Safeguarding at Hartshill Academy
At Hartshill School, the safeguarding of our children is our highest priority. Please use the links and information to view school policies and guidance for parents in relation to safeguarding issues. The list below shows the safeguarding team within the school. You can also contact https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childrenandfamilies
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): TBC
Interim Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Miss K Wooldridge - Kate.Wooldridge@hartshillacademy.org.uk
Safeguarding Officer: Mrs A Hiatt - Alexandria.Hiatt@hartshillacademy.org.uk
Early Help Leader: Miss Laura Copson - Laura.Copson@hartshillacademy.org.uk
Pastoral Leader - Attendance: Mrs S Underwood - Samantha.Underwood@hartshillacademy.org.uk
School Councillor: Miss K Paterson - Kym.Paterson@hartshillacademy.org.uk
Children in Care Lead Miss L Stubbs - Laura.Stubbs@hartshillacademy.org.uk
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999 immediately.
For urgent safeguarding concerns, please contact
Mrs A Hiatt on: 07929783908 or 02476 392237
(Please note: this is Term Time only. Details about support during the holidays can be found below).
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility!
All staff receive training on an annual basis and are kept informed of any updates as they emerge. The guidance we follow is Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
We have a number of policies in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, all of which can be found below.
We work to support the government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalisation and extremism. Staff have specific training in this area.
Useful information for parents on the PREVENT agenda is available here: www.educateagainsthate.com/parents
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999 immediately.
Support during the Holidays
If you need help over the holidays, please contact the Family Information Service (FIS).
The Family Information Service (FIS) is a helpful, friendly service which supports families with a wide range of needs including childcare, finance, housing, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and family relationships. Not sure who can help? Give the team a call, and they can offer advice and support.
They are available every Monday to Friday (except bank holidays) from 9am to 5pm by phone 01926 742274 or email fis@warwickshire.gov.uk. You can also message on Facebook WarwickshireFIS.
Remember FIS is available when school is closed over the summer break, so please don't hesitate to contact them if you need any sort of support.
Current Issues
We are all feeling the effects of the pandemic, but our pupils rely on us to show them the way and be proactive in the way we offer support. The safeguarding team in partnership with a pastoral team works tirelessly to ensure that our students feel supported and cared for. Our door is always open, and we encourage students to talk about any worries or concerns they may have.
We also want to empower parents and carers to support their children, and so we have put together a list of support agencies.
We are here to help. Please contact the team if you have any questions regarding any of the sites listed below and a member of the team will be happy to help.
We aim to signpost you to the best support available to you both locally and nationally.
Please see below for some more information.
Mental Health
Mental Health Support Links
Ten ways to help your child with Mental Health: https://camhs.cnwl.nhs.uk/children/ mental-health-tips/
Anger
Anger Gremlins (book) https://uk.jkp.com/
BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04pxgfk
Big White Wall https://togetherall.com/en-gb/big-white-wall/
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Road Safety
Men's Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Supporting Parents Helpfinder (Young Minds)
Times are tough for many people right now. Parents find themselves pulled in many different directions and children may be struggling to be in the house for so much longer than usual.
A mixture of concern about children, work from home and children at home, along with a possible financial impact make for a stressful household.
Young Minds have created a useful 'Supporting Parents Helpfinder'. By answering six questions, parents can find out how to support their child's mental health during the pandemic (and beyond).
Find the help finder here: https://youngminds.org.uk/supporting-parents-helpfinder/
When emotions explode (Young Minds)
Young Minds have also created a useful poster highlighting ways to give support to children when they have angry feelings or outbursts and may help families start a conversation and talk about each other’s feelings. Download the poster here: https://youngminds.org.uk/media/4291/when-emotions-explode-poster.pdf
E-Safety
Screen Savers: Looking after your eyes, body and mind when using screens (Beacon House)
We are spending more time online than ever before, possibly sitting and working with poor posture as we use makeshift desks and chairs. There is a tendency to take fewer breaks and less exercise and this affects our physical well-being.
Beacon House the specialist, therapeutic service for young people, families and adults, has produced a series of six posters outlining ways to keep safe and alert when working at home, whether children or adults.
Download the posters here: https://beaconhouse.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Screen-Savers-1.pdf
Apps to help children stay safe online:
The BBC have a website and app called Own It. The website has a lot of content for children to help them navigate their online lives, and the free smartphone app comes with a special keyboard which can intervene with help and support in the moments that children need it the most. It can be downloaded for free in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
SafeToNet is an app for parents to help them safeguard their children from online risks like cyberbullying and sexting, whilst always respecting their child’s rights to privacy. The SafeToNet Foundation is providing UK families with free-for-life access to the SafeToNet safeguarding solution during coronavirus.
The Children's Commission and the Time Educational Supplement have put together the following information leaflets:
httphttps://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/s://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online?
Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors - https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
If you are being bullied, or you are not ready to make a report to CEOP, you can talk to Childline anonymously online or on the phone - No worry is too big or too small. https://www.childline.org.uk/
Alcohol & Drugs
Alcohol misuse
Some useful links:
Alcohol misuse
Alcoholics Anonymous Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline) / Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Al-Anon
Al-Anon is a free self-help “12 step” group for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else's drinking
Phone: 0800 0086 811 (daily, 10am to 10pm) / Website: https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/
Drinkline
A free confidential helpline for people worried about their own or someone else's drinking.
Phone: 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)
National Association for Children of Alcoholics
National Association for Children of Alcoholics offers free confidential advice and information to everyone affected by a parent’s drinking including children, adults and professionals.
Phone: 0800 358 3456 (Friday, Saturday and Monday 12pm to 7pm and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12pm to 9pm)
Website: https://www.nacoa.org.uk/
Drug misuse
Cocaine Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0800 612 0225 (daily, 10am to 10pm) / Website: https://cocaineanonymous.org.uk/
FRANK
Free, confidential information and advice about drugs, their effects and the law. FRANK's live chat service runs daily from 2pm to 6pm.
Phone: 0300 1236600 (24-hour helpline) / Text a question to: 82111 / Website: https://www.talktofrank.com/
Marijuana Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using marijuana with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0300 124 0373 (callback service) / Website: http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org.uk/
Narcotics Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using drugs with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight) / Website: www.ukna.org
Bullying
Anti Bullying Crew
This academic year sees a new group of students making up our Anti Bullying Crew (ABC). As a school, we do our level best to eliminate bullying and feel we deal with it both effectively and fairly. All members of the ABC have undergone professional training and are all looking forward to making a positive contribution to helping any students who may be concerned. Members of the ABC are available each Thursday in the bungalow at break time for students to go and talk to in private. This year also sees members of the ABC wearing red high-vis jackets at break-times and lunch-times to make them easily identifiable to all students.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3qVx5ZQbmhCSySn0C3CjDjv/ category-bullying
CEOP Make A Report - https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
