We take our responsibilities for safeguarding children and young people very seriously and follow the agreed Warwickshire County Council procedures rigorously. All staff are trained annually and all staff are cleared to work with children. We have clear procedures in place to report any concerns, We also teach our learners to keep themselves safe, both within the school grounds and in the wider world. We work closely with parents and multi-agencies to ensure that there is clarity and understanding of our procedures in relation to child protection. This ever changing world of technology creates opportunities, along with challenges for our young people and we ensure that our pupils are confident in safely using technology.

‘Under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.  Parents/carers should know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.  Staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer and, where possible, seek their consent to make a referral to Children’s Social Care if that is considered necessary.  This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm or cause undue delay.  The school will seek advice from Children’s Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.  Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later found to be unfounded.  Parents/carers will appreciate that the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead carries out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acts in the best interests of all children.’

Warning for all parents regarding Snapchat:

 

We would like to inform parents of a new function on the Snapchat app called Snapchat Map. It allows the user to pinpoint their exact location on a map which other users can then see. The BBC have issued an excellent article linked below which highlights some of the issues this new feature can bring. We suggest talking openly to your son or daughter about the risks that come with this new feature and other social media platforms

 

BBC News - Schools Issue Snapchat Warning.

 

We would also suggest visiting Vodaphones Digital Parenting website linked below which offers some excellent tips and advice on keeping your child safe online and with their mobile technology

Vodaphone - Digital Parenting Portal.