Safeguarding and Online Safety

Everyone working at the de Ferrers Academy shares a common objective to keep children and young people safe by active contribution to, and participation in -

• Providing a safe environment for children and young people to learn, develop and feel safe.
• Identifying children and young people who may be at risk of harm.
• Working to support those children and young people identified as being in need or at risk of harm by collaboration with the safeguarding professionals who work across all three sites.
• Commitment to active participation in all mandatory safeguarding training events as well as regular updates and briefings.

There are a number of designated trained staff working across our 3 sites.

The DSL (designated safeguarding lead) is Kay Walsh, based on Trent Campus. 

There are safeguarding officers based on both Dove Campus and Trent Campus.

Our safeguarding Officers are Vicky Jordan and Rachel Rosen.

In addition:

On Dove Campus we have the following DDSLs (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads): Dave Griffiths (SENDCO), Dave Lovell (Vice Principal and Head of Dove Campus).

On Trent Campus we have the following DDSLs: Greg Hand (Vice Principal and Head of Trent Campus). 

On the Sixth Form Campus we have the following DDSLs: Hannah Roberts (Vice Principal and Head of Sixth Form Campus). 

We also have a number of other support staff trained to the same level as DDSL across all 3 sites.

If you have any concerns in relation to safeguarding, please contact Kay Walsh who has overall responsibility for safeguarding, failing that, please contact one of the other staff named above.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff receive training on an annual basis and are kept informed of any updates as they emerge. The guidance we follow is Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2023 and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

We have a number of policies in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment all of which can be found in the policies section of the website. The safeguarding policy is a trust wide policy and can be found below. In addition, The de Ferrers Academy has its own unique safeguarding annex to that policy which can also be found below. 

Training incorporates the ‘Thinkuknow’ materials produced by the National Crime Agency,  Child Exploitation Online Protection Agency (CEOP).

ThinkuknowIf you are subject to online abuse, exploitation or made to feel uncomfortable online by somethign that happens, you can contact the police via the CEOP Report Abuse button below and they will investigate.

CEOP PoliceYou can find more information and resources about Online Safety here: 

https://www.deferrers.com/893/online-safety?preview 

A guide to Parental Controls (produced by Knowsley CLCs):

https://www.knowsleyclcs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Parental-Controls-booklet-2023.pdf 

The lead DSL and some of the Deputy DSLs are available out of hours by email:
kwalsh@deferrers.com
ghand@deferrers.com
dlovell@deferrers.com
hroberts@deferrers.com

If you believe a child is in immediate danger call 999 immediately.

We work to support the governments Prevent Agenda to counter radicalisation and extremism. Staff have specific training in this area and students are taught from the governments Educate Against Hate website: 

Educate Against HateThere is an ongoing programme of education for the students across the key stages, which focuses on enabling them to keep themselves safe whether at school, at home or online.  

REPORT REMOVE: 

The Internet Watch Foundation and NSPCC have developed a self-reporting tool for under 18s to report nude or sexual images or videos of themselves that have been shared online, to see if they may be removed from the internet.

Removing nude images - information for parents

For a child or young person, having a sexual image or video of themselves shared online can be a distressing situation. This can be difficult for parents and carers too, but there are ways you can support your child. If they’re under 18, they can use Report Remove.

For more to help you understand the risks, and how to support your child if they’ve been sending, sharing or receiving nude images: Sharing nudes and semi-nudes | NSPCC

How it works

Report Remove is a tool that allows young people to report an image or video shared online, to see if it’s possible to get it taken down. Provided by Childline and IWF, it keeps the young person informed at each stage of their report, and provides further support where necessary.

Report Remove can help to take down nude or sexual images that include at least one of the following:

·  nude or semi-nude sexual posing

·  someone nude or semi-nude touching themselves in a sexual way

·  any sexual activity involving a child

·  someone hurting someone else sexually

·  sexual activity that includes animals.

Using the tool

Children and young people can access Report Remove on the Childline website. They then follow three steps:

·  Follow the instructions to confirm their age
They may be asked if they want to prove their age using ID.

·  Log in or create a Childline account
Childline will let the young person know the outcome of their report and provide further support where needed.

·  Submit the image or video
A specialist analyst at IWF will review it and work to have it removed if it breaks the law.

Childline will let the young person know the outcome of their report and provide further support where needed. And they’re always welcome to speak to a counsellor about how they feel, whether online via 1-2-1 chat and Childline email, or via the free confidential helpline on 0800 1111. More information about how each of the different ways to speak to a Childline counsellor can be found at www.childline.org.uk/get-support

See full information about Report Remove on the NSPCC website here.

Know how to stay safe online – advice and tools for parents and young people – in partnership with Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire County Council.

Please follow the link below to view the Trust-wide safeguarding policy

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy