Safeguarding

The Secretary of State for education directed all schools in England and Wales to close on 23 March as part of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thereafter, the Department for Education provided guidance on the safeguarding of pupils during the period of school closure. The Aquinas Trust and the Academy are complying with this guidance as reflected in the addendum to the Trust Safeguarding Policy (the Addendum), which is found on the ‘Policies’ page of the Aquinas website www.aquinastrust.org. For the period of school closure, the Academy’s Child Protection Policy will be altered as detailed in the Addendum.

Safeguarding is the responsibility of all members of the school community. Bishop Justus Church of England School provides annual Safeguarding and Prevent training to all staff.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead:

Mr Patrick Boughton-Reynolds

Deputy Safeguarding Leads:

Mrs Sara Barcas

Ms Julie Daley

 

If you have a safeguarding concern please email us: safeguard@bishopjustus.bromley.sch.uk

If you believe a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 999. 

If you have any  any urgent child protection or safeguarding concerns outside of school hours please contact the appropriate local authority:

 

We follow a suite of Aquinas Trust policies that include a number of academy-based policies and procedures that underpin and support keeping children safe in education. These can be accessed from our policies page.

Regular Safeguarding bulletins may also be found here to offer practical and useful advice about keeping children safe. The National Online Safety information posters for parents are also available.

Bishop Justus Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

 

Useful links and resources

 

Safeguarding and child protection

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/ask-the-awkward/ Think you know  is a website run by the NCA supporting parents to discuss (with their children)  topics the topics of online relationships and sex. 

Information about how to report concerns to social media sites (snapchat, Instagram, tiktok, etc) https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/Reporting-to-social-media-sites-/

Advice about online grooming- https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Get-help/Reporting-an-incident/

Advice(and instructions) on making  a report to National Crime Agencies CEOP’s Child Protection advisors - https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre  

https://info.nationalonlinesafety.com/mobile-app A really good app for parents keeping you updated on current issues with online safety.

Information for parents from Bromley Safeguarding partnerships: https://www.bromleysafeguarding.org/articles.php?id=589

 

Mental health and Well-being

Great selection of self-help books from author Poppy O’Neill https://poppyoneill.com/ on self-esteem, anxiety and well-being. 

Would recommend  https://poppyoneill.com/2021/09/06/youve-got-this-no-more-worries/  for teens and  https://poppyoneill.com/2018/07/01/new-childrens-self-help-books-out-now/ for younger students.

Headspace- a brilliant app full of meditation exercises for morning, evening and well as podcasts promoting mental health and well-being. 

https://www.headspace.com/student-toolkit   discounted for students from £70 to £10 per year. 

Bromley Y webinars https://bromley-y.org/support-we-offer.html

Bromley Y run lots of monthly webinars (for parents/carers and students)  on anxiety, academic stress, school avoidance, low mood, fears and worries, etc. 

To book a place go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bromley-y-31612643251

The Signpost – Run by practitioners at Bromley Y, is a text support for 11-18-year-olds. It offers emotional health support and will help young people think about what options are available. 

Text: 07480 635 025 (Texts are monitored Monday-Friday, 9-5 (excluding Bank Holidays).

Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community for young people (ages 11+). 

Young people can access a counsellor online, its free and anonymous. 

Link to website:  https://www.kooth.com/

 

Bereavement support for children

Candle Child Bereavement Service- from St Christopher’s Hospice-  https://www.stchristophers.org.uk/candle

Hub of hope – a database of all mental health services (not just free services).

Put your postcode in this address to find all your local mental health services:

https://hubofhope.co.uk/

 

For Parents

Open university (free) course in Challenging ideas in mental health (Intermediate-level2):  understand how mental health issues affect everyone

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/health/challenging-ideas-mental-health/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab

FYI other free courses- https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

Bromley Children Project – support on parenting, child’s behaviour at home, and more:  online referral form https://www.bromley.gov.uk/site/xfp/scripts/xforms_form.php?formID=216

NHS – Advice for adults on seeking support for themselves 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

 

Supporting Your Child During Exam Time (Young Minds)

As we start to move towards exam season, Young Minds have launched advice for parents about supporting their children.

Tips include:
  • Encourage your child to take revision breaks and find a balance between studying and doing things they find enjoyable and relaxing.
  • Make sure they are eating and drinking at regular intervals.
  • Reassure them – reinforce that you are and will be proud of them no matter what happens.
  • Remain positive and hopeful!
  • Let them know their feelings are valid and normal, but also offer support and solutions where possible.
  • Anxiety is often worst at night and this means it is useful to encourage good bedtime routine.

You can find out more on the young minds website.

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