Safeguarding
Definition of Safeguarding
“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.“
KCSIE - Keeping Children Safe In Education, 2022
The Royal School's Commitment to Safeguarding
At The Royal we fully recognise the contribution it can make to protect children and support pupils in school. We aim to safeguard and promote our pupils’ welfare, safety and health by fostering an honest, open, caring and supportive climate. The pupils’ welfare is of paramount importance.
All members of staff have undergone DBS and List 99 checks and are trained regularly in Child Protection issues. We also ensure that any volunteers working with children undergo the vetting procedures outlined above.
Safeguarding Contacts in School
| Role | Staff Member |
|---|---|
| Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) | Mr J Crook (Vice Principal) |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) | Mr M Heywood (CEO, Principal) |
| Mrs L Hale (Vice Principal) | |
| Mr A Large (Head of Boarding) | |
| Mr J Pickering (Head of Buckingham) | |
| Ms C Mulvey (Head of Sandringham) | |
| Mrs A Goodlad (Head of Windsor) | |
| Mrs K Jefferson (Headteacher Primary) | |
| Mrs H Green (Deputy Head Primary) | |
| Mrs N Butler (Primary) | |
| Mr P Berry (Director of Extended Provision) | |
| Safeguarding Link Governor | Mr S Hawke |
| Safeguarding and Pastoral Officer | Ms G Chandegra |
| Attendance Officer | Ms A Vlckova (Senior) |
| Mrs N Dhanda (Primary) | |
| Designated Teacher | Ms T Sharp |
Communication with Parents/Carers
Our school will always discuss concerns with parents/carers and consent for any referrals should be sought unless to do so would:
- Place the child at risk of significant harm or further risk of significant harm.
- Place a vulnerable adult at risk of harm.
- Compromise any enquiries that need to be undertaken by children’s social care or the police.
The school will endeavour to ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibilities placed on the school and staff for safeguarding children.
In the best interests of safeguarding children, there may be occasions when the school has to consult with other agencies without a parent or carer’s prior knowledge. Our first concern and responsibility is the child’s welfare, and we have a duty to protect children first and always. Such consultation may result in a formal referral, which could prompt visits from social care and/or the police. We fully understand that this can be a very distressing set of circumstances.
Your help as Parents/Carers:
If you have any concerns about your own child, including anything they discuss with you about school, please do not hesitate to come to school and discuss it with the DSL or DDSL.
If you (as a parent, friend or neighbour) have a concern that a child is being harmed, is at risk of harm, or you receive a disclosure, you must contact the staff members listed above as quickly as possible.
School phone number: 01902 341230
Email: info@theroyal.school
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse which sees children/young people being manipulated or coerced into sexual activity for receiving ‘something’ such as; gifts, money, food, attention, somewhere to stay etc. Technology is very often used to groom victims. This may occur through social networking sites and mobile phones with internet access. CSE has gained a large amount of media attention over the last year as lots of services involved with children and young people have noticed a big rise in cases involving CSE.
Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse.
County Lines
What is County Lines?
County lines is a term used in reference to a form of criminal activity in which drug dealers in major cities establish networks for the supply and sale of drugs to users in towns and rural areas, using other people (typically those who are young or otherwise vulnerable) to carry, store, and sell the drugs.
You might think that your child is too young to be affected...but are they?
Know the signs to spot
If you’re worried that a child or young person might be or is at risk of being exploited by a county lines gang, you must share your concerns.
Reporting
If you think a child is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999. If you're worried about a child but they are not in immediate danger, you should share your concerns.
- Follow your organisational child protection procedures. Organisations that work with children and families must have DSL in place.
- Contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk. Our child protection specialists will talk through your concerns with you and give you expert advice.
- Contact the local child protection services. Their contact details can be found on the website for the relevant local authority. The local authority the child comes from is responsible for the child’s welfare. But it is also good practice to contact the local authority in the area the child is found, as they may need to be a part of the multi-agency response and there may be other children or vulnerable adults at risk.
- Contact the police.
Domestic Abuse
Operation Encompass
In conjunction with West Midlands Police, The Royal School is involved in an initiative called Operation Encompass. The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, heard or witnessed a domestic abuse incident. Following such an incident, children can arrive at school distressed, upset, worried and unprepared. Operation Encompass aims to ensure that appropriate school staff are made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe and included.
This is a valuable initiative that means we can continue to support and help children and families within our school community when they need it the most.
You can find out more by visiting https://www.operationencompass.org/ or by contacting our DSL, Mr J Crook. If you have any questions about Operation Encompass, please do not hesitate to contact us.
What is domestic abuse?
The UK government’s definition of domestic violence is ‘any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional.’
Domestic abuse can take different forms, including:
- physical abuse
- sexual abuse
- financial abuse
- coercive and controlling behaviour, and gaslighting/emotional abuse
- digital/online abuse
- ‘honour’-based abuse
- forced marriage
- female genital mutilation (FGM).
Get help now
If you need to speak to someone, call this free and 24 hour Support line now on 08 08 16 89 111 or start a live chat any time.
Read this leaflet Surviving Domestic Abuse (PDF).
Further help and advice available from:
Female Genital Mutilation
In April 2014 every school in England received new safeguarding guidelines and detailed information on identifying and responding to Female Genital Mutilation. FGM is a procedure carried out on young girls between the ages of infancy and 15 years of age.
Female Genital Mutilation is classified as a form of Child Abuse in the UK. It therefore makes the procedure of it a serious Child Protection issue. It is illegal for anyone to perform FGM in the UK or to arrange for a child to be transported to another country for the procedure. The maximum sentence for carrying out FGM or helping it to take place is 14 years in prison.
There is lots of information and support available online for parents/carers concerned about this subject or if you know someone who is at risk:
- Contact the Police if you think that a girl or young woman is in danger of FGM and is still in the UK.
- Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500) if she’s already been taken abroad.
The NSPCC has detailed advice on how to spot the signs, symptoms and effects of FGM and provides support for people who are concerned about a child or who have been affected themselves. The link to the website is below.
Knife Crime
Police and schools in the city are committed to working together to protect our young people from becoming victims of knife and weapons crime.
It is important that the police, schools and families work together to protect young people. To do this, parents must be aware of the warning signs and talk to children about carrying weapons. The consequences of being found in possession of a knife are serious and long-lasting, affecting education, employment and travel opportunities, but most crucially, life.
Some young people carry weapons because they feel it will provide protection or increase the respect they are given by their friends, but the sad fact is that they are more likely to become victims of serious violence.
Parents should also be aware that girls sometimes carry or store weapons for their boyfriends or other male friends because they believe they are less likely to be stopped by the police. Their reasons are often misguided loyalty or love, but it is still a crime if they are caught carrying a knife or other weapon.
WARNING SIGNS
These signs don’t always mean the worst is happening and could just be normal teenage behaviour:
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Have they become withdrawn from the family and/or school?
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Is their school or college reporting worrying changes in behaviour, academic achievement or attendance?
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Have they lost interest in positive activities such as sports clubs?
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Do they stay out unusually late without giving a reason and are vague about their whereabouts?
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Have they stopped seeing old friends and started hanging out with a new group?
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Are they secretive about the contents of their bag?
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Are they defensive if you ask what is in their possession or if they are hiding anything?
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Has their attitude changed about carrying knives/weapons? For example, justifying it by saying people carry them for self-defence?
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Have any items gone missing from the kitchen, tool box or garage?
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Have you found a weapon hidden amongst their possessions?
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE CONCERNED
Speak to them calmly and explain the risks and consequences.
You may wish to contact a member of the Pastoral Team at school if you feel your child isn’t listening or is at risk. We can talk through your concerns and plan a way forward together.
If you or your child are aware that other young people in school or the community are carrying knives or weapons, you should contact the police directly via 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org
If a crime is taking place or a life is in danger, call 999 immediately.
Resources:
https://benkinsella.org.uk/resources-for-young-people/
Reporting a Concern of Abuse or Neglect
If you have concerns that a child you know is at risk of serious harm through Abuse or Neglect it is important that you report your worries to the correct agency.
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The link below will direct you to Wolverhampton City Council's Social Service page, which tells you how to report a concern.
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Below is the link to the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together.