Safeguarding
Welcome to the Safeguarding & Child Protection page for Pathways School
This page will offer important information to parents/carers regarding issues surrounding Safeguarding & Child Protection.
Here we will also share information from other sources to give advice, facts and resources to support parents/carers to help protect their children.
Keeping children safe in Education 2025
Please scroll to the bottom of the page for a copy of our 25/26 Early Help Child Protection and Safeguarding policy pdf.
PREVENTION:
- We recognise that the school plays a significant part in the prevention of harm to pupils by providing pupils with good lines of communication with trusted adults, supportive friends and an ethos of protection
- We will establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk and are always listened to
- Ensure that all children know there is an adult in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty
- Include in the curriculum opportunities for PSHCE which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from harm and to know to whom they should turn to for help
In the event a child makes a disclosure/allegation the following procedures should be implemented.
LISTENING AND TALKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE DO:
- Reassure
- Find a quiet place to talk where you will not be interrupted
- Listen but do not pressurise
- Ascertain the facts – DO NOT ask specific questions but encourage the child to tell you what happened by asking what happened next
- Let the child know you are pleased to have been told
- Tell the child you believe them
- Tell the child you will need to involve others to ensure the child’s safety in the future. Tell the child who needs to be involved and why.
- Report the incident to a designated teacher for any further action AND
- Give a written record, [how the disclosure arose, what the child said, your replies etc.] signed and dated to the designated teacher as soon as possible
- Ensure that the designated teacher is handed the report – not left on a desk which can then be lost
- Talk to someone about your own feelings
DO NOT:
- Promise confidentiality that you cannot keep
- Make false promises or reassurances about what will happen
- Interrupt the child to inform others
- Ask leading questions or sympathise inappropriately
We will support all pupils by:
- Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness whilst not condoning aggression or bullying
- Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment within the school
- Liaising and working together with all support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children notifying Social Services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children
- Notifying Social Services as soon as there is a significant concern
- Providing continuing support to a pupil about whom there have been concerns who leaves the school by ensuring that appropriate information is forwarded under confidential cover to the pupil’s now school
SUPPORTING STAFF:
- We recognise that staff working in the school who have become involved with a child who has suffered harm, or appears to be likely to suffer harm, may find the situation stressful and upsetting
- We will support such staff by providing an opportunity to talk through their anxieties with a designated teacher and to seek further support as appropriate
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF:
- We understand that a pupil may make an allegation against a member of staff
- If such an allegation is made, the member of staff receiving the allegation will immediately inform the Head Teacher
- The Head Teacher on all such occasions will discuss the content of the allegation with the LA Lead Office for Child Protection
- If the allegation made to a member of staff concerns the Head Teacher, a designated teacher will immediately inform the Chair of Governors who will consult with the LS’s Lead Office for Child Protection
- The school will follow the LA procedures for managing allegations against staff, a copy is available in school
WHISTLEBLOWING:
- We recognise that children cannot be expected to raise concerns in an environment where staff fail to do so
- All staff should be aware of their duty to raise concerns, where they exist, about the attitude or actions of colleagues
RESTRICTIVE PHYSICAL INTERVENTION:
- Our policy on physical intervention by staff is set out in a separate policy and acknowledges that staff must only ever use physical intervention as a last resort, and that at all time it must be the minimal force necessary to prevent injury to another person
- We use Team Teach which is a supportive use of physical intervention
Preventing Radicalisation
From 1 July 2015 schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
Pathways School is clear that extremism and radicalisation should be viewed as safeguarding concerns. We value freedom of speech and the expression of beliefs and both pupils/students and adults have the right to speak freely and voice their opinions.
Our school ethos seeks to build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views.
If you are concerned about an individual or group regarding radicalisation please contact; Barking and Dagenham Prevent Team 020 8227 3811 or Police Anti-terror Hotline 0800 789321
DfE guidance on the Prevent Duty can be found here:
Prevent Duty Departmental advice for Schools and Colleges
The NSPCC have information for parents/carers about radicalisation and dangers associated with extremism. There is also links to other supportive services on the NSPCC web page:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/fighting-for-childhood/news-opinion/why-radicalisation-child-protection-issue/
Information and resources to download for Parents/Carer and Staff can be found here:
e-Learning training on PREVENT – training developed by HM Government
Educate Against Hate – website resource for schools and parents/carers
Online Safety and through social networking
Children and young people go online to connect with friends, make new friends, to browse/surf the internet for information, chat with others and play games. This can be done using many different devices, such as: computers, laptops, iPad’s, tablets, games consoles, PSP’s and mobile phones.
They may:
- search for information or content on search engines like Google and Bing
- share images and watch videos through websites or mobile apps like Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube
- use social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter
- write or reply to messages on forums and message boards
- play games alone or with others through websites, apps or game consoles
- chat with other people through online games, BBM (Blackberry Messenger), game consoles, webcams, social networks and tools like Whatsapp
When online, children and young people can learn new things, get help with homework, express themselves creatively and connect with friends and family.
There are also risks, but by understanding and talking about the dangers you can help keep your child safe online.
The NSPCC has a wide range of resources that help adults keep children safe from abuse and other dangers, both online and in the physical world.
P.A.N.T.S: Teach your child the Underwear Rule and help protect them from abuse. It’s a simple way that parents can help keep children safe from sexual abuse:
Share Aware: Help your child stay safe on social networks, apps and games.
Online safety: Helpful advice and tools you can use to help keep your child safe whenever and wherever they go online.
Staying safe away from home: Your guide to when your child’s old enough to be out on their own, and how to teach them to keep safe while they’re away.
Home alone: How to decide when it’s safe for your child to be home on their own, and what you can do if they’re too young.
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) has lots of information about how to keep your children safe online and parental controls. The link to the website is below:
How to Set Up Parental Controls
Parental controls can help keep your child safe. Even the most Innocent searches online can bring up not so innocent results. Parental controls can be used to block upsetting or harmful content. They can also help to control in-app purchases or manage how long your child spends online. The NSPCC have made setting up parental control are really easy:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/
Be Share Aware
It can be hard to keep track of what your child is doing online. Or know how to keep them safe. There are so many different social networks, apps and games. Children and young people use social networks to:
- Send and share photos or videos
- Chat online with people via messages, voice calls or video
- Film themselves and broadcast videos via live-streaming
- Access and play games
The NSPCC has great tools to help you support your children to be Share Aware, including several videos that you can watch with your children.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/
Net Aware – Your guide to the social networks your kids use
You’ve probably heard of Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat – the most popular networks used by 11-16 year olds. But what about Omegle, Musical.ly and Periscope
To learn more about your children’s favourite social networks, their suggested ages and how to use privacy settings, visit Net Aware.
Online Gaming
Gaming is extremely popular with children. When playing online children have the opportunity to relax, socialise with their friends and have fun. Children can play on games consoles, apps or websites, and chat to other players or watch them play through live-streaming. However there are some dangers to online gaming. And with so many games and apps available online, it can be hard for parents/carers to know how to keep their child safe.
What are the risks of online games?
- Children may view inappropriate or upsetting content if they play games that aren’t suitable for their age. This could include sexual or violent material. It might be in-game content or produced by other players.
- Some players can be abusive towards others or try to exlude them from the game. Some players may also hack another user’s account or try to steal and destroy their virtual possessions. This can be as upsetting for a young person as if it happened in real life.
- Children may play with adults they don’t know. People of all ages play games. Some adults may exploit this and try to build an emotional connection with a child for the purpose of grooming.
- Some children may find it hard to stop playing games or find that gaming is getting the way of them doing other activities.
The NSPCC has some useful information on helping children to stay safe online:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games-helping-children-play-safe/
Digital Parenting Guide
You can access the latest copy of the digital parenting magazine here for more tips and advice Digital Parenting Issue 6
Reporting a Concern of Abuse or Neglect
If you have concerns that a child you know is at risk of serious harm through Abuse or Neglect it is important that you report your worries to the correct agency.
The link below will direct you to Barking and Dagenham’s Children’s Triage Team. This team will use your information to make a decision about how they can best respond to your concerns.
The website will offer you the choice to complete an online form or to phone the team directly:https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/report-a-serious-concern-about-a-child-marf-for-professionals
You can also report you concerns to the NSPCC who will offer you support and advice if you are feeling worried about a child’s safety:
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
In April 2014 every school in England received new safeguarding guidelines and detailed information on identifying and responding to Female Genital Mutilation.
FGM is a procedure carried out on young girls between the ages of infancy and 15 years of age.
Female Genital Mutilation is classified as a form of Child Abuse in the UK. It therefore makes the procedure of it a serious Child Protection issue.
It is illegal for anyone to perform FGM in the UK or to arrange for a child to be transported to another country for the procedure. The maximum sentence for carrying out FGM or helping it to take place is 14 years in prison.
There is lots of information and support available online for parents/carers concerned about this subject or if you know someone who is at risk:
Contact the Police if you think that a girl or young woman is in danger of FGM and is still in the UK.
Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500) if she’s already been taken abroad.
Contact Barking and Dagenham FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Prevention Service 0845 451 2547 for support.
The Daughters of Eve website helps to raise awareness of this issue and sign-posts those affected by it to supportive services:
The NSPCC has detailed advice on how to spot the signs, symptoms and effects of FGM and provides support for people who are concerned about a child or who have been affected themselves:
The NSPCC offers a free and anonymous FGM 24 hour helpline. Call; 0800 028 3550 or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
The Home Office provides free online FGM awareness training for parents/carers and professionals: https://www.fgmelearning.co.uk/
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE, is a form of sexual abuse which sees children/young people being manipulated or coerced into sexual activity for receiving ‘something’ such as; gifts, money, food, attention, somewhere to stay etc.
Technology is very often used to groom victims. This may occur through social networking sites and mobile phones with internet access.
CSE has gained a large amount of media attention over the last year as lots of services involved with children and young people have noticed a big rise in cases involving CSE.
Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse. Information regarding CSE can be found here;
www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/resourcesforprofessionals/sexualabuse/cse-introduction_wda97566.html
www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_projects/sexual_exploitation.htm
PACE (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation) is a national charity that works with parents and carers whose children are sexually exploited. PACE offers one-to-one telephone support, national and local meet-ups with other affected parents and information on how parents can work in partnership with school, police and social care:
www.paceuk.info