Safeguarding

Oxted School, as a member of THPT, is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, both physical and emotional, of every student both inside and outside the school premises.

We aim to provide a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of that individual child and strive to make sure that every student feels secure and well cared for.

All members of Oxted School understand and are committed to the vital contribution that all trustees, staff, parents and students can make to safeguarding children. Every member of staff has a collective recognition of the importance of providing an environment that helps children feel safe and respected and promotes a culture that encourages children to talk openly and have the confidence they will be listened to.

At Oxted School, our Safeguarding Team is committed to providing the best possible care and support for all students. However, if you have any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child, please contact the school immediately and clearly state that your call relates to a potential safeguarding issue.

If your concerns are outside of School hours or during the school holidays, please contact the police. If a child is in imminent danger then please dial 999 for the Police.

You can access the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre directly by clicking on the CEOP website.

Our curriculum is designed to create awareness in students of safeguarding issues and how to deal with them. Issues are covered in the PSHE (Personal Social and Health Education) programme, our assembly programme, during tutor times and more generally throughout the curriculum. All staff and students receive e-safety advice to raise awareness of the new challenges relating to the internet with the aim to reduce its misuse, including social media sites and to minimise the incidents of cyberbullying and its effects.

All staff are regularly and thoroughly trained in identifying, reporting procedures and dealing with such issues. We will continue to ensure that all our staff, other professionals, parents/carers and students work together to know the rules about keeping children safe. They will understand the importance of following procedures and listening to each other, especially when there are concerns about safety.

There are a number of related Policies and Procedures linked to Safeguarding, some of which are a statutory requirement and some are considered to be best practice in order to support us with our collective responsibility of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018. The non-statutory policies and procedures that are in place which support and have a relevance to safeguarding are not all listed here but are available from the Academy on request.

THPT Oxted School Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
This policy sets out a clear and consistent framework for safeguarding and promoting the welfare, both physical and emotional, of every pupil, in line with relevant safeguarding legislation and the DfE’s ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ September 2018 statutory guidance document. It meets the statutory requirement for schools to have in place Child Protection Policy and Procedures and defines the process and procedures that Oxted School has in place to ensure all children are kept safe and protected from harm and that all the adults in our school are clear of their role and responsibilities. It also complies with the statutory duty under Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which states that all schools and educational establishments must have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. This is called the Prevent Duty.  For further practical advice on how to protect children from the dangers of extremism, which includes information on the warning signs, how parents should talk to children about extremism, and the steps concerned parents should take, please visit educateagainsthate.com.

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 groups and other causes.

From July 2015, all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.

This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views, the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence.

Importantly, we can provide a safe place for students to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

At Oxted School many of the things we already do to help children become positive, happy members of society which contributes to the Prevent Strategy.

These include:

• Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity.
• Challenging prejudices and racist comments.
• Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity.
•  Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy.

At Oxted School we also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can not access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with students.

• Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
• Ideology – a set of beliefs.
• Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause.
• Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism.

For many young people today there is no line between the online and offline worlds. Young people use the internet to socialise and grow and, just as you guide and support them offline, you should be there for them online too. Talk to them about what they’re doing; if they know you understand they are more likely to approach you if they need support.

CEOP’s Thinkuknow program has films and advice for children from 5-to 16 years. Your child may have seen these at school, but they can also help you find out more about what young people do online and some of the potential risks.

Being inquisitive and interested in the new gadgets and sites that your child use can really help. As your child learns more, so must you.

Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. It is important to continue to discuss boundaries so that they evolve as your child’s use of technology does. Encourage the safe use of internet connected devices in a shared space like the living room so it becomes a social, not solitary activity.

Almost every new device these days connects to the internet, even your TV. Your child understands this so make sure you know which ones can connect to the internet. Also, find out how they are accessing the internet – is it through your connection or a neighbour’s Wi-fi? This may affect how some of your safety settings are being applied.

Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking, they are a tool to help you set appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops. They are not the sole answer to your child’s online safety, but they are a good start and are quite simple to install.

Make sure your child knows never to meet up with someone they only know online. People might not always be who they say they are, even someone who claims to be a friend. Make sure your child understands that they should never meet up with anyone they only know online without taking a trusted adult with them.

Just as in the offline world, you want to help your child when they need it. Knowing when and how to report any problem is key.