Safeguarding

Wootton Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and requires all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.

If you are concerned about the safety of any child in our school, you must report this to the Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mrs. Jane Page: j.page@woottonparkschool.org.uk / 01604 931139

If you are concerned about the conduct of a member of staff or a volunteer in our school, you must contact the Principal – Mr. Dan Rosser.

Remember… if in doubt… ask.

Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
Online Safety Policy
Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children’s Board Parents’ Guide to the MASH
Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children’s Board Signs of Child Sexual Exploitation
Department for Education Guidance
Trained Youth Mental Health First Aiders: Carla Grady

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Jane Page

Other Trained Designated Safeguarding School Staff:
Mrs Sam Macdonnell
Mr Dan Rosser
Mrs Claire Woodbridge
Mrs Corinna Kerrou
Ms Carla Grady
Mr Coe
Mrs Wade
Mr Cowdell

Guidance and Information

Child Sexual Exploitation

Sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse, in which a young person is manipulated or forced into taking part in a sexual act. This could be as part of what seems to be a consensual relationship, or it could be in return for attention, affection, money, drugs, alcohol or somewhere to stay.

The young person may think that their abuser is their friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, but the abuser will put them into dangerous situations, forcing the child or young person to do things that they don't want to do. The abuser could threaten them or be violent towards them.

Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB) are running a joint campaign raising awareness of CSE – How to identify it and how to report it.

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership
http://www.northamptonshirescb.org.uk/tackling-child-sexual-exploitation-cse-/

Signs of CSE can be difficult to identify, varying greatly, but can include:

going missing from home or care
physical injuries
misuse of drugs or alcohol
involvement in offending
repeat sexually-transmitted infections, pregnancies or terminations
absenteeism from school
deterioration in physical appearance
evidence of online sexual bullying
evidence of vulnerability on social networking sites
emotional distance from family members
receiving gifts from unknown sources
recruiting others into exploitative situations
poor mental health
self-harming
thinking about or attempting suicide
involvement with gangs, gang fights, gang membership
involved in abusive relationships, intimidated and fearful of certain people or situations.

Please also see

NSPCC site for more indicators: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation/
NSCB http://www.northamptonshirescb.org.uk/parents-carers/signs-of-child-sexual-exploitation/
Leaflet – Barnardo’s Child sexual Exploitation – Guide for parents & carers
http://www.northamptonshirescb.org.uk/assets/files/159/Barnardos-spot-the-signs-parents.pdf

Reporting

A new national helpline for young people to call or text if they have concerns about friends or even themselves – it’s free, anonymous and is open 24 hours, 365 days per year: Call or text 116 000
or Police: call 999 or 101
Safeguarding Hub: 0300 126 1000

Download the 'Tackling CSE Toolkit' for parents and carers

NSCB has produced a 'toolkit' to help parents and carers recognise Child Sexual Exploitation and provide them with practical advice on how to keep their children safe.

The toolkit is a document divided into chapters. For parents and carers, they recommend reading chapter 1 and chapter 8 of the toolkit, these can be downloaded below:

Tackling CSE Toolkit Chapter 1 - What is CSE and what do I need to know?

Tackling CSE Toolkit Chapter 8 - Information for parents and carers

Further information can be found in the Barnardo’s short leaflet for parents and carers about child sexual exploitation.

Further help can be found at the following:

Call or text 116 000 - young people's CSE helpline

This is a new national helpline for young people to call or text if they have concerns for themselves or a friend about child sexual exploitation: 116 000. It's free, anonymous and open 24 hours, 365 days per year.

Online Safety

Keeping Your Child Safe Online

At Wootton Park School, we recognise that the majority of our learners, whether that be our young EYFS learners or our mature VI Form learners, are all using the internet through a variety of different platforms. Online safety is an integral part of our children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school.

With assistance and input from our Online Safety Group, our aim is to educate all stakeholders to stay safe whilst online. We want to improve their understanding of online safety issues so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media in a safe and secure way. For learners, we deliver lessons, assemblies and themed days to equip them with as much information as possible and for parents and carers, we provide frequent updates via the Online Safety Page on our website; social media and parental information sessions.

Online Safety Policy

Acceptable User Agreement

Bring Your Own Device Agreement

Useful Websites

Thinkuknow

Childnet

Parent Info

NSPCC

UK Safer Internet Centre

CEOP

Vodafone Parents

Kidsmart

Know IT All

Bullying UK

Kidscape

Childline

Online Safety at Home

At a time when learners are spending more time both at home and online, it’s extremely important that they do so safely.

We would like to share advice with parents and carers, including links and suggestions, so that you can keep your children safer online at home.

Setting ground rules

Discuss and agree, as a family, how learners should be using the internet at home, with the aim of ensuring that any access is appropriate to your child’s age and ability.
Ask your children what they think is and isn’t acceptable to do online, then add your own rules and boundaries to that list.
Decide what information should not be revealed online, such as contact information and photos. Agree rules for making and meeting online friends.
Set clear boundaries relating to webcams, video chat, live streaming and live voice on different devices. Even when children are talking to people they know, they can still encounter risks.
Explore how to create strong passwords and discuss how to keep them safe, e.g. not sharing them with their friends or using the same password for several accounts.
Try writing down “ground rules” as a visual reminder Click here for a template “family agreement”.
Remember these are whole family rules, so consider your own use of the internet and lead by example.
Share quality time together. Consider nominating ‘tech-free’ areas or times, such as your child’s bedroom or dinner time, where you can give each other undivided attention and share offline experiences, like reading a book together.

Parental Control

Install antivirus software and secure your internet connection.
More advice on online security can be accessed here.
Make the most of the parental controls on your children’s internet-enabled devices and games consoles to help restrict inappropriate content. They can also help you manage how much time your child spends online.
Do your research and select the tools which are most suitable to you, your child and the technology in your home. Find more information on parental controls at: www.internetmatters.org and www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/a-parents-guide
Set up filters on internet search engines.
Ensure your child understands that parental controls are in place to protect them, not restrict them. Some children will actively work around parental controls if they feel constrained without knowing why.
Read parental guidance and safety recommendations for games, apps or websites before allowing your child to use them.

The following guides provide balanced information to help you make informed decisions:

www.net-aware.org.uk,

www.askaboutgames.com/

www.commonsensemedia.org

Be aware that parental control tools and filters are not always 100% effective and you can’t rely on them alone to protect your child online.

PEGI Age Ratings

Age ratings are systems used to ensure that entertainment content, such as games, but also films, tv shows or mobile apps, is clearly labelled with a minimum age recommendation based on the content they have. These age ratings provide guidance to consumers, parents in particular, to help them decide whether or not to buy a particular product for a child.

The PEGI rating considers the age suitability of a game, not the level of difficulty. A PEGI 3 game will not contain any inappropriate content, but can sometimes be too difficult to master for younger children. Reversely, there are PEGI 18 games that are very easy to play, yet they contain elements that make them inappropriate for a younger audience.

Here are some popular apps/ platforms and their ratings;

Platform	PEGI Rating
Facebook	13
Instagram	13
Whatsapp	16
Youtube	18 (13 – 17 with parental consent)
Pinterest	13
Snapchat	13

PEGI Ratings

Gaming Information Posters

Social Media Posters

Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment

Please note that all applicants invited to interview will be asked to complete our interview checklist and provide information at interview.

Education Personnel Management (EPM) supports Wootton Park School with the recruitment process.

In carrying out our recruitment processes we:

are committed to the creation of a safe environment for our learners by operating safer recruitment practices in line with the statutory requirements and guidance.
will comply with the requirements of Data Protection Legislation (being (i) the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) (unless and until the GDPR is no longer directly applicable in the UK) and any national implementing laws, regulations and secondary legislation, as amended or updated from time to time, in the UK and then (ii) any successor legislation to the GDPR or the Data Protection Act 1998, including the Data Protection Act 2018). Our Data Protection Policy sets out how we will comply with Data Protection Legislation.
will comply with the requirements of the Equality Act (2010) and are committed to ensuring that throughout our recruitment and selection processes no applicant is disadvantaged or discriminated against because of the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender, gender re-assignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation

Recruitment Policy

Safeguarding for parents/carers

It is important to recognise that abuse isn’t always perpetrated by adults; children can abuse other children and it can happen both inside and outside of educational settings and online. This is referred to as 'peer on peer abuse' and can include:

bullying, including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying
abuse in intimate personal relationships between peers
physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm; this may include an online element which facilitates, threatens and/or encourages physical abuse
sexual violence, such as rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault; this may include an online element which facilitates, threatens and/or encourages sexual violence
sexual harassment, such as sexual comments, remarks, jokes and online sexual harassment, which may be standalone or part of a broader pattern of abuse
causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent
consensual and non-consensual sharing of nude and semi nude images and or videos (also known as sexting or youth produced sexual imagery)
‘Upskirting’ which involves taking a picture under someone’s clothing without them knowing; this is usually with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks for sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress or alarm. Upskirting is a criminal offence and anyone of any gender, can be a victim
initiation/hazing type violence and rituals.

Please find below a guidance document for parents helping you to support your child to understand peer on peer abuse and online sexual harassment. It is a sensitive topic, and not one all parents feel comfortable discussing with their children.

The commissioner's team brought together a group of 16 - 21 year olds and asked them talk about what they think parents should know, and what they should say to their child(ren) when talking about sexualised bullying and the pressures of growing up online.

Key advice from the young adults in the focus groups included:

Start conversations early, before your child gets a phone or social media account. Keep the conversation going over time, adapting to your child.
Young people want their parents to learn about new technology and trends, including risky behaviours and dangerous spaces online.
Create a safe and trusting home environment.

For further information please click on the link below

'The things I wish my parents had known'

These documents support parents in how to talk to the child(ren) about the following:

Pornography
Sharing nude images
Sexualised bullying
Editing photos and body image
Peer pressure

Sexting

This page provides information on the law relating to child sexting or sharing indecent images or texts of children. It also contains advice for parents on what to do if your child has been involved in sexting.

Sexting Information Booklet

What is sexting?

Sexting means sending indecent images (pictures and/or videos) of yourself or others or sending sexually explicit messages.

Sexting can happen on any electronic device that allows sharing of media and messages including smartphones, tablets, laptops or mobiles.

What does the law say?

In the UK the age of consent for sexual intercourse is 16. However, it is an offence to make, distribute, possess or show any indecent images of anyone aged under 18, even if the content was created with the consent of that young person.

Examples include:

a child (under 18) sharing a sexual image with their peer (also under 18);
a child (under 18) sharing a sexual image created by another child with a peer or an adult;
a child (under 18) in possession of a sexual image created by a child (under 18).

“Indecent” means, for example:

naked pictures;
topless pictures of a girl;
pictures of genitals;
sex acts including masturbation; and
sexual pictures in underwear.

Sexting by children will primarily be considered as a safeguarding issue. The police must, by law, record all sexting incidents on their crime system but as of January 2016, they can decide not to take further action against the young person if it is not in the public interest. This will be at the discretion of the police.

What can a school do if sexting has occurred?

The government has issued statutory guidance to schools on Keeping Children Safe in Education which states that all incidents of sexting should be referred to the schools designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and an investigation carried out with the full involvement of the young person and their parents. The school may refer the matter to the police and/or Children’s Services if the child has been harmed or is at risk of harm.

The government has also produced Departmental Advice on Searching, Screening and Confiscation, which states that schools have the power to search learners for devices, search data on devices and delete any indecent images.

What should I do if my child has been involved in sexting?

If you find out that your child has been sexting, you can contact the Internet Watch Foundation, who can search for explicit images or videos of your child and remove them.

It would also be advisable to have an honest conversation with your child about the incident, to find out what led to it and how can it be avoided in the future. Thinkuknow offers advice to parents on how they may broach this subject with their child.

Some of the reasons for sexting are:

peer pressure;
feeling pressured to sext as a way of proving their sexuality;
as a result of harassment, threats or blackmail;
seeking someone’s approval;
long distance/ online relationships, where there is a desire to have a sexual relationship;
confidence in their looks, which they want to share with other people.

Tips for parents

Discuss with your child the consequences of sexting.
Monitor your child’s online presence, especially social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Explain that the images can land in the wrong hands, and warn them against online predators.
Encourage your child to open up about receiving or sending provocative images without your supervision.
Remind you child that there are essential and personal information that they should never share online such as address, photos and video footage.
Set clear rules about what the can and cannot do with their electronic devices.

Useful Links:

Visitors

Visitor Procedures

All visitors must present relevant photo identification on arrival such as a driving licence, an official identity badge, a passport.
All visitors must sign in at Main Reception.
The school will check the security features of any DBS certificate presented.
All visitors will be issued with an appropriate lanyard, which must be displayed at all times whilst on the site.
Visitors will be asked to remain under the supervision of a designated member of staff whilst on site.
Visitors wishing to speak to a particular member of staff should telephone the school to make an appointment, when possible, to avoid disappointment.
Visitors must not use a smart phone or camera on site.
Visitors must sign out at the Main Reception and re-turn their visitor lanyard before leaving the site.