Safeguarding

Safeguarding is the process of protecting children from abuse and neglect, a way of preventing an impairment of their health and development. Safeguarding ensures children and young people are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that optimises their life chances in order to enter adulthood successfully.

At Horbury Academy, every member of staff, at every level, has a responsibility in keeping our young people safe, in every aspect of their work, whether it is for example:-

• never promising confidentiality to a child who may have disclosed something;
• responding immediately following our strict procedures when concerns have been raised;
• building and maintaining sound relationships with our students where professional boundaries are observed at all times;
• behaving as a role model for young people at all times;
• ensuring zero tolerance to bullying;
• remembering our mantra that “it could happen here” particularly with regard to the modern threats of radicalisation, child sexual exploitation and female genital mutilation (FGM) ensuring we educate our students in order to protect them;
• working positively alongside parents and agencies in order to ensure all our children remain safe both inside and outside the Academy;
• ensuring no unauthorised personnel are admitted onto our site;
• ensuring a clean, safe environment that is fit for purpose.

Safeguarding our young people is at the forefront of what we do every day and we are confident our provision is firmly embedded through our ethos and across the curriculum, a flavour of our key actions are:-

• listening to our students;
• embedding student safety through Personal, Social, Health and Citzenship Education (PSHCE);
• recruiting a ‘suitable to work with children’ workforce in line with Safer Recruitment Guidance;
• ensuring robust vetting checks are consistently carried out for all, including volunteers;
• providing quality induction and refresher training for both our teaching and support members of staff, including Exam Invigilators as relief workers, on an annual basis;
• working in partnership with our parents/carers, agencies, consortium partners and local academies to consult, listen and reflect how we can improve the safety of the students in our care;
• ensuring the Directors of Horbury Academy understand their responsibilities as contained within the Safeguarding Policy, quality assuring the following procedures on an agreed basis:

• Safeguarding Policy
• Code of Conduct Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Equal Opportunities Policy
• Complaints Procedure
• Administration and Medicines Policy
• Managing Allegations Against Staff Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Recruitment, Selection and Induction Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• SEND Policy

Safeguarding our young people is at the forefront of what we do every day and we are confident our provision is firmly embedded through our ethos and across the curriculum.

If you are concerned about the health and safety, security or well-being of any member of the Horbury Academy community, please ensure you share this information with one of the designated safeguarding staff. All concerns will be taken seriously, and will be treated sensitively and professionally.

E-Safety Guidance

Do you know how to keep your child safe?
In order to reduce the online risks to teenagers it is important that parents and carers engage with their children and are aware of the simple measures that are available to stay safe online. The top ways to start conversations about this are:

• Ask children to tell you about what sites they visit and what they enjoy doing online. Let them teach you, even if you already think you know it all. The people who know best about what your children are up to online, are your children. Ask them questions such as:
  • Why do they like the site?
  • What can they do on it?
  • What’s so fun about it?
  • Who uses it at Horbury Academy?
  • Who you can talk to?
  • Who are their friends on it? This is a good way to develop a trusting relationship with your child about what they are up to online.
• Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share online?
• Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block the services they use.

Social Media
Facebook has an age restriction of 13 and then tailors its experience to the age of people who are under 18. Are you aware of this and have you checked that your children have registered their account with the correct date of birth? Other social media sites have similar age restrictions.

Safe search
Bing, Google and most other frequently used search engines all have a safe search setting which filters out most undesirable content. Look for the cog icon, which is also available on Youtube.

Parental controls
The vast majority of devices that connect to the internet, including PCs, laptops, tablets, phones and games consoles all have parental controls and allow restrictions to age-restricted content to be created. All ISPs allow parental controls to be activated on your home internet connection. Further advice and instructions are available on this link:

• How to set up parental controls on home internet connections

You may also find the following guides useful:

• Parental Guide – Apple
• Parental Guide – Nintendo 3DS
• Parental Guide – Nintendo Switch
• Parental Guide – Playstation
• Parental Guide – WiiU
• Parental Guide – Xbox 360
• Parental Guide – Xbox family
• Parental Guide – Xbox One

Further guidance

Finally, the sites below offer further useful advice and information:

• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
• http://parentinfo.org/page/for-schools
• http://parentzone.org.uk/
• https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/
• Young Minds Online Safety Advice for Parents
• https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
• https://www.wakefieldfamiliestogether.co.uk/family-hubs/

Sleep Hygiene

Sleep is an important part of our well-being and can impact on our emotions, ability to function and ability to cope. It is quite common for children, adolescents and adults to experience some difficulties in sleeping from time to time. To support you and your family, you may find the following resources beneficial:

The Children’s Sleep Charity – A national award winning charity based in Doncaster which provides a range of leaflets and support for parents and professionals.

https://www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk/parents.php

Unravel – Coronavirus and the importance of sleep for positive mental health.

https://unravelsupport.co.uk/the-importance-of-sleep-for-positive-mental-health/

Great Ormond St –Sleep hygiene 

Young Minds – Information about common sleep problems, with links to a parent helpline.

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/sleep-problems/

NHS Moodzone Audio – Dr Chris Williams explains what you can do to give yourself the best chance of a good night’s sleep – Suitable for adults although much of the advice is appropriate for children.

https://www.nhs.uk/Video/Pages/sleep-problems-podcast.aspx

10 tips to beat insomnia

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/10-tips-to-beat-insomnia/

NHS promoted apps to support good sleep

https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/filter/?categories=Sleep

How to sleep well checklist

County Lines

With so many stories about County Lines and gangs in the press and on social media, it’s bound to be a cause for concern for parents and carers. In response, this leaflet has been developed to give parents and carers the information they need.

Wakefield Families Together

Wakefield Families Together brings services together, so that it’s easier for you to find and access the support you need, at the earliest opportunity.

Learn more here: https://www.wakefieldfamiliestogether.co.uk/family-hubs/

Mental Health Support