Rawlins is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The Academy’s Child Protection Policy can be found via the policies page.
If you are concerned about a child, or want advice/guidance, you can contact the NSPCC helpline here: NSPCC Helpline | NSPCC
As part of our curriculum and tutor programme, safeguarding, welfare and mental health issues are discussed with pupils but it is important that parents are also fully aware of potential safeguarding risks. The following information is designed to support the safety of our young people.
The internet is a fantastic resource; it provides a wealth of information that can support young people to communicate, stay connected and with their learning. In school we take online safety very seriously, educating and enabling young people to understand the dangers present and manage/avoid the risks, throughout all areas of the curriculum.
As parents/carers you also have a significant role in ensuring that children stay safe online. With an internet that is continually evolving, we appreciate that it can be difficult to stay on top of the wide range of sites and devices that young people use. However, children and young people still need your support, advice and protection when it comes to managing their lives online and navigating the potential risks.
Below we have provided a number of links relating to online safety that you may find useful:
Other sources of information include:
We have an Acceptable Use Policy that aims to ensure safe use of the internet and school IT equipment. The relevant part for parents has been copied below:
7.1 Access to ICT facilities and materials
Parents do not have access to the school’s ICT facilities as a matter of course. However, parents working for, or with, the school in an official capacity (for instance, as a volunteer or as a member of the PTA) may be granted an appropriate level of access, or be permitted to use the school’s facilities at the Principal’s discretion. Where parents are granted access in this way, they must abide by this policy as it applies to staff.
7.2 Communicating with or about the school online
We believe it is important to model for pupils, and help them learn, how to communicate respectfully with, and about, others online. Parents play a vital role in helping model this behaviour for their children, especially when communicating with the school through our website and social media channels.
If you are concerned that your child is at risk online, please contact Rawlins and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead or email safeguarding@rawlins.embracemat.org
CSE is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity. The following websites offer guidance so that parents and carers feel more aware of the potential signs of CSE and the support available
Keeping it Together: A Parent’s Guide to Coping with Child Sexual Exploitation
Keeping it Together: A Parent’s Guide to Coping with Child Sexual Exploitation
If you are concerned that your child is at risk of CSE, please contact Rawlins and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead or email safeguarding@rawlins.embracemat.org
Child criminal exploitation (CCE) is a growing issue where gangs target vulnerable children to get them to carry out criminal activity. County lines, a form of CCE, is a term used when drug gangs from big cities expand their operations to smaller towns, often using violence to drive out local dealers and exploiting children and vulnerable people to sell drugs. The following websites offer support and information for parents.
Please be aware of the following free course aimed at parents, which allows you to spot the signs of potential exploitation: https://paceuk.info/training/keep-them-safe/
If you are concerned that your child is being coerced into criminal activity, please contact Rawlins and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead or email safeguarding@rawlins.embracemat.org
The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 details the ‘Prevent Duty’ for schools which equips us with the knowledge we need to look out for signs of potential extremist or radicalised behaviour. As parents, you may find the following websites and documents useful:
If you are concerned that your child is being coerced into criminal activity, please contact Rawlins and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead or email safeguarding@rawlins.embracemat.org
As part of our statutory duty to promote students’ wellbeing, Rawlins has a clear role to play in preventing drug and alcohol misuse. At some point in their lives, your child may come into contact with drugs or alcohol. By talking openly about the risks, your influence can mean they make the right choices.
The following websites offers guidance and support for parents and students.
If you are concerned that your child is at risk of addiction, please contact Rawlins and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead or email safeguarding@rawlins.embracemat.org
Domestic violence is threats, violence or abuse between people in a relationship together. Domestic Abuse takes many forms including psychological, physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse. Further information and support can be accessed on the following websites:
If you have concerns around the impact of Domestic Abuse on your child, please contact Rawlins and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead or email safeguarding@rawlins.embracemat.org
All Leicester City and Leicestershire County schools are part of Operation Encompass which is a safeguarding initiative aimed at improving outcomes for children and families affected by domestic violence and abuse. Operation Encompass is a protocol whereby schools are formally notified of any reported incident of domestic violence at an address at which children are present or normally resident. It is run in partnership with Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and with Leicestershire Police. All public agencies currently share information where there are safeguarding concerns or risk of harm to children and the Police now share information about all incidents of domestic abuse through Operation Encompass.
To further support the welfare of children, when any domestic abuse incident has been reported to the Police during the school term and one of our pupils was in the household, the information is shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. This system has been introduced because domestic abuse in a household can have a huge impact on children, even if they do not see what is happening. This information will be used to ensure the school is able to provide appropriate support to pupils. The information will remain confidential and will only be shared on a strictly need-to-know basis. For example, with the class teacher. It will not be shared with children.
If you would like to speak to someone in confidence about domestic abuse, call the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 802 0028. If you need to make a silent call to the police, please dial 999 and then 55 which indicates to the officer that you are not safe to talk.
We have a range of programmes in school as well as visiting support workers aimed at supporting our pupils with their Social, Emotional and Mental Health.
To discuss a referral to an in-school programme or an outreach worker, please contact your child’s Head of Year.
Anti-bullying
Bereavement
Counselling/therapy/emotional support
Divorce and Separation
Eating Disorders
Family Mediation
Hate Crime (incuding misogynism)
Self Harm
Support for families
