Phone : 01253 290 949 | Email : admin@tower-learning.co.uk

Pupil Area

Safeguarding/Child Protection

Our Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Natalie Partington

 Teacher

Deputy Safeguarding Lead

Kim Taylor

Headteacher

All concerns must be immediately referred to the DSL, or in their absence to the deputy DLS’s.

Additional Resources to Support Parents/Carers to keep their child safe when online:

We ensure staff have the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to keep children safe through provision of regular training on child protection issues.  A qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school provides support to staff members to carry out their safeguarding duties and liaises closely with other services such as children’s social care.

Our staff are trained to be vigilant for all kinds of safeguarding concerns, including bullying, online safety, emotional or other abuse or extremist behaviour. We have clear procedures in place where any potential safeguarding concerns are identified. We share information with other public bodies – within agreed protocols.

As part of the schools safeguarding measures, we ensure our pupils are not exposed to inappropriate political or controversial messages. Through our pursuit to develop exemplary citizens, we promote fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.  In line with this, we ensure all expressed views and actions contrary to these values are challenged. We are alert to the indicators of radicalisation and take steps to protect those who may be susceptible to messages of violence. All concerns are reported and, where necessary, referred to external agencies.

Pupil Support

Where can I get advice and support? 

  • Bill’s Be Safe box in school. Pop a note in the box and a member of the pastoral team will be in touch.
  • Speak to a member of the safeguarding team or any trusted adult in school.
  • Youtherapy – Drop in sessions
  • Every Wednesday. 3.30pm – 5.30pm – Talbot and Brunswick Children Centre. Gorton Street, Blackpool FY1 3JW
  • Young Minds Crisis Messenger 
  • Provides free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis.
  • All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.
  • Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
  • Texts can be anonymous, but if the volunteer believes you are at immediate risk of harm, they may share your details with people who can provide support.
  • Text: YM to 85258
  • Opening times: 24/7

Childline 

  • If you’re under 19 you can confidentially call, chat online or email about any problem big or small.
  • Sign up for a free Childline locker (real name or email address not needed) to use their free 1-2-1 counsellor chat and email support service.
  • Can provide a BSL interpreter if you are deaf or hearing-impaired.
  • Hosts online message boards where you can share your experiences, have fun and get support from other young people in similar situations.
  • Phone: 0800 1111
  • Opening times: 9am – midnight, 365 days a year

The Mix 

 

NHS Wellbeing and Mental Health Testing Service.  

Feeling Low? Need support. Text HELLO to 07860022846. Monday – Friday 7pm – 11pm. Saturday and Sunday 12pm – midnight.

Online Safety – Advice for Parents

Whilst our school has comprehensive safeguarding arrangements in place to ensure our pupils’ online safety, it is equally as important for parents to talk to their children about online safety and monitor their internet usage at home, using age-appropriate parental controls to restrict their access to unsavoury material. Parental controls can be activated on home broadband, search engines, YouTube, mobile phones and games consoles.

Whilst it may not always be easy to talk to your child about challenging issues such as sexting, cyber bullying, and pornography, if you are open and honest with them about the dangers they may encounter online, it may encourage them to confide in you in the future. If you are concerned that your child is being secretive or spending too much time online, it may be worth moving their computer into a communal family area so that you can keep an eye on them.

You should encourage your child to act responsibility online, and treat others as they would wish to be treated. You should also warn your child that they should never hide behind an anonymous user name to make unkind comments, or say something they would be reluctant to repeat during face-to-face interactions. Remind your child that the comments they make and the pictures and videos they post online may end up having a wider audience than they anticipated – and even if they delete them, there’s no guarantee that someone hasn’t already saved, downloaded or taken a screen shot of their post.

Children under the age of 13 should not be using social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr – this is stipulated in the sites’ terms and conditions – but it easy for them to set up an account by claiming to be older than they actually are. If your child does have a Facebook or other social media account, it is important to encourage them to use enhanced privacy settings, so that only their friends are able to search for them and see what they are posting. Warn your child that they must never accept friend requests from strangers or people they don’t know very well. You should also encourage your child to accept you, or a trusted friend/relative, as their “friend” or “follower,” as this will enable you to monitor – at least to some extent – their online posts, conversations, and the friends they are choosing to accept.

Parents should also be aware that content filters may not always work if a child is using public Wi-Fi, so it is important to ensure their access to unprotected Wi-Fi is limited.

If your child has been targeted online, the website Internet Matters offers detailed advice about who to report the incident to. Links to other websites that you may find useful are included below:

Support for parents and carers to keep children safe online, which outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to find support and advice guidance on staying safe online which includes information on security and privacy settings