Summer Term 2024
Safeguarding is EVERYONE's responsibility
Welcome to our Summertime update on Safeguarding at Goldthorn Park Primary School. We are your Safeguarding team and are available to speak to you throughout the school day. If you have a concern about a child or family please make contact at your earliest convenience, share your concerns and we can then take the appropriate action to support. If you ever feel a child is at risk of immediate serious harm you would contact the police on 999.
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces. Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse.
As a school we have ensured that a member of our staff, Mrs R. Purshouse (Designated Safeguarding Lead) known as a Key Adult, has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right. We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
If you feel you would benefit from support around domestic abuse, please contact Mrs Purshouse.
Online Safety
With the ever evolving advances in technology the internet has become an integral part of both ours and our children’s lives. A fantastic tool where we can communicate with friends, learn and have fun. Children start using digital devices from an early age and are increasingly using the Internet more and more whether it is at home, in school, on their mobile phones or on a games console. With this in mind, Internet Safety and knowing how to help protect children online, teaching them the skills they need to act safely and responsibly ensuring they have a positive experience online is essential.
Online safety - Curriculum
As part of the Computing curriculum children are taught how to keep safe online through specifically taught lessons; engaging workshops delivered by outside agencies and school assemblies. The children are taught to use technology safely and respectfully; informed how to keep personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about material on the internet or other online technologies.
To further enhance our online Safety curriculum offer Goldthorn Park work with Online Safety specialists to ensure the most up-to-date and relevant messages are being shared around staying safe online. These include: Parent/ carer workshops, children's workshops, trained Digital Leaders, celebrating online safety week and 1:1 sessions.
Online Safety - hints and tips for parents
Talk to your child about what they’re up to online.
Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online.
Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world such as set time limits for activities such as using the internet and games consoles.
Know what connects to the internet and how e.g. games consoles, mobile phones, music devices.
Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space.
On computers and any other devices your child has access to, set the parental controls to the appropriate age, and enabling access to only appropriate content.
The big four Internet Service Providers (ISPs) give their customers free parental controls which can be activated at any time. Check them out and take advantage of them.
Agree a list of websites your child is allowed to visit and the kind of personal information they shouldn’t reveal about themselves online, such as the name of their school or their home address.
Watch E-Safety films and cartoons
Make sure your child is accessing only age-appropriate content by checking out the age ratings on games, online TV, films and apps.
Discuss with your older children what they should or shouldn’t be showing their younger siblings on the internet, mobile devices, games consoles and other devices.