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Keeping Young People Safe
Keeping Young People Safe at OSCA
Outstanding learning and progress can only happen if our students are happy and feel safe and respected. We strive to provide a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of our students. Through our rigorous safeguarding procedures, and the wide-ranging pastoral support here at OSCA we have a place where we can transform lives and shape the dreams of our students.
We recognise the importance of enabling children to talk openly about anything that worries them and to feel confident that they will be listened to. We believe in a child-centred approach - one where there is a clear understanding of the needs and views of young people. We ensure that pupils are taught about safeguarding, including online safety, through various teaching and learning opportunities, as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum. We work closely with parents to to ensure the welfare of all children. We believe that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility: all staff, governors and volunteers should play their full part in keeping children safe.
We take the safeguarding of our young people very seriously. Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found here
The designated staff for Safeguarding are:
Mrs G. Garner Gaynor.Garner@ormistonsandwell.org.uk = Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr A. Morgan Andrew.Morgan1@ormistonsandwell.org.uk = Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs S. Dickens Sarah.Dickens@ormistonsandwell.org.uk = SENDCo
The wider Safeguarding Team also includes Mr M. Sorby (Assistant Principal) and all Heads of House and Assistant Heads of House.
Should there be a concern about a young person, this can be reported to any of those staff mentioned above or indeed any member of academy staff who will them follow our rigorous procedures to ensure that person can be supported and protected.
Government guidance regarding child protection and safeguarding can be found here:
Working Together to Safeguard Children
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Support, Guidance and Information
Helping young people remain safe online is an increasing challenge. Advice for parents, carers and young people can be found here:
Childnet - supporting young people online
CEOP: Child Exploitation and Online Protection
CEOP is a law enforcement agency established to help keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation, grooming and abuse online. They help thousands of children and young people every year. They offer help and advice, and you can make a report directly to them if something has happened online which has made someone feel unsafe, scared or worried. This could be from someone a young person knows in real life, or someone they have only ever met online. Click on the icon to access the CEOP website.
Other sources of advice and support with regards safeguarding can be accessed at:
Childline - 0800 1111
NSPCC - 0808 8005000
The Samaritans - 116 123
Message from Kym Jones – WM Police
This week (11th-18th March) is a National Campaign, Operation Spectre, surrounding Knife Crime and Youth Violence.
As part of Sandwell response to this we have created a VLOG; #OMG
The VLOG is a sixty-second long video with advice, information and top tips for parents regarding knife crime #OMG One Minute Guidance
The attached link is the first one, this is PC Hughie Treasure MBE our Sandwell Young Person officer.
We are continuing the theme set by the Chief Constable and the PCC last week who are asking for parents/guardians particularly to be asking their children where they are, checking their phones and what they have in their bags.
The series will continue with VLOGS from a Head Teacher, a young person (Shape Knife Crime advocate), Sandwell Youth Services, hoping for support from Alison Cope and a Sandwell parent.
Please can I ask that you view the VLOG and send it out to parents and post it to your social media also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAxGCQ9nMYQ
"The leadership team has ensured that all safeguarding arrangements are fit forpurpose. The school has a strong culture of safeguarding. Leaders and staff ensure pupils? safety and welfare. Leaders carry out appropriate checks on staff to ensurethat they are suitable to work with pupils. The school has very well-established and effective practices to ensure that any concerns about pupils are dealt with quickly and appropriately. Training for all staff is regular, up to date and effective. Identification and reporting systems are robust and referrals made to external agencies are appropriate. Leaders and governors monitor safeguarding effectively and maintain a strong oversight."
OFSTED, June 2018
