Safeguarding

As a College we are committed to promoting the welfare, safety and personal development of our students. Consequently, we realise the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest statutory safeguarding advice and guidance issued by the government:

Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sept 2024)
Working Together to Safeguard Children (Dec 2023)Female Genital Mutilation Risk and Safeguarding (May 2016)Prevent Duty Guidance (2023)

If you have concerns for the health and wellbeing of a child contact a member of our safeguarding team on 0116 2413984 in the first instance. A designated safeguarding lead will be able to talk to you about your concerns and advice of any action required, or you can contact Leicester City Council's Duty and Advice Service team on 0116 454 1004. A social worker will talk to you about your concerns and will advice of any action required.  The service is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, all year.  The service is the first point of contact for all new referrals to children's services and will deal with anything that relates to city children.  They can also be visited at Granby Street Customer Service Centre, 91 Granby Street, LE1 6FB

Our Safeguarding Team



To ensure that our students are safe we work closely with:

  • Local Safeguarding and Children Board

  • Children and Young People’s Services

  • Child Protection Unit

  • School Health

  • CAHMS

  • Educational Psychology

  • Looked After Children Service

  • Barnados

The College ensures that all staff (including temporary, supply, volunteers renew their safeguarding training annually. This means that their knowledge is fresh and up-to-date in what can be a complex and fast moving area of education. The training makes explicit reference to: the types and signs of abuse (now including Radicalisation, FGM and CSE); how to manage a safeguarding disclosure; their statutory responsibility to refer any concerns.

There are a number of local authority policy developments, specifically in the following areas:

Radicalisation in schools and The Prevent Duty – Further information click here.


Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – Further information click below. The NSPCC has set up a FGM helpline, which is free, anonymous and 24/7. If you’re worried a child is at risk of, or has had, FGM, call the FGM helpline on: 0800 028 3550 or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk.

FGM Leaflet


Child Sexual Exploitation –  To view the leaflets click below:

CSE Leaflet 1

CSE Leaflet 2


Sexting – SelfieCop can protect from ‘Sexting’ – Click below for more information

Sexting leaflet

Sometimes, families need extra help.  Early help provides additional support to families that need it, and helps prevent difficulties from getting worse.

Please click below for information on extra help for parents and carers.
Early Help Services

Operation Encompass is an initiative, run in partnership with The Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Police, to enhance communication between police and schools where a child is at risk from domestic abuse.  All Leicester schools have become part of this initiative.

It has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that might have an impact on a child that attends our school.  All public agencies currently share information where there are safeguarding concerns or risk of harm to children and the Police currently share information on all incidents of domestic abuse in Leicester with Leicester City Council.

To further support the welfare of children this information sharing is being extended. During the school term our Designated Safeguarding Lead will now be informed when any domestic abuse incident has been reported to the police and one of our students was in the household.  It will not give any details about the incident.

This has been introduced because domestic abuse in a household can have a big impact on children, even if they do not see what is happening.

This information will be used to ensure the school is able to provide appropriate support to our pupils.  the information will remain confidential and only shared on a strictly need-to-know basis, for example with the class teacher.  It will not be shared with any students.

If you would like to speak to someone in confidence about domestic abuse, call Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 802 00258 or visit https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-community/emergencies-safety-and-crime/domestic-and-sexual-abuse/

We look to offer the best support possible for our students and believe that this scheme is going to be beneficial and supportive for all those involved.  In other areas of the country where it is in place it has been found to be very effective way of supporting children at a most difficult time.

This college aims to ensure that safe Internet practices are embedded into the culture of our college.  All college staff, students and their parents have a duty to ensure that the use of ICT, in any context, is undertaken in a responsible, legal and sociable manner.

Online Safety and Acceptable Use Policy

There are many different social media platforms used by young people, which allow them to chat and share photos, videos and other content with their “friends” or “followers”. Are they safe for young people? At what age should my child start using social media?

Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat all have a legal age of 13. All students in Year 7 and most students in Year 8 are therefore not legally allowed to use these platforms and we urge you not to allow your child to use them.

Social Media & E-Safety Information Document

 

Parent/Carer Fact Sheets

Click on the links below to view the fact sheets from the Safeguarding Training Centre at The Key.

Cyber Flashing

Fortnite

TikTok

 

Internet Safety Advice Leaflets for Parents/Carers – The internet is an amazing resource which enables children and young people to connect, communicate and be creative in a number of different ways, on a range of devices. However, the internet is always changing, and being able to keep up to date with your children’s use of technology can be a challenge. You may sometimes feel that your child has better technical skills than you do, however children and young people still need advice and protection when it comes to managing their lives online. Issues that your child may encounter on the internet will vary depending on their age and online activities.

Click on your preferred language below to view internet advice for parents/carers:

Arabic
English
Farsi
French
Hindi
Polish
Punjabi
Somali
Turkish
Urdu

IMO – write, speak, share

IMO is a voice for teenagers in care and for care leavers. It is somewhere you can share stories, experiences and achievements, get and give advice, and find loads of great free stuff!

We share blogs, vlogs, podcasts and more from teens in care, and we link Children in Care Councils in England together around common campaigns.

We also share opportunities for care leavers, like jobs and apprenticeships, and we give away loads of free stuff!

IMO was created by the Children’s Commissioner for England in collaboration with an advisory network of teens with care experience. If you would like to join this network and have a say in how IMO is run, get in touch!

Send us stuff!

Whether you’re in care, leaving care, or a care leaver, IMO is here to represent you and your views. We need you to share your stories, experiences and advice with us, to help other teenagers and to make sure decision-makers know what you want. If you want to have your voice heard, send us stuff!

We recognise that all students should be able to attend, learn and make progress in a safe and caring environment free from bullying.

As a college we will:
  • Take bullying seriously when it is reported
  • Support the victims of bullying and help them to feel safe
  • Support those involved in bullying to change their behaviour
  • Work with parents/carers of any student who is involved in bullying to support and encourage the student/s in finding solutions
  • Exclude pupils who bully and do not try to change their behaviour
As a student I will:
  • Not turn a blind eye to victimisation or bullying
  • Report all bullying to a member of staff

In June 2014  we were awarded the Anti-Bullying Community Award by the local authority. This prestigious award is given to schools that show excellent and on-going commitment to actively and consistently tacking issues of bullying.

Anti-Bullying Policy

Childline is a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. They’re there for you online, on the phone, anytime.

Call them free on 0800 1111

Report Remove

Report Remove is there to help young people under 18 in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and remove them from the internet.

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/report-remove/

Other Useful Information

Home or Out Alone Guide