Safeguarding

The safeguarding of children at The Blue School is of utmost importance.

If you have any worries in relation to the safeguarding and protection of children please ensure you record and report your concerns. You can either speak to one of our named Child Protection Officers, Ms Jones, Headteacher, or to Mr Hammer, Assistant Head, as soon as reasonably possible and please remember the importance of confidentiality with any incident you feel you should report.

From time to time a situation regarding a child is brought to our attention which we are required to investigate, and this may include a referral to other professional bodies. We have a statutory obligation to do this. In doing so, our overriding concern must be for the safety and welfare of the child. This may involve asking questions which some parents may find intrusive. We would be grateful for your cooperation and understanding as we seek to safeguard the best interests of the children we share responsibility for. Thank you.

Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Leads

Mr M White

Headteacher DSL Lead

Mr P Hammer

Deputy Headteacher DSL Lead

Mr J Kelly

Assistant Headteacher DSL Lead

Mrs J McLoughin

Welfare/SEN DSL Administrator

Safeguarding Governors

Mrs Pashley-Wilkins

The welfare and safety of our children is paramount to our school. If you have any safeguarding concerns please inform one of the following safeguarding school members. Telephone 020 8560 6721.

If you are unable to get through to any of the above Safeguarding Leads, please call Hounslow Borough Council on the below contact details.

Hounslow Social Service Social Care: 020 8583 660
Hounslow Social Service Social Care (Emergency out of hours, 24 hours): 020 8583 2222

Useful Links and Contacts

Bullying

If you think that bullying is just a part of everyday school life, you’re wrong. No-one deserves to be bullied and you shouldn’t ignore the problem.

Online safety

Think U Know is a set of resources developed by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre at website: www.thinkuknow.co.uk to help educate young people, parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet.

Know IT All is a set of resources developed by Childnet International at website: www.childnet-int.org/kia to help educate parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)

CEOP work to encourage all organisations that have an online presence where children and young people congregate to adopt the CEOP ‘Report Abuse’ mechanism.

Family Lives

A national charity that works for, and with, parents. It works to offer help and support through an innovative range of free, flexible, responsive services. tel: 0808 800 2222

Barnardos

Helps all kinds of families to cope with a wide range of issues including poverty, abuse, and homelessness. tel: 01268 520224

Kidscape

Gives information for parents on a range of ways children can be bullied including cyber bullying and gives advice on keeping children safe online. tel: 020 7730 3300

Missing Person Helpline

Whether you are missing yourself, or have been affected by the disappearance of a loved one, you can contact the missing person helpline whenever and however you want. phone or text: 116000 (24 hours)

National Drugs Helpline

tel: 0800 77 66 00 (24 hour free advice)

NSPCC

Offers some helpful information for parents and carers on a range of issues, such as internet safety, protecting children at home and positive parenting tips. tel: 0808 800 5000

Parents against Child Sexual Exploitation (PACE)

Free E learning course for parents and carers on Child Sexual Exploitation aimed at raising awareness, identifying signs and providing advice on what to do if you have concerns. Go to the website at www.safeguardingchildrenea.co.uk and follow the simple registration process.

Women’s Aid Federation

The key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. Support a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK. tel: 08457 023 468

Parents Centre

Information and support for parents on how to help with your child’s learning, including advice on choosing a school and finding childcare.

Prevent Strategy

What is Prevent?

Prevent is part of CONTEST, the Government’s strategy to address terrorism. The main aim of Prevent is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent focuses on all forms of terrorist threats. E.g. international terrorism, far right extremists (among others).

The Government’s Prevent strategy can be found at the following address: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Three key themes

The police, Local Authorities, and our partner organisations are working together to help strengthen and empower our communities to reject those who want to cause harm. We work together and focus on three key themes:

Safeguarding vulnerable individuals through the provision of advice and support and intervention projects.
Working closely with institutions such as Universities, Schools, Prisons, Health, Charities and faith establishments.
Challenging terrorist ideology by working closely with other local and national agencies, partners and our communities

Prevent Team

The Prevent Engagement Team of officers and police staff aim to encourage discussion ensuring that terrorism is prevented from taking root in our communities. They support the wider engagement activities already taking place in schools, places of worship and community groups.

Through this work they aim to strengthen communities in order to challenge the ideologies and messages of hate which lead to terrorism.

How you can help?

It is important that we all work together, so that we can protect our communities. There are many ways you can help:

You can get in touch with your local neighbourhood or Prevent team for advice and support, if you are worried about someone you know who you believe may be vulnerable to radicalisation
You can speak to your local officers or Prevent contact about helping run community events to bring people from different communities together
You can provide facilities that could help us and our partners hold community engagement events.