomed through offers of ‘free’ drugs, causing them to accumulate debts which can only be paid off by participating in county lines activities (also known as debt bondage).

Sometimes drug dealers will take over the home of a vulnerable person – this is known as cuckooing.

Common signs that someone is being exploited include those listed below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and that warning signs will show themselves differently in each person. It is important to explore all concerns over someone’s behaviour and personal circumstances and to consider whether they could be signs of exploitation.

• Becoming more secretive, aggressive or violent

• Meeting with unfamiliar people

• Persistently going missing – someone may go missing from their home or local area when they are trafficking drugs along ‘deal lines’

• Leaving home without explanation or staying out unusually late

• Loss of interest in school, college or work and decline in performance

• Suspicion of physical assault or unexplained injuries – including ‘DIY injuries’, (knife and puncture wounds) which are signs of punishment for drug-related debts

• Using language relating to drug dealing, violence or gangs

• Carrying a weapon.

• Associating with a gang

• Becoming isolated from peers and social networks

• Having a friendship or relationship with someone who appears older or controlling

• Using drugs, especially if their drug use has increased

• Unexplained acquisition of money, drugs or mobile phones

County Lines Information Flyer

 

Domestic Abuse

Domestic violence (also called Domestic Abuse) is a crime and a major social problem affecting many families. In 90% of reported domestic violence incidents, children have either been present in the same or a nearby room.

What is domestic violence?

The Government, in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, defines domestic violence as ‘any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are, or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexual orientation’. These can mean:

• Putting the person down or making the victim feel bad about themselves
• Playing mind-games and making the person feel they are stupid or going mad
• Enforced isolation from family or friends
• Trying to keep the person from getting a job
• Making the person ask for money or withholding money
• Actual or threatened physical harm
• Making another person do sexual things against their will
• Making someone afraid by smashing things and destroying things
• Making or carrying out threats to hurt someone emotionally – threatening to take the children
• Run away or commit suicide

How does it affect children?

• Domestic violence may teach children to use violence
• Violence can affect children in serious and long-lasting ways
• Where there is domestic violence there is often child abuse
• Children will often blame themselves for domestic violence
• Alcohol misuse is very common contributing factor when violence occurs in families
• Pregnant women are more vulnerable to domestic violence.

Children, who witness, intervene or hear incidents are affected in many ways. What can be guaranteed is that children do hear, they do see and they are aware of abuse in the family. Children will learn how to behave from examples parents set for them. Domestic violence teaches children negative things about relationships and how to deal with people. For instance:

• It can teach them that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict
• They learn how to keep secrets
• They learn to mistrust those close to them and that children are responsible and to blame for violence, especially if violence erupts after an argument about the children

Many people find it difficult to understand why people remain in or return to abusive violent situations. A combination of fear, love, the risk of homelessness and financial issues can make it very difficult for partners with children to leave and some may not want to.

Effects upon children 

Children are affected in many ways by abuse, even after a short time. These effects include: feeling frightened, becoming withdrawn, bedwetting, running away, aggressiveness, behavioural difficulties, problems with school, poor concentration and emotional turmoil. The longer children are exposed to abuse, the more severe the effects on them are. These can include:

• A lack of respect for the non-violent parent
• Loss of self-confidence, which will affect their ability to form relationships in the future
• Being over-protective of a parent
• Loss of childhood
• Problems at school
• Running away

What can I do?

Domestic violence is a crime. Never hesitate to call the police who have specialist domestic violence officers trained to help children and put you in touch with other agencies who can help you with safety planning, housing issues, drug or alcohol problems or give details of solicitors who can assist you with the legal side of things. Cambridgeshire Police can be contacted on 101 (non-emergencies). In case of emergency, please dial 999.

If you are female and feel reluctant to speak to the police, we recommend you call Women’s Aid who is an independent charity run by women to help other women. You can speak to them in the strictest confidence about your problems and they can offer you practical and emotional support or help you find emergency refuge accommodation if you are escaping abuse. Peterborough Women’s Aid can be contacted on 01733 894455 (office Hours) or call 0808 2000 247 (Free phone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline). Website: www.peterboroughwomensaid.co.uk

Other Useful Links

If you are worried about domestic violence, discuss it with someone else. If you are violent and have children, you can seek help to stop what is happening. Listed below are some publications and organisations that can support you:

• National Domestic Violence Helpline – 24 hour free phone Tel: 0808 2000 247

• NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000, Textphone: 0800 056 0566 Parentline: 0808 800 2222 Childline: 0800 1111

• Counselling directory for Domestic Violence
• Reducing and Preventing Crime
• National Centre for Domestic Violence
• The Hideout
• Respect Not Fear app for iPhone/iPod/iPad – This App is about relationships, those you have with your boyfriend or girlfriend. It provides information, help and support in a fun, interactive and easy to use way.
• Victim Support
• National Stalking Helpline
• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership

How to help a friend experiencing Domestic Abuse

 

Early Help

Early help is providing the right children, young people and families with the right support, in the right place at the right time. We all believe that by supporting children and families earlier we can stop any problems they are facing from getting worse and help them to find the solutions that will make their lives better in the future.

We can do this by working together, building on children’s and families’ strengths, and developing their capacity to make positive changes for themselves.

The Early Help journey for families in Peterborough starts with an Early Help assessment. It is an impartial and honest assessment of strengths, opportunities and challenges that is undertaken with the family, and only ever with their permission. It should be completed when more than one unmet need would benefit from a multi-agency support approach.

The Early Help Assessment is normally initiated by a trusted professional with whom the family already have a relationship and with whom they are happy to share their concerns and worries. This might be a Learning Mentor, Student Support Officer or Family Worker at the child’s school or setting. Equally, it might be a Housing Officer or Health colleague. All professionals supporting families will have been provided with the opportunity to engage in training to ensure they are skilled and knowledgeable to work with the family.

For more information regarding Early Help please follow the link to Peterborough City Council’s Early Help page. https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/healthcare/early-help

Early Help Leaflet

 

Online Safety

Online Child Exploitation is a growing issue, highlighted even more in recent months during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The internet and social media has become so integral to our daily lives, as we socialise and work online. For children, the internet has become the new classroom and playground. Sadly there are people out there that take advantage of this.

The resources and information on this page aim to help you understand the way your children view the digital world. A world that, to them, is being more and more their reality.

It is important to remember that the child, is NEVER to blame and is the victim. Online groomers can be very persuasive and children should never be made to feel they did anything to encourage their exploitation. The best response an adult can provide a child who has been a victim of online exploitation is to comfort them, be supportive and help them address the issues they have encountered.

And of course, it is not just about when things go wrong. You can help your child to stay safe by creating an environment in which they feel able to speak openly about concerns they may have. You can do this my making good internet habits a part of your daily lives by limiting screen time, no devices at dinnertime/bedtime and by taking an active interest in the games that they are playing.

Online Gaming

Perpetrators are increasingly targeting children and young people via online gaming sites, pretending to be someone who they are not.  This can often lead to bullying, grooming and sexual exploitation. The Breck Foundation is a self-funding charity, raising awareness of playing safe whilst on the internet.

CEOP’s Thinkuknow has launched Band Runner, an interactive game for 8-10 year olds to help build their knowledge, confidence and skills to stay safe from risks they might encounter online. The game is hosted on the area for 8-10 year olds on the Thinkuknow website.  

Internet Matters Online Gaming – The Basics

Inappropriate Images / Sexting

There is no ‘usual’ stereotype, any young person could send a nude picture, even your child. Make sure they understand that it is illegal to send nudes, even of themselves. And if it happens, try to understand whether there is peer pressure or grooming involved.

Taking, making, sharing and possessing indecent images and pseudo-photographs (an image made by computer graphics, which appears to be a photograph) of people under 18 is illegal. It does not matter how old they look, looking at indecent images of under 18s is illegal.

The Home Office has published guidance to help young people understand the law on making and sharing indecent images of people under 18 years-old. There are also short films that demonstrate the serious harm that viewing indecent images of children can cause, including the Is She Legal? video.

Videos and Livestreams

Livestreaming is becoming a very popular way for young people to broadcast themselves on many different apps, to communicate with their friends or wider community. Just as their favourite celebrities and Vloggers do. Make sure your children understand the risks of livestreaming:-

• They cannot be edited.
• You cannot erase what people have already seen
• Personal information might be given away by things said during the stream, things shown on camera or even in the background.
• Livestreams can be recorded by others, who can then keep a copy even after the stream has ended or expired.

Find out more about livestreaming and staying safe

All about Apps

With children spending more and more time online over the last few months, there has been an explosion in popularity of certain apps and games. TikTok has soared in popularity in recent months, with many celebrities getting involved with dances and challenges. If your child is using the app, make sure you know the risks involved and how to change privacy settings to private.

NSPCC’s NetAware has lots of information on how to make your child’s social media secure and a detailed description of the most popular apps, sites and games. This printable guide from the Children’s Society also has a list of the most popular sites and apps.

Advice for Parents and Carers

As you would protect your child in the real world, you will want to make sure that they are safe whatever they are doing, like learning to cross the road, online.

Online safety skills are skills for life. If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe whilst doing so – particularly from those people who might seek them out to harm them.

Where to start?

• One of the easiest – and most effective – things you can do is simply talk to your child.
• Help your child think about who sees what they share, and compare it to what they would be happy to share offline. Explain how everything they share online – like user names, images and comments – builds up a picture of who they are.
• Agree on some ground rules together – which sites and apps can be used; when it is okay to use the internet; what parental controls will you use?
• Remember that you can use technical tools like parental controls and filters. Ensure that your child knows about privacy settings on social media apps.
• Safety starts with you. You can help your child by simply setting a good example online. It’s important to show them what safe sharing looks like.
• Innocent searches sometimes reveal not so innocent results. Parental controls can be used to block this upsetting or harmful content, control in-app purchases or manage how long your child spends online. And the good news is parental controls are really easy to set up.

Conversation Starters

“What’s your favorite game?  Can I play?”

“Can you show me your favorite TikTok dance/YouTube video?”

“Have you got online friends?  How do you know who they are?”

“What do you think is ok for a child your age to be going?” (So they feel involved in the decision making)

Showing an interest in your child’s online life will help them feel they are able to come to you with any concerns they may have.

NSPCC – Talking about online safety

Safer Internet – Talking about online safety

Useful Resources

NSPCC - www.nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety

The NSPCC have teamed up with 02 to provide excellent information and advice for parents, as well as a free online safety helpline. They have also produced an app/site, on which they have reviewed the most popular apps and websites young people are using; including age ratings and how easy it is to report a problem: www.net-aware.org.uk. Parents can also choose to sign up to the Net-aware newsletter, for up-to-date information via e-mail.

The NSPCC has a campaign called ‘Share Aware’ to help your child stay safe on social networks, apps and games. Their downloadable ‘A parents’ guide to being Share Aware’ is particular useful for parents of children aged 8-12, who are starting to do more online.

Think u know - www.ceopeducation.co.uk 

Think U Know is an education programme provided from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command. It has a range of useful information and advice for parents and carers about keeping their child safe online and advice if you are concerned about your child.

Internet Matters - www.internetmatters.org 

Internet Matters is a not-for-profit organisation working with online safety experts to provide advice and information for parents to keep their children safe online.

It has an excellent interactive tool which guides you step by step through setting up parental controls on all the different devices in your home, as well as video tutorials about specific topics of concern.

UK Safer Internet Centre - www.saferinternet.org.uk

UK Safer Internet Centre is a collaborative organisation which provides a wide variety of advice and guidance on online safety. Their website is predominantly aimed at professionals and schools, but their parent guides to technology and social media checklists are valuable resources to share with parents or link to on the school website: www.swgfl.org.uk/products-services/esafety/resources 

Childnet - www.childnet.com  

A partner organisation of UK Safer Internet Centre, Childnet has a wealth of resources, including; leaflets, conversation starters and online storybooks; ‘Digi-ducks Big Decision’ (storybook) is available to buy from this website, or can be downloaded for free.

Get Safe Online - www.getsafeonline.org 

Get Safe Online covers a lot of practical, technical information on protecting families and computers against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online.

CEOP - www.ceop.police.uk 

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) are a national policing organisation which specialises in investigating grooming and sexual abuse online. Their educational website: www.thinkuknow.co.uk is suitable for children aged 4-16 and has a specific section with advice for parents/carers.

Newsletters

• Online Safety Newsletter March 2024 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineOnline Safety Newsletter March 2024
• Online Safety Newsletter February 2024 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineOnline Safety Newsletter February 2024
• Online Safety Newsletter November 2023 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineOnline Safety Newsletter November 2023
• Online Safety Newsletter October 2023 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineOnline Safety Newsletter October 2023

 Documents

• Child Safety Online Guide for Parents and Carers download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineChild Safety Online Guide for Parents and Carers
• Cyber Flashing - Parent Fact Sheet download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineCyber Flashing - Parent Fact Sheet
• Gaming Advice for Pre-teens download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineGaming Advice for Pre-teens
• Gaming Avide for Pre-school Children download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineGaming Avide for Pre-school Children
• Guide to Snapchat download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineGuide to Snapchat
• Knowsley Parental Controls download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineKnowsley Parental Controls
• Online Safety Leaflet download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineOnline Safety Leaflet
• Online Safety Tips download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineOnline Safety Tips
• Parental Control Facebook download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineParental Control Facebook
• Parental Control Facebook Messenger Privacy and Security Settings download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineParental Control Facebook Messenger Privacy and Security Settings
• Parental Control Instagram download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineParental Control Instagram
• Parental Control TikTok Privacy and Safety Settings download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineParental Control TikTok Privacy and Safety Settings
• Parental Control WhatsApp download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineParental Control WhatsApp
• Safer Internet Day 2024 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineSafer Internet Day 2024

 

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass Safeguarding Statement

Our school is part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information about Domestic Abuse incidents with school PRIOR to the start of the next school day when they have been called to a domestic incident.

Once a Key Adult (DSL) has attended at an Operation Encompass briefing they will cascade the principles of the Operation Encompass to all DSL's.

Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school.

The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.

The Key Adult has also led training for all school staff and Governors and Operation Encompass, the prevalence of Domestic Abuse and the impact of this abuse on children.  We have also discussed how we can support our children following the Operation Encompass notification.  

We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non abusing adult at risk.

The Key Adult has used the Operation Encompass Toolkit to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.

 

Bullying

Anti-Bullying Leaflet