Safeguarding

The online world is a wonderful place for young people to explore, with unprecedented opportunities for learning and creativity. But just like the real world there are risks and dangers they should be aware of, and which we can act to protect them from. Although the academy teaches students e-safety as part of the curriculum, it is vital that parents are aware of the risks too, and what they can do to develop a culture of e-safety in the home.

This page has some helpful resources for parents that will enable you to help your child stay safe online. If you have any concerns about your child's e-safety, there is always someone at the academy who is available to talk to you. Simply call the school and ask for our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Christie Mayer, or speak to any member of staff. 

TikTok is a very popular social media platform for young people.

Download TikTok: What parents need to know, produced by the Metropolitan Police and National Online Safety.

The leaflet also details key safety tips for parents.

The Think You Know website is created by the police for parents of children at secondary school. It contains useful information about:

• What children are doing online
• How to talk to children about what they are doing online
• What risks your child might face
• What tools are there to help them stay safe
• Think You Know have also produced a Parents' Guide to E-Safety and also the following booklets to provide parents/carers with helpful information on how to explore and monitor their children’s apps.

Think You Know have also produced a Parents' Guide to E-Safety and also the following booklets to provide parents/carers with helpful information on how to explore and monitor their children’s apps.

Facebook
Instagram
Kik messenger
Musical.ly
Snapchat
WhatsApp
YouTube

The term ‘sexting’ describes the use of technology to share intimate images of yourself. It’s a word-mix of sex and texting. The content can vary, from text messages to images of partial nudity to sexual images or videos. For more information and guidance for parents and children visit the Childnet website.

www.internetmatters.org - tools, tips and resources to help children benefit from connected technology smartly and safely

List of helpful online resources produced by Childnet

www.childnet.com – Visit the ‘Know It All’ Section for an interactive guide about online safety

www.getsafeonline.org – Free up-to-date security advice

www.cybermentors.org.uk – Online support for children

www.ceop.police.uk – Website of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

www.bbc.co.uk/onlinesafety – guidance about how to make the most of being online while staying safe.

www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware - the NSPCC has launched the Share Aware campaign which provides straightforward advice to parents on how to keep their 8-12-year-olds safe on social networks

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/professionals-online-safety-helpline - resources for professionals working in the area of safeguarding with children and young people, but could be of interest to parents too

A gang can be summarised as a group who see themselves and are seen by others as a gang, and for whom crime and violence are a central part of their activities. Children and young people face all sorts of pressures, including possibly feeling pressure to follow friends who may be in a gang. If you have any concerns or questions about gangs please do contact our safer schools police officer (contact details below). You might also like to read the Home Office leaflet which gives advice to parents on gangs and how to help children make the right choices.

Gangs: You and Your Child 

More young people across the UK are being approached by criminals who want to use their bank accounts or pin numbers for criminal purposes. This is called being a ‘money mule’. A ‘mule account’ is used to hide money that comes from illegal activities. The young person may be asked to transfer money, allow access to their account or open up a new one. Sometimes criminals will try and force young people to become mules or they might offer financial incentives such as cash or mobile phone credit.

We need your support to help educate young people around this issue. Has your child been approached or asked for their bank account to be used? Check any bank statements. Is there money going in and out that cannot be accounted for? Ask questions if you are unsure about anything.

Bank accounts are private and must only be used by the account holder.  Any misuse could not only be criminal but could cause serious credit issues for the account holder. Police are working in partnership with many schools across London to combat this issue. If you have any concerns, speak to your Safer Schools Police Officer (see below) and/or Action Fraud (www.actionfraud.police.uk) on 0300 123 2040.

Drugs networks ('County lines')

The National Crime Agency, the UK body charged with fighting organised crime, is very concerned that crime gangs are taking over drug networks using telephone hotlines (called 'county lines') and recruiting vulnerable people, often children, to act as couriers and to sell drugs. Please see our information sheet about 'county lines' and 'cuckooing' - the practice whereby professional drug dealers take over the property of a vulnerable person and use it as a place from which to run their drugs business.

Information Sheet

Drugs - Edibles

To read information for parents from the Metropolitan Police about edible drugs and what to look for on packaging that may look like sweets, please see below. 

Information Sheet 

PC Nicholas Dunbar is our Safer Schools Police Officer. There are now over 450 Safer School Partnerships operating throughout England and Wales, with police officers and community support officers based in schools to work closely with staff and students.

PC Nicholas Dunbar has been working with us for several years and is a familiar, trusted face around the school - working closely with students on issues that affect their lives both inside and outside of the academy.

PC Nicholas Dunbar can be contacted by email at Nicholas.J.Dunbar@met.police.uk (08:00 - 17:00) Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can telephone the Academy on 020 8590 3808 and let Mrs C Mayer (DSL) know and she will make contact with PC Dunbar.

Local links:

https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/young-people/redbridge-youth-hub/mental-health-well-being/
https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/early-help/early-help-families/early-help-mental-health
https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/youth-services/peer-support-group-psg-youth-club

National or London organisations:

https://www.kooth.com/ 
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/ 
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/ 
https://www.thenestsouthwark.org.uk/ 
https://www.themix.org.uk/ 
https://joesbuddyline.org/ 
https://solace.org.uk/ 
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/