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Newlands
Girls’ School

Safeguarding

At Newlands, ensuring the safety of everyone in our community underpins everything that we do. We have an ethos that has safeguarding at its heart and every member of the school plays their part in supporting our incredibly strong culture of safeguarding including all staff, Governors, parents and visitors. We take the attitude ‘it could happen here’ and have a Speak Up campaign which is led by our Head Girls and Wellbeing Practitioner which allows us to create a safe space where students can discuss concerns.  All staff are trained in safeguarding annually, and receive regular updates throughout the year.

“There is a rich and embedded culture of safeguarding…” External Audit January 2024.

If you are at all worried about your child, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the school and we will direct you to the most relevant member of staff to support you on 01628 625068.

 

Please click to the link to our Safeguarding Policy:  School Policies & Agreements - Newlands Girls' School (newlandsgirlsschool.co.uk)

 

concerns Outside normal school hours

 

If you are made aware of a safeguarding concern out of hours, the following action must be taken:

If the pupil is in immediate danger call 999.

If the child is not in immediate danger, refer the pupil to the out of hours RBWM MASH Team (01344 786543) for further action. 

Please report the incident to the DSL once school has reopened.

If you are concerned about online abuse you can report this to CEOP

 

 

 

Awareness and Safety Information

At Newlands, we continually promote the importance of Personal Safety. However, much of the learning comes through our PSHE programme, which is organised around three key themes (Relationships; Health and Well-being, and; Living in the Wider World) and is intrinsically linked with the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC) and the promotion of British Values.

Below are some useful links and resources which will support you, as Parents, in reiterating the important messages we give to pupils regarding their Personal Safety. Please do not hesitate to contact us here at school, should you have any questions or concerns.

Alcohol, Smoking, Drugs (including County Lines) and Knife Crime

https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/drug-trafficking/county-lines www.knifefree.co.uk

https://www.talktofrank.com/

www.fearless.org (Report crime to Crimestoppers)

www.victimsupport.org.uk

Mental Health and Wellbeing

https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-for-parents/children-s-mental-health/

https://www.kooth.com/

www.youngminds.org.uk

Healthy Eating and Exercise

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life

Sex and Relationships

https://parentinfo.org/article/lgbtq-glossary-for-parents

https://parentinfo.org/article/talking-to-your-teenager-about-consent-0

https://parentinfo.org/article/why-you-should-talk-openly-with-children-about-sex-and-relationships

www.relate.org.uk 

www.brook.org.uk

General Support

An essential part of the online planning process will be ensuring children who are being asked to work online have very clear reporting routes in place so they can raise any concerns whilst online. As well as reporting routes back to the school or college this should also signpost children to age appropriate practical support from the likes of:

www.childline.org.uk - Childline for support - (Telephone: 0800 1111)

www.samaritans.org (Telephone: 116 123)

UK Safer Internet Centre - to report and remove harmful online content

CEOP - for advice on making a report about online abuse

 

Personal Safety Booklet

Cyberbullying advice for Young People

Cyberbullying advice for Parents and Carers

 

Please see below the latest online safety news and resources from Childnet

In this week's newsletter we have created guidance about some of the apps and games that young people may be using to stay in touch with each other and to play online. We are also sharing our newly revamped Film Competition, which provides families with an interesting and creative way of engaging in online safety education for a chance to win some great prizes. 

If you are a school or teacher, make sure that you send on this information to parents and carers in your school community!

 

 

 

Online Safety

 

E-Safety describes a school’s approach to protect and educate pupils and staff in their use of technology and to have the mechanisms in place to intervene and support where appropriate. Our approach to E-Safety is continually evolving, in response to society’s changing use of technology and the internet.

Contentensuring that girls are not exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material; for example pornography, fake news, racist or radical and extremist views;

Contactensuring that girls are not being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users; for example commercial advertising as well as adults posing as children or young adults;

Conduct: supporting girls in ensuring that their personal online behaviour does not increase the likelihood of harm, or causes harm to others; for example making, sending and receiving explicit images, or online bullying.

 

The Governing Body and Headteacher have overall responsibility for ensuring that Newlands   has effective E-Safety policies and procedures in place, with the day-to-day management of   this delegated to the E-Safety Officer.  However, it is good practice to view E-Safety as being     a shared responsibility between Governors, Staff, Students and Parents.

Newlands will endeavour to ensure that you, as parents, have access to current information. This will support you in acquiring the skills and knowledge required to ensure the safety of    your daughters outside the school environment. A list of useful website links and resources     can be found below. These will be reviewed and regularly updated.

Pupils are permitted access to the school network and IT equipment after they and a parent/carer have signed our Acceptable Use Agreement. The rules set out in this agreement are in place to support everyone to stay safe online.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school, should you wish to discuss E-Safety further.

The E-Safety Officer for the school is Mr A. Morbey, Deputy Headteacher

Leaflets for Parent/Carers:

Websites

 

Student Welfare

At Newlands, we place great value on the well-being of our pupils.  Students are supported with any emotional, mental health, disability and health related issues that they may encounter at school.  Our staff are experienced and take a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach, to ensure that pupils get the best help and advice possible.

Form Tutors

Students have contact with their Form Tutors weekly; they are a good point of contact for any questions or issues, and will do their best to resolve a problem or signpost further help. Pupils have regular Academic and Personal Mentoring meetings with their tutors, ensuring their pastoral needs are met.  This is also an opportunity to refer students elsewhere if additional support is required.  

Heads of Year

The Heads of Year take on the role of overseeing the welfare of each year group, so that their development is supported at every level. They can help with academic concerns, emotional worries, friendship issues and general well-being.

Student Focus Centre

All Newlands pupils are able to access support and guidance through the Student Focus Centre (SFC). The Student Focus Centre promotes positive mental and emotional well-being to help everyone develop into confident and ambitious young people.  Anyone visiting the SFC will have access to a confidential and non-judgemental space, offering practical Solution Focus support and signposting to specialist advice and services if required.  During the current lockdown, the SFC will continue to support pupils whilst working remotely from home, via Teams or a telephone call.  If a pupil would like to speak to a member of the SFC, they should email Wellbeing@newlandsgirls.co.uk and one of the team will get in touch.

Counselling

Newlands works closely with Number 22 Counselling Service in Marlow Road.  A qualified counsellor from Number 22 runs regular groups, which offer pupils a safe and confidential space to discuss any issue that is worrying them and in turn, help one another.

Our volunteer counsellor provides one to one support for up to a maximum of 10 sessions.

Learning Mentors

Our Learning Mentors work with students from Years 7-11.  Heads of Year refer students to the Learning Mentor who will carry out an initial assessment to identify the area of need and then assist pupils individually, in groups or in the classroom, helping with issues such as organisation, homework and revision strategies.  

Sixth Form Learning Mentor

The Sixth Form Learning Mentor works with Year 12 and 13 students, helping them to develop both their academic and interpersonal skills.  The role involves both group and individual mentoring, which is designed to strengthen independent learning, as well as raising the aspirations of students by encouraging their progression into Higher Education, training or employment.

Safeguarding

  • Newlands is committed to ensuring the welfare of our students and require all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.  All Safeguarding and Child Protection issues are taken very seriously.  
  • We work closely with relevant support services, including those agencies involved in safeguarding children who may be experiencing or at risk of significant harm. We also strive to identify quickly any families who may benefit from Early Help intervention.
  • The school will not tolerate any discriminatory, rude, aggressive or threatening behaviour towards any staff, students or members of our wider community.
  • Newlands promotes a caring, safe and positive school environment

Further Help and Guidance

Helping children and young people to manage anxiety

Five Ways to Wellbeing

10 Top Tips Parent Resource - This resource is designed to offer practical advice on how parents can        safeguard their mental health and promote their wellbeing.
 

 

Kooth - Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people

https://www.kooth.com/index.html

 

 

 

 

Mind - provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

https://www.mind.org.uk/

0300 123 3393

86463

 

Bullybusters - anti bullying project, can provide helpful tips so you can try and stop the bullying from happening.

 

https://www.bullybusters.org.uk/kids/

 

0800 169 6928

 

 

Heads Together - a mental health initiative, which combines a campaign to tackle stigma and change the conversation on mental health with fundraising for a series of innovative new mental health services.

https://www.headstogether.org.uk/

 

SHOUT to 85258

 

Muslim Youth Helpline - provides pioneering faith and culturally sensitive services to Muslim youth in the UK.

https://www.myh.org.uk

0808 808 2008

07860 022811

 

 

 

Young Minds – making sure all young people get the best mental health support and have the resilience to overcome life’s challenges.

https://youngminds.org.uk

0808 802 5544

 

 

Winston’s Wish –Supporting children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling.

 

https://www.winstonswish.org

 

0808 802 0021

 

 

Papyrus – Prevention of suicide in young people

https://papyrus-uk.org/

 

0800 068 4141

07860 039967

 

Beat – helping people of all ages to overcome eating disorders.

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

 

0808 801 0677

0808 801 0711

0808 801 0811

 

 

NACOA – Support for the children of alcoholics.

https://nacoa.org.uk

 

0800 358 3456

 

 

Mermaids - Reduce isolation and loneliness for gender variant and transgender children, young people and their families.

https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk

 

0844 334 0550

 

 

 

National Self Harm Network – A forum to support individuals who self-harm and their families to reduce emotional distress and improve their quality of life

 

http://www.nshn.co.uk/

 

 

 

 

Childline – National support  for children and young people on a wide range of topics.

https://www.childline.org.uk/

 

0800 1111

 

Berkshire CAMHs - – (Self-referral) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides support, advice, guidance and treatment for children and young people with severe or moderate mental health difficulties.

 

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/contact-us/make-a-referral/make-a-child-or-young-person-referral/

 

0300 365 1234

 

 

AnDY Clinic - assesses and treat young people for anxiety and depression disorders. Cannot self-refer; needs to be through CAMHS.

 

https://research.reading.ac.uk/andy/

 

 

 

Number 22 – 01628 636661 counselling for adults and young people. Clients can refer themselves or be referred by doctors, mental health teams, social workers and teachers.

 

https://number22.org/

 

01628 636661

 

 

Samaritans - You can get in touch about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue feels.

https://www.samaritans.org/

 

116 123

 

 

Students Against Depression - offering advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.

 

https://www.studentsagainstdepression.org/

 

 

 

 

local authority safeguarding inspections