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Safeguarding

Safeguarding st Hope Community School

The protection of children is of the highest priority for our school. Children have a right to feel secure and cannot learn effectively unless they do so.  At Hope Community School we have a commitment to safeguard all our children and staff. We feel it is important to regularly give messages about how to keep ourselves safe.  

All children regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, religion, culture, language and beliefs have a right to be protected from harm.  All staff have a key role in prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm in accordance with the guidance. 

Designated Safeguarding Leads 

  • Sara Donnelly - Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Emma Carvosso -Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Jaqueline Anglin - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Safeguarding member of the School Council : Lynn Mason 

To contact Mrs Donnelly: enquiries@hopecommunityschool.org

To contact Mrs Mason: sidcup.chair@hopecommunityschool.org

Are you worried about a child ?  

If you are concerned that a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, it is essential that you share your concerns with school or a member of the Bexley safeguarding team. To contact the Bexley safeguarding team 020 3045 5440. 

NSPCC guides to personal safety

You may find the following guides useful in educating your child in how they may stay safe from abuse. 

NSPCC _ The Talk Pants guide for Parents    

NSPCC-A child guide- Say hello to Pantosaurus 

NSPCC-A child guide for, children with autism 

What happens if a child reports a concern?

How to keep your child safe

Read the guides below about keeping your child safe using some online services, such as Netflix

 

 

 

E-Safety

At Hope Community School we believe it is vital to teach children about the knowledge and behaviours that can help them to use the online world safely. Our staff are trained to be aware of the risks that exist online and therefore support the specific needs of our children. Through our PSHE and Relationship and Computing curriculums children are taught about online safety in an age-appropriate way. Children are taught how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully. They are supported to understand where they can go for help should they have any concerns when using technology. 

We have a whole school approach to online safety, and it is embedded in our ethos. We work in partnership with parents to promote online safety. 

Prevent Strategy

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.  As a school we have due regard to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. In order to protect children in our care, we must be alert to any reason for concern in the child's life at home or elsewhere. 

Staff are trained to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and know what to do when they are identified. Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation is part of our safeguarding duties. As a school we build our children's resilience to radicalisation by promoting British Values and how to challenge extreme views. Developing children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is at the centre of all we do. Our school is a safe space where they can understand the risks associated with extreme views and develop knowledge and skills to challenge these views. We are aware of the increased risk of online radicalisation and teach our children how to keep themselves safe online. We have suitable filtering systems in place to ensure that children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet in school. 

Our PSHE and Relationship curriculum, enables children to explore sensitive issues and equips them with the knowledge and skills to understand and manage difficult situations. They are taught ways to recognise and manage risk, make safe choices, and recognise when pressure from others threatens their own wellbeing. Children are taught to develop positive character traits through our school values. 

For more information on the PREVENT strategy, please click the link here