Safeguarding
At Forest Academy, we aim to make sure all our pupils stay safe in school, at home, in the community and online. We have a duty of care and the right to take reasonable actions to safeguard the welfare of all pupils. We are here to keep young people safe and secure and to promote their personal safety and wellbeing.
If a member of staff has cause to be concerned that a child may be subject to any form of abuse, then the school will follow child protection procedures and inform Children’s Services of its concern.
If you have a concern that a child is being harmed, is at risk of harm, or you receive a disclosure (intentionally or unintentionally) you must contact one of the designated safeguarding leads as quickly as possible. You will find the names of these members of staff below.
- Designated safeguarding lead: Mrs White
- Deputy designated safeguarding lead: Mrs Clare Dennis and Mrs Pizzy
You can call us with any concerns on 0208 777 2808 or email safeguarding@inspireforest.co.uk
During periods when school is closed you may have a concern about a child. At this time you should report your concerns to Croydon Social Care on 0208 255 2888. Click here for more information.
Operation Encompass
We have signed up to be part of this Police strategy. It means that we will be informed if any child in the school has been present at an incident of domestic abuse. This will enable us to support the child in school.
Policy and Procedures
Our safeguarding policy is available on our policies page. It is reviewed by staff on an annual basis. Here you will also find other policies relating to safeguarding including the online safety policy.
We will ensure all policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding children are up-to-date and in line with the latest DfE legislation. Policies and procedures are also reviewed and revised by the Trustees on a regular basis.
Disclosure & Barring Checks
We follow safer recruitment protocols at every turn. Amongst many procedures in place during the recruitment period, all staff wishing to work or volunteer with us must undergo a DBS check. We meet statutory requirements in relation to Disclosure & Barring Service – all staff and volunteers who work with us who meet the ‘regulated activity test’ (Freedoms Act 2012) are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check prior to employment.
Safety Online
CEOP is an asset of the National Crime Agency CEOP command. The CEOP command works to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation both online and offline. Click the button to report a concern.
For more information on staying safe online visit our Online Safety page.
Medical Care
Within the school, we have first-aid trained staff who are available during the day to attend to students who become ill or have an accident.
Parents are asked to provide a daytime telephone number and an alternative emergency contact so that they can be contacted if necessary.
If medicine needs to be administered to a student, this must be discussed with the office. All medicines must be stored safely within the office and not be kept by the student.
Organisations and charities that can help
Childline
When you call 0800 1111 you’ll get through to a counsellor, they’re there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
Childline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So you can talk to them at any time.
NSPCC
With the help of our friendly dinosaur Pantosaurus, PANTS is a simple way to talk to your child about staying safe from sexual abuse. Click here to go to the NSPCC Pants page.
YoungMinds & CAMHS
YoungMinds are a charitable organisation who work with the Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to provide support, advice and counselling to young people experiencing depression, anxiety, bullying and eating difficulties. They offer a parent helpline for parents and carers worried about their children's mental wellbeing.
You can find a guide to support offered at https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/your-guide-to-support/
Their parental helpline can be reached through 0808 802 5544.
Cues Ed
Helping children keep their brains amazing! CUES-Ed is an innovative psycho-education project based in primary schools developed by Clinical Psychologists and CBT therapists from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. To go to their site, click here.
Mind
Mind are a nationwide mental health charity who are able to offer information and support for a variety of mental health issues. Working closely with the NHS they have a wide range of resources and information on their website, including an A-Z of Mental Health, advice for helping someone else, guides to support and services and Elefriends - their online community. Everyone is affected by a mental health difficulty at some point in their lifetime and Mind are on hand to help.
Visit their website on https://www.mind.org.uk/
Or call them today on 0300 123 3393 for their info line.
Carers Direct
Carers Direct is for anyone who is looking after a family member who is ill or disabled or needs special help. It is part of the NHS website and offers information and advice.
There is a phone number you can call to talk to someone on 0808 802 0202
Or you can visit their website on by clicking here.
Family Lives
Family lives offer a listening and supportive, non-judgemental service for parents. They have a lot of information on their website, including parenting advice videos and forums to chat to other families. Thy offer online parenting courses too for those wanting to be prepared for parenthood.
You can visit their website on www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline
Alternatively you can call their helpline on 0808 800 2222 for information, advice, guidance and support between 9am-9pm Monday to Friday or 10am-3pm at the weekend.
FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)
FGM covers all procedures that intentionally alter/injure the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. All teachers have a mandatory responsibility to report any known case of FGM to the police.
If you believe a child is at risk or has been a victim of FGM then call 01452 426565 or use the NSPCC FGM helpline:
NSPCC FGM Helpline
Contact days and times: 24 hours
Tel: 0800 028 3550
Action Fraud
If you think your child has been ‘scammed, ripped off or conned’ online you can report it to Action Fraud online or call them on 0300 123 2040.
Prevent Strategy
Prevent is designed to support people at risk of joining extremist groups and carrying out terrorist activities.
In practice it aims for police and other organisations to build relations across the UK and requires faith leaders, teachers, doctors and others to refer any suspicions about people to a local Prevent Body. An assessment is then made about whether further action is needed.
Please click here for a link to the official government document.
Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU)
If you see any content online related to terrorism, you can report it anonymously to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU).
Domestic Abuse
Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.
There are different kinds of abuse that can happen in different contexts. The most prevalent type of domestic abuse occurs in relationships. But the definition of domestic abuse also covers abuse between family members, such as adolescent to parent violence and abuse.
If you recognise yourself or someone you know in the following warning signs and descriptions of abuse, reach out. There is help available.
Useful Contacts:
Family Justice Centre - 020 8688 0100
For more information from Croydon Council, click here
For more information on domestic violence disclosure you can visit here
