Safeguarding

The Academy is committed to safeguarding all and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Parents/carers can feel confident that careful and thorough procedures are in place to ensure that all staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children within the Academy. The Academy encourages parents/carers and children to talk freely about any concerns or worries which may affect any progress. It is important to us that parents/carers and pupils see the Academy as a safe place.

Children will be taken seriously if they seek help from a member of staff. Pupils may be referred or signposted for additional bespoke support from external agencies who work closely with the Academy. The Academy will endeavour to work in partnership with parents/carers at all times to inform them of additional support required or accessed for their child.  However, staff cannot guarantee to consult parents/carers first, or to keep children’s concerns confidential, if a referral must be made to agencies in order to safeguard the child’s welfare.

If you have any concerns relating to any pupil in our Academy please contact one of the members of our Safeguarding and Mental Health Team, please see the below link for more details.

Safeguarding Documents

For more information or additional support the following organisations are notable points of reference:

• Brook –Brook provides free and confidential sexual health and wellbeing services for nearly 250,000 young people UK-wide, each year.
• Childline – Need to talk? Contact ChildLine anytime – calls are free and confidential
  Phone ChildLine 0800 1111
  Have an online chat with a counsellor
  Visit or post on the message boards
• Barnados –Barnardo’s is committed to helping children throughout the UK
• NSPCC –The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a charity campaigning and working in child protection.
• Thinkuknow –Guide to internet safety and safe surfing for young people from Think U Know. Learn about online safety and report any concerns you may have.
• Escayp – Emotional Support for Children and Young People (ESCAYP) is available for children and young people offering a supportive empathic environment in which they feel secure and safe.
• XenZone –Award-winning online counselling services. Delivering proven mental health services for over a decade.
• The Young People of Wakefield Expect – Ossett Academy & Sixth Form College supports The Wakefield Young Peoples Charter, a charter created by young people with the help of The Youth Association designed by Seedbed Creative Ltd.
• Calm Harm – A free app providing activities to help manage the urge to self-harm.
• Wakefield Families Together – Wakefield Families Together brings services together, so that it’s easier for you to find and access the support you need, at the earliest opportunity.

E-Safety

With increased use of the internet and social media in society, it is essential that our students are taught how to identify, understand and reduce the risks online. This is achieved through a combination of the curriculum, assemblies and form learning opportunities.

Should you have a specific concern relating to online safety, please contact Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs Rowe or a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead; Mrs Gaskell, Ms Hemingway, Mr Spink or Mr Buckley.

Below are a series of information leaflets or web-based resources to support parents:

Thinkuknow Factsheets

CEOP

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) Provides help and advice on cyberbullying, the Centre maintains a website for children and young people and parents and carers about staying safe online.

Further articles about bullying and support can be found in editions of Ossett Voice

Social Media Age Restrictions

Bullying

According to stopbullying.gov, bullying is “unwanted, aggressive behaviour among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumours, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose”. It is clear that although bullying has a significant short term impact, the longer term consequences can also have a significant impact on self-esteem and mental health”.

Anti-bullying video

A selection of Ossett Academy students, together with Horbury Academy students, have planned, scripted, produced and directed their own anti-bullying film, which you can find below.

Students produced the film, alongside our Accord anti-bullying policy, using their own words to make sure it’s as accessible as possible to their peers, as well as parents and carers. Its aim is to help people to recognise and report bullying and to access support.

Further advice and support

If you have any concerns about bullying, please speak to your child’s pastoral year leader as soon as possible, however there are a wide range of resources available for parents.

Sleep and Your Health

Mental Health Support