Safeguarding

The Governing Body takes seriously its responsibility under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our school to identify assess and support those children who are suffering harm.

At The Brookfield School we recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children, We will provide staff and volunteers with guidance to follow when they suspect a child may be experiencing abuse or at risk of harm.

We will work co-operatively with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Our safeguarding team work closely with our PRSHE lead, Mrs Teri Hobbs, to ensure that our pupils know how to staff safe outside of school, online and develop healthy relationships

We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents / carers first – unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.

If you have a concern about a child, please contact a member of the Safeguarding Team or by contacting Mrs Wendy Roberts, School Office who will transfer you to the appropriate person.

We will review our policy and procedures on an annual basis.

The Safeguarding Team

The Brookfield School Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Miss Lindsey Haile
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Michelle Parkes
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Jillian Hurst
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Jan Greene
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Ashley Read
Governor with responsibility for Safeguarding: Mrs Susanna McFarlane

Attendance Officer: Marian Ellis

Autumn Term

Find below the September online safety newsletter. It focuses on:

Whatsapp and Snapchat
iPhone 17 and safety devices
Algorithms

Online Safety Newsletter September 2024_PDF_Brookfield Hereford.pdf

Guidance for parents and carers - Children going missing and exploitation

List of things/behaviours etc. to look out for:

Truancy from school
Missing from home or secretive about where they are when out
Unaccounted for cash
Unaccounted for gifts (trainers, tracksuits, food etc)
Associating with new people / older people
Change in Behaviour
Change in Interests
Train/Bus tickets to places away from where they live
Signs of assault
Poor hygiene/extreme tiredness
Numerous phones
Secretive with phone use/ Increased number of calls/ messages
Sexualised behaviour
Condoms / Vaseline (could be for sexual activity or for packaging drugs)
Substance misuse (drugs, alcohol)

Links below for more information...

Missing Guidance for Parents_Carers.docx

Contacts and Useful Links

External Contacts	Telephone numbers and contact details
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub	01432 260800 cypd@herefordshire.gov.uk
Emergency Duty Team	01905 768020 (out of hours number for when MASH are unavailable)
Police – Prevent (extremism & radicalisation team)	01386 591835 prevent@westmercia.pnn.police.uk
Police (non emergency)	101
Police (emergency)	999
Childline	0800 1111
NHS (non emergency)	111
Women’s Aid (24hr helpline)	0800 980 3331
West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre	01905 724514
PAPYRUS (young persons suicide team)	0800 068 4141 Messaging Service: 07786 209697
Samaritans	116 123 (free)
Young Minds (well-being)	Messaging Service: 85258
Chat Health	Messaging Service: 07507 331750
Illegal Money Lending Team	0300 555 2222

Useful websites

Child Line: 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk/
Crime Stoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ : 0800 555111
Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ Debt and legal advice for families
Herefordshire Community Safety Partnership: https://www.herefordshiresafeguardingboards.org.uk/safeguarding-information/community-safety-information

Child Sexual Abuse

Network Rail Safety

Due to the very high level of trespassing on the tracks by young people in our local area, Network Rail in partnership with Learn Live are working to help raise awareness to students across the UK educating them about the dangers of the train tracks through interactive digital delivery.

There is now a new interactive video suitable for all ages called I Am Train Safe (see link below). The session is less than 15 minutes and explains why it is important to stay safe near the tracks.

Over 13 million students, parents and teachers from across the UK have watched these videos which has led to a significant decrease in the number of trespasses in their area through watching the safety videos.

Network Rail have made things easier to watch the free safety videos by just entering the email railsafety@learnliveuk.com into the I am registered field when you first watch the videos.

Please click on the link below to view the relevant safety video for the secondary school version for ages 11-16:

https://learnliveuk.com/network-rail-secondary-school-safety-talk/

https://learnliveuk.com/i-am-train-safe/

Missing Guidance for Parents_Carers.docx

PACE Flyer CCE & CSE.docx

Parents_Carers Exploitation Information Pack, Catch 22.pdf

Push_Pull Factors for Parents_Carers.pdf

Safeguarding Links

ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES THAT MAY BE USEFUL

Anti-bullying alliance resources on race and religion

Show racism the red card

Institute of Race Relations resources

Stand up to racism

The Runnymede Trust resources

BRECK FOUNDATION

http://www.breckfoundation.org/

BULLYING

http://www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-bullying/

CYBER BULLYING

Below, is some very useful information for Parent/Carers regarding Cyber Bullying.
http://www.childline.org.uk/Explore/Bullying/Pages/online-bullying.aspx

EDUCATION AGAINST HATE

This website gives parents, teachers and school leaders practical advice on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.

http://educateagainsthate.com

RACISM/RELIGION AND HATE CRIME

Definition of racist or religious hate incidents and hate crimes

Racist or religious hate incidents can take many forms including verbal and physical abuse, bullying, threatening behaviour, online abuse and damage to property including graffiti.

When racist or religious hate incidents become criminal offences, they are known as hate crimes. Any criminal offence can be a racist or religious hate crime, if the offender targeted the victim because of their prejudice or hostility based on race or religion.

Reporting racist or religious hate incidents and hate crimes

A hate incident or crime can be reported to the police. A hate incident or crime can be reported even if it wasn’t directed at the person reporting it. For example, a friend, neighbour, family member, support worker or simply a passer-by.

It is best to report all the incidents to help the police get the full picture.

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau can help with reporting a hate incident or crime.

Reporting racist or religious hate incidents and hate crimes using the True Vision website

True Vision is a police funded website designed to provide information about hate crime.

A hate incident or crime can be reported online on the True Vision website. Once the online form has been filled in, it’s sent directly to your local police force. The self-reporting form can also be downloaded and used which must then be sent to your local police.

Reporting racist or religious hate incidents or crimes prevents these incidents from happening to someone else. Reporting makes a difference.

RADICALISATION AND EXTREMISM

Parents who have concerns about their children may look to schools as a trusted source of advice on how to keep their children safe from these risks. In addition to materials produced by local authorities and the police – such as the new “Prevent Tragedies” online campaign launched by the Police (http://www.preventtragedies.co.uk/) - there are online resources produced by civil society groups which provide valuable advice, for example ‘Families Matter’ (http://www.familiesmatter.org.uk/), (run by Families Against Stress and Trauma).

SAFER INTERNET DAY

Click here to read more about Safer Internet Day.

SEXTING

https://www.westmercia.police.uk/article/10764

SelfieCop - flier for schools.pdf

SelfieCop - flier for parents.pdf

SelfieCop - explainer.pdf

SIGNS AND INDICATORS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Below, is some very useful information for Parent/Carers regarding the signs and indicators of sexual exploitation.

Signs and indicators of Sexual Exploitation.pdf

START THE SCHOOL YEAR SAFE ONLINE

Get the heads up on what children are doing when the go online, learn about possible dangers and parental controls available to you and your children.

Click on the following link to be directed to an online safety guide with useful tips and advice on keeping your child safe online:

http://www.internetmatters.org/back-to-school/

TELL MAMA

Tell MAMA supports victims of anti-Muslim hate and is a public service which also measures and monitors anti-Muslim incidents. It is not meant to be a replacement for the police service. More information on anti-Muslim hate crime can be found at the Tell MAMA website.

Other organisations that can help

The Community Security Trust (National Organisation for Jewish victims)

Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism (FAIR)

The Monitoring Group

National Assembly Against Racism

Southall Black Sisters

THINKUKNOW NEWS

Thinkuknow are launching a brand new public awareness campaign. Through social media, articles, blogs, films and more, we want to get parents and carers thinking and talking about the importance of discussing sex, relationships and the internet with their children.

Click here for further information.