Safeguarding & eSafety
Safeguarding & eSafety Policy
Gable Hall School is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for children, staff and visitors and promoting a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.
We are committed to the vital contribution of all governors, staff and support staff make to safeguarding children a priority. We aim to ensure that child protection concerns and referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in ways that support the specific needs of the individual child.
Through providing a caring, safe and stimulating environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of all our students, we aim to foster an atmosphere of trust.
Students can contact the Safeguarding Team by email or speak to a member of staff displayed on the poster below. The poster is displayed in every classroom, office and in corridors. This is to ensure that every member of the Gable Hall community can report and discuss matters with trained staff.
Click Here to read our Special Edition Newsletter.
To contact the safeguarding team please email:
WhoCanHelp@gablehall.com – an email address set up for our students. The email will go straight to the safeguarding team who can direct to appropriate sources of support or information linked to wellbeing.
Pastoral@gablehall.com – an email address set up for Parents/Carers. The email will go straight to the Pastoral team who will refer your email to the appropriate member of staff and ensure someone contacts you directly to deal with your concern.
Mrs N.Jeffery – Designated Safeguarding Lead – nicola.jeffery@gablehall.com
Mr Gary Walker – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead – gary.walker@gablehall.com
In a circumstance that you are unable to speak to the above members of staff, you can also contact:
- Thurrock Multi-Agency safeguarding hub (MASH) - 01375 652 802. Out of hours Emergency Duty Team number which is 01375 372 468.
- Thurrock Emergency Duty Team: 01375 372468
- Local Authority Designated Officer: (LADO) - 01375 652535/652921
Gable Hall School has a culture of belief and support and takes all disclosures seriously. We maintain an ‘it could happen here’ attitude at all times.
Child Confidentiality - Members of staff have a professional responsibility to share relevant information about the protection of students with other professional agencies. This can include Social care, Early Help services, Police and other agencies that may support your child. A member of staff must, therefore, never promise confidentiality.
Prevent Strategy - At Gable Hall School we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. PREVENT is the name given to a national strategy which aims to stop people from becoming involved with violent extremists or supporting terrorism. The Prevent duty is carried out under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which legally requires us to take steps to prevent students being drawn into terrorism. We take this duty seriously and carry out the four main actions, being risk assessment, working in partnership, staff training and IT Policies. If we assess a students as a risk, we will refer them to the Channel Partnership, which focuses on providing support at an early stage.
In terms of Internet safety, we ensure suitable filters (including key word and phrase monitoring) are in place to keep students away from extremist materials.
We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping people safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of students in our care.
If you have concerns about pupils travelling to a conflict zone seek Home Office guidance and refer to MASH team if still concerned.
Report any concerns to the MASH (number above) or call the Anti Terror Hotline on 0800789321 for an immediate response.
Helpful numbers and websites
- Childline: 0800 1111
- NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000
- Kooth: www.kooth.com - support service for students wellbeing
- Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub: 01373 652 802 / Out of hours Emergency Duty Team number which is 01375 372 468.
Below are links for further guidance and information:
Anti-bullying
Bullying affects lots of people and can happen anywhere: at school, travelling to and from school, in sporting teams, in friendship or family groups.
Bullying is usually defined as repeated behaviour which is intended to hurt someone either emotionally or physically. It is often aimed at certain people because of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation or any other aspect such as appearance or disability.
Bullying can take many forms including:
- social bullying
- threatening behaviour
- name calling
- cyberbullying
If you are being bullied it is important that you speak to a trusted adult in school. The best place to report bullying is to your Pastoral Lead. If you can, take a friend with you.
Don’t be tempted to respond to bullying or to hit back as you could get hurt or get into trouble.
National Bullying Helpline - Advice and support if you are being bullied, including specific advice on how to manage bullying on social media.
https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/social-media.html
- Helpline: 0300 323 0169
- Telephone: 0845 225 5787
- Open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Family Support
To support families we have compiled a list of websites that may be helpful
Relate Parenting Advice - Parenting teenagers can be challenging and many parents find it hard to adapt to changes in their child's behaviour as they grow up. Here you'll find lots of practical advice on how to deal with common teen issues. Click Here
Domestic Abuse - Thurrock Council Domestic abuse website gives advice and links to agencies who can help you get the support you need. Click Here
Essex Compass is a partnership of domestic abuse services that respond to victims across Essex. Contact Essex Compass if you don't live in Thurrock, or you are supporting someone outside of Thurrock
Report domestic abuse - There are different ways to report domestic abuse. Your report will always be taken seriously and treated confidentially, helping you to get the support you need as quickly as possible.
Reporting to the police - For information and advice from Essex Police, go to Essex Police: domestic abuse. When contacting Essex Police, ask to speak with their Domestic Abuse Investigations Team.
Essex Police
- 101 – non-emergency calls
- Phone 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, a life is in danger or violence is being used or threatened.
To find out if a partner has a history of domestic violence or abuse, go to Essex Police: Clare's Law – make a domestic violence disclosure scheme (DVDS) application.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
At Ortu Gable Hall we believe in the in the importance of looking after ourselves, not only our physical health but our wellbeing too.
Take a look at our Mental Health and Wellbeing dedicated website area.
Online E-Safety Advice
Introduction
Gable Hall secondary school pupils have made a short film to increase awareness of the need to stay safe online. All young people and their parents can benefit from seeing it - Click Here to watch
Online Safety is an ever growing and changing area of interest and concern. The Internet and related technologies, including mobile devices such as phones, gaming media, tablets, and watches, are developing rapidly and are integral to the daily lives of many of our students.
Many of these technologies are used to enable students to engage creatively with their learning. Socially, our students often use the Internet for entertainment, interaction and communication with ‘friends’ – bringing about new risks which many adults were never faced with. It has never been more important for parents and carers to understand how their children use the Internet and associated technologies, so that they can help to manage the risks that exist and reinforce the important online safety messages that we should all be promoting.
You can access our Online Safety Policy which outlines our approach to Online Safety in our curriculum, technically in school and how we aim to help parents understand the digital world to support their child(s) sensible and appropriate use.
Whenever you're online:
- Never give out personal details, photographs, or information that could be used to identify you, your family, or where you live
- Remember everyone you meet online is a stranger, even if they act like a friend
- Never arrange to meet someone you've only met online, without giving the details to a friend
- Don't open an attachment or download a file unless you know and trust the person who has sent it
- Never respond directly to anything you find disturbing when using the Internet or email – log off and report it
|
Although the Gable Hall teaches students e-safety as part of the curriculum, it is vital that parents are aware of the risks too, and what they can do to develop a culture of e-safety in the home.
The Think You Know website is created by the police for parents. It contains useful information about:
- what children are doing online
- how to talk to children about what they are doing online
- what risks your child might face
- what tools there are to help them stay safe
"Think You Know" have also produced a Parents’ Guide to E-Safety and also the following booklets to provide parents/carers with helpful information on how to explore and monitor their children’s apps.
Other useful links for parents:
Zipit App and Childline - The is app supports children to know how to respond to and prevent others seeking or sending inappropriate images of requests online. The app can be accessed by following the link below where there is also Childline advice on staying safe online - Click Here
NSPCC advice for online safety - It can be hard to know how to talk to your child about online safety. From setting up parental controls to advice on sexting, online games and video apps. This website can help you to understand the risks and keep your child safe. Click Here
National Online Safety - This website has links to the information on different apps and games which we send out periodically. Click Here
Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online?
Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors
Should I make a report to CEOP? - CEOP is here to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. CEOP are unable to respond to reports about bullying, fake accounts or account hacking.
We are here to help and give you advice, and you can make a report directly to us if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online. We take all reports seriously and we will do everything we can to keep you safe.
As well as making a report to us, the CEOP Education website has information and advice to help you if something has happened to you online.
If you are in immediate danger please call the police on 999 straight away. Please also tell an adult you trust who will be able to help you.
What kind of things do people report to CEOP?
- Some of the things children and young people have reported to us include:
- Someone online has asked me to send them nude images
- I shared a nude image with someone online and they are threatening me
- I did something that I was embarrassed about on webcam and someone has turned nasty towards me
- Someone I don't know is asking me to live-stream and do things I don't want to do
- Someone online kept asking me to meet them face-to-face and I feel pressured by them
- Someone online was talking to me about sex and it made me feel uncomfortable
- Someone online is putting pressure on me to do things I don't want to do
- Someone I met in an online game keeps trying to talk to me privately
What happens when I make a report? - CEOP is here to help keep you and other children and young people safe online. If you are being sexually abused or groomed online we will do everything we can to make you safe. Please remember that CEOP are unable to respond to reports about bullying, fake accounts or account hacking.
If you decide to report to us, all you need to do is tell us what you know about what has happened. Don't worry if you feel like you don't know all of the details, whatever you tell us will be useful.
Please remember whatever has happened it is not your fault and nothing you say will shock or surprise us, we deal with this every day and are here to help you.
The most important thing to remember is that you have contacted us and as a law enforcement agency there is a lot that we can do to make sure you are safe.
What will CEOP do with my report?
- Your report will be read by a Child Protection Advisor at CEOP. Our Child Protection team are specialist workers who have helped thousands of children. They will immediately start thinking about how they will help you.
- If you are reporting sexual abuse or grooming, a Child Protection Advisor will contact you by phone or email as soon as they can and will work with you to make a plan to keep you safe.
- The Child Protection Advisor may need to talk to other adults about what you tell them to help keep you safe. They will only share what you tell them if they really need to and will always take your feelings into account when deciding the best ways to help you.
Who are CEOP Child Protection Advisors? - A CEOP Child Protection Advisor is someone who:
- Will try to help you
- Will listen to what you have to say
- Will not be shocked by what you tell them
- Will be honest with you
- Will not judge or blame you
- Will make decisions jointly with you wherever possible
- Will work with other professionals to keep you safe
- Will talk to your parents/carers for you, if you want them to, to explain what has happened
