The welfare and safety of our students will always be our priority. We do everything possible to secure our students safety in school and outside school. We work with relevant agencies to address any issues related to child protection as well as doing all we can to secure student safety within our community.
Oxford Spires Academy has specialist staff and a number of trained staff who have been designated to act and liaise with social service in cases related to child protection.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
- Ensure we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
- Raise awareness of child protection issues and equip children with the skills needed to keep them safe.
- Have in place procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse, working alongside outside agencies to protect our students.
- Support students who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
- Establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
- Be vigilant for signs of abuse.
Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school.
PRACTICE AND GUIDANCE
The Child Protection Policy at OSA is based on the principle of fully recognising the academy’s responsibilities for child protection.
We recognise that because of the day to day contact with children, academy staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The academy will therefore:
- Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
- Ensure children know that there are adults in the academy whom they can approach if they are worried.
- Include opportunities in the PSHE curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.
We will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board to:
- Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
- Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.
Designated Safeguarding Lead – Ms S Baker
The safeguarding team, fully trained, are:
- Ms Baker
- Mr Dixon
- Mrs Bhag
- Ms Henry
- Mrs Gray
Safeguarding Policies
Child Protection And Safeguarding PolicyGovernment Guidelines: Sexting In Schools And CollegesOSA British Values Booklet
Our Missing Student and Tackling Extremism policies are available upon request.
Home Visits
I would like to make you aware of our Safeguarding practice with respect to the home visits that we carry out as a school. There are a number of reasons that the school may wish to make a home visit, one being that we strongly believe that a link between home and school allows your child to be successful and happy. A member of our team may also visit when you child is absent and the school have received no contact with yourselves. May I take this opportunity to assure you that when we visit your children in their home environment, we are doing so with their best interests at heart.
Safeguarding bulletin
Advice On County LinesAdvice On GangsCoping With Self-Harm - A Guide For Parents And CarersFGM - Support for Parents/Carers and StudentsGovernment Guidelines: Sexting In Schools And CollegesSafe BehaviourSafeguarding Bulletin - Cannabis UseSafeguarding Bulletin - Going Out Alone Safeguarding Bulletin - Mental HealthSafeguarding Bulletin - Mobile PhonesSafeguarding Bulletin - Social MediaSocial Media AppsText AbbreviationsThe Prevent StrategyChild abuse and what to look for
No parent or carer wants to think about the possibility of their child becoming a victim of abuse and most children are never abused. Even so, it is important for parents and carers to be aware of the possibility and to know that help is available if the unthinkable does happen. Most children know their abusers. They may be family members or friends of the family, someone who works with the child or someone who lives in the community. There are many signs, or indicators, that a child might be suffering abuse. There may be injuries, but it is more likely that you will notice some change in your child’s behaviour. If you notice anything that concerns you, talk to your child to see if you can find out what is happening. Remember that if your child is being harmed, she or he may be too frightened to tell you. If your child becomes distressed or you are not happy with the explanations, you could talk to an adult you trust or call a helpline or children’s social care services.
Some signs to look for are:
- bruises or other injuries
- a change in behaviour – from quiet to loud, or from happy-go-lucky to withdrawn
- pain or discomfort
- fear of a particular person, or a reluctance to be alone with them
- secrecy around a relationship with a particular person
- reluctance to discuss where they go, or who they are with
- sexual talk or knowledge beyond their years
- being watchful, or always on edge
- losing interest in their appearance, hobbies or family life
- alcohol or drug taking
- having money and refusing to say where it has come from
- wetting the bed
- becoming clingy
What we will do if we have a concern about your child
If we are concerned that your child may be at risk of abuse or neglect, we must follow the agreed safeguarding procedures. The procedures have been written to protect all students. They comply with our statutory responsibilities and are designed to support students, families and staff. The procedures are based on the principle that the welfare of the child is the most important consideration.
In almost all circumstances, we will talk to you about our concerns and we will also tell you if we feel we must refer our concerns to children’s social care. If we think that talking to you first might in some way increase the risk to your child, we will report our concerns to children’s social care and take advice from them.
All child-protection records are kept separate from your child’s general school file. The only members of staff who have access to the records are those who need to know about the concerns in order to protect and support your child. Child protection is a very sensitive issue and it raises many questions and a range of strong emotions. We will do everything we can do to support our students and you can be assured that any action we take will be in the best interests of your child.
For more information please check the following document: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
If you still have concerns, you could contact one of the agencies listed below:
Click on each logo to visit their website
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| Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards | Provides emotional support to prevent suicide worldwide. Befrienders also provides visitors suicide prevention hotline numbers for their chosen countries. | Provides confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of despair or suicidal thoughts. | You can call our confidential helpline. You can contact us about any family issues, big or small. We listen, support and never judge. |
| Call us 0800 1111 | Call us 116 123 | Call us 0808 800 2222 |
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| New 24hr helpline.We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. | The NSPCC stands up for children, demanding that laws change and action is taken to better protect them. | Leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered. | Working in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great & safe place for children. | |
| Call us 0845 766 0163 | Call us 0808 800 5000 | Call us 0808 802 5544 | Call us 020 7639 6967 |
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| A partnership of three organisations with heritage & expertise in making the internet a safer place to be. | Supports young people who self-exclude or are isolated at school because of Bullying or other trauma: | Our mission is to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health. Prevention is at the heart of what we do. | Worried about online sexual abuse? Make a report to one of CEOP’s Child Protection Advisors | To value and protect the innocence of children is to value and protect society itself. |
| Call us 0845 766 0163 | Call us 0808 800 5000 | Call us 020 7803 1100 | Call us 020 7639 6967 | Call us 01223 20 30 30 |