Keeping Children Safe

We all have a role to play in protecting children and young people. If you feel that something is not quite right or even if you feel that you are not absolutely certain about a suspicion you may have,

please talk to us straight away.

Contact our Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Information and Signposts

The following links are aimed at parents and carers and offer advice and information on keeping children safe.

Online Safety

Internet Safety

We take E-Safety very seriously at Rockmount Primary School. For young people the internet, is an integral part of their everyday lives. At Rockmount Primary school our internet is filtered by Atomwide LGFL. If we feel a site has been accessed through our computers which is not appropriate we can report it to the filter to prevent further access. At home it is parents responsibility to ensure the internet is filtered. Depending on your internet service provider (ISP) and your anti virus software, you will have a number of options to filter inappropriate sites and restrict access to chat rooms. Do look at your software guides or contact your provider if you are unsure about these. By simply changing some settings and password protecting them you can have more confidence that children are not accessing inappropriate sites.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE, is a form of sexual abuse which sees children/young people being manipulated or coerced into sexual activity for receiving ‘something’ such as; gifts, money, food, attention, somewhere to stay etc.

Technology is very often used to groom victims. This may occur through social networking sites and mobile phones with internet access. If you are worried about potential online communication, abuse or grooming, CEOP offer advice, support and the opportunity to report something you are not comfortable with. Click here to make a report.

CSE has gained a large amount of media attention over the last year as lots of services involved with children and young people have noticed a big rise in cases involving CSE. Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse. Information regarding CSE can be found here on their websites below:

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Child criminal exploitation is the manipulation, coercion and control of children and young people to commit crimes usually for the benefit of other abusive adult's or peers.

There are many forms of child criminal exploitation. All are extremely harmful to a child and their families both in the immediate and long term. Examples of CCE are making children hold, hide or deliver drugs, money or weapons, to forcing children to steal, harm others or beg. Children can also be exploited in other ways, such as through sexual exploitation. Sometimes a child can be exploited criminally and sexually at the same time.

More information can be found on the NSPCC and Barnardo's website's.

Radicalisation and Extremism

As part of Rockmount'’s commitment to safeguarding and child protection we fully support the government’s Prevent Strategy, and take guidance from the Local Education Authority to help build resilience to extremism.

What is the Prevent Strategy?

The Prevent strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

It:

responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health)

RPS-radicalisation-and-extremism-leaflet.pdf

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet the problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is psychological, rather than physical. Noticing and acknowledging the signs of an abusive relationship is the first step to ending it. No one should live in fear of the person they love. If you recognise yourself or someone you know in the following warning signs and descriptions of abuse, reach out. There is help available.

This document, from Young Minds, offers parents and carers advice on how to support children who are being or have been affected by domestic violence. At the end of the document, there is a list of other helpful links to other groups and charities.