About Information Sixth Form SEND Curriculum Calendar Ofsted Safeguarding Online Services Contact In this section COVID 19 - Safeguarding Statement Safeguarding The Commonweal School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of young people. All staff including visitors are expected to share this commitment. What is safeguarding? Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means: protecting children from abuse and maltreatment preventing harm to children’s health or development ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes. Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child. Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18. Commonweal also recognises the need to support vulnerable students in our Sixth form who are over 18. Safeguarding Policy and Procedures The school has a whole-school safeguarding policy and associated procedures in place to ensure that safeguarding and child protection issues are dealt with efficiently and appropriately. All staff, including our support staff, visitors, and volunteers, are made aware of our procedures, and parents/carers are welcome to read the policy which is linked below. P15 - Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures 494.38 KB – Updated October 27, 2021 DOWNLOAD Safeguarding Team The contacts may be reached on the School’s main telephone number 01793 612727 through reception. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – Louise Forrester Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead – Wendy Butcher Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead – James Woods Designated Senior Manager for Allegations – Charles Drew The members of our safeguarding team work in partnership with a range of other agencies, including Local Partners, to keep students safe. Governor for Safeguarding – Jokie Bakker (Chair of Governors) Useful Parent Links We recognise that parenting teens is demanding in our rapidly changing world. Please look at some of the links below to make yourselves aware of the issues facing some young people and for advice and support if you have any worries about your own child. General Links www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/resources-and-publications/parenting-teenagers-general www.nspcc.org.uk www.childline.org.uk www.familylives.org.uk www.nhs.uk/live-well www.mumsnet.com/teenagers Mental Health www.YoungMinds.org.uk provides a lot of useful information for students and parents www.kooth.com is a safe and confidential online counselling and emotional wellbeing service commissioned by Swindon CCG and is free to use for students between 11 and 18 years old who live in Swindon. The service is available from 12 until 10pm on weekdays and 6 until 10pm at the weekend www.Mind.org.uk Apps for Wellbeing and Mental Health The link below is a list which has been compiled by Mind in Brighton and Hove as a guide to Apps available to support your wellbeing. Mind are not able to recommend individual Apps. As a parent please check the suitability of each App, and if there are any cost implications or compatibility issues. Whilst most of the apps listed are free to download, please be aware of potential in-app purchases. https://www.mindcharity.co.uk/advice-information/how-to-look-after-your-mental-health/apps-for-wellbeing-and-mental-health/ At Commonweal we often suggest the CalmHarm app to help distract from anxiety or Self-harm thoughts. Online safety and apps/online communities Always make sure to keep yourself safe whilst online. For more information about online safety please visit the CEOPs ‘Think You Know’ guide to online safety. Additionally, you may want to visit Mind’s online safety page that contains helpful advice as well as their ‘How To’ Stay Safe Online Booklet. Healthy Relationships A parent’s guide to discussing Healthy Relationships with their children www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/ Online Safety & sexting www.thinkuknow.co.uk www.ceop.police.uk www.parentinfo.org A parent’s guide to dealing with sexting Substance Misuse Dealing with Young People’s Alcohol and Drug misuse www.youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/parents-guide-to-support-drugs-and-alcohol/ www.talktofrank.com Exploitation http://www.itsnotokay.co.uk/parents www.paceuk.info/for-parents/ Spot the Signs – A Parent Information Leaflet Criminal Exploitation – A parent’s guide (County Lines) Radicalisation and Prevent Strategy Parent Guide to The Prevent Strategy www.educateagainsthate.com/parents www.internetmatters.org/issues/radicalisation TikTok – Parents Guide What parents need to know about TikTok 15.63 MB – Updated January 15, 2020 DOWNLOAD