Dedicated helpline for victims of abuse in schools | NSPCC
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children, their families, and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children.
To ensure we fulfil this responsibility at St Peter’s, all professionals are trained to ensure their approach is child-centred; what is in the best interest of the child at all times. No single professional can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances. If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns and the sharing of information, on a 'need to know' basis. The safeguarding team will ensure the information is collated and dealt with appropriately.
The following members of staff have key responsibilities for safeguarding and are trained as Designated Safeguading Leads:
Mrs Anni Matthew – Designated Safeguarding Lead: amatthew@stpetershuntingdon.org
Mrs Jose Cox – Lead for Safeguarding and Child Protection Prevent Lead: jcox@stpetershuntingdon.org
Mrs Nicky O’Connell – Safeguarding Officer: noconnell@stpetershuntingdon.org
At St Peter’s School, we are working in partnership with Cambridgeshire Police and Cambridgeshire County Council to identify and provide appropriate support to pupils who have experienced domestic abuse in their home; this scheme is called Operation Encompass. In order to achieve this, Cambridgeshire’s Education Safeguarding Team will share police information of all domestic incidents, where one of our students has been present, with the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s) (DSL) and the Domestic Abuse (DA)Lead. On receipt of any information, the DSL/DA Lead will decide on the appropriate support the child may require. The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information. All information sharing and resulting actions will be undertaken in accordance with the ‘Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Agency Protocol for Domestic Abuse – Notifications to Schools, Colleges and Early Years settings’.
Children are spending more time online, whether that is accessing school work, talking to their friends or playing online games. We want parents to have access to the necessary support, so that you can ensure that your children are safe online. The Department for Education has published the following list of recognised support groups that you can access:
If children have any concerns whilst online, the following sites can also be accessed:
Of course, students can also report back to school, and can contact either the Safeguarding team or the ICT department who will be able to offer advice.
Some parents may have also chosen to supplement their child’s learning with online companies and tutors. If you have done this, please can we ask you to ensure that the support comes from a reputable company who can provide evidence that they are safe and can be trusted to have access to children.
Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in mental health concerns in young people. One in six children aged 5-16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2021, an increase on one in nine in 2019. (Young Minds, 2022) Since returning to school after the National Lockdowns, St Peter’s School has worked hard to ensure that it has developed the mechanisms needed to support as many young people as possible. Students have access to our own school counsellor, who is currently on site three days a week. We have developed a strong relationship with the Mental Health Support Team who have delivered workshops on stress and anxiety to whole year groups, delivered interventions with students 1:1 and in group situations, and have worked with closely with teaching staff and parents to offer advice. The team will also attend all parents’ evenings in 2022-2023 to enable more parents to engage in these important conversations.
Sometimes students do not want to talk to adults about how they feel, and so we have developed a peer support programme called the CHATBAR. Sixth Form students are trained in Mental Health Awareness and First Aid, and have given up their time to work with younger students. They are available at break and lunch times, and students can come and talk to them about how they are feeling. If students are concerned about a younger student, then they know to pass this on immediately to the safeguarding team. In 2022, the students are also launching a Wellbeing Group which will allow students in years 7,8 and 9 to meet and do activities that will promote wellbeing.
In July 2022, St Peter’s School were awarded the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools ‘School Mental Health Award’ – Silver Status. We are extremely proud to have achieved this award as it identifies that the good work that we are completing with both students and staff wellbeing.
If parents would like further support we have created this padlet. It contains a variety of links that will take you to relevant support.
https://padlet.com/amatthew5/v6cmqp4a80irj310
We would like to make you aware of the Government website “Educate Against Hate” (https://educateagainsthate.com) This website offers practical advice about protecting children from radicalisation and extremism and is based on resources and guidance drawn up by the government and charities including the NSPCC and Childnet.
The DfE has set up a telephone helpline (0207 340 7264) and an email address (counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk) to enable people to raise concerns directly with the DfE
For information on our school policies please see here.
St Peter's School
St Peter's Road, Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE29 7DD
St Peter’s School is part of The Cam Academy Trust, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 0749 1945.
The registered oce is at St Peter’s School, St Peter's Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 7DD
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