Student Support

At Carisbrooke College, we aim to be proactive in responding to the diverse learning, social and other needs of students.

Heads of Faculties, dedicated teachers and learning support assistants take responsibility for the delivery of the curriculum in each faculty area. Staff are assigned to learning areas and work with students at all times of the day, including breaks and after school. The curriculum areas are closely supported by the Welfare Team where each year group has a Head of Year to support students’ needs.

Each year group is subdivided into tutor groups. The role of the tutors is to have an overview of the students and to meet them every day in a tutor session. Parents are encouraged to speak to their child’s form tutor if they have any concerns or, indeed, wish to share good news about their children.

Carisbrooke College Safeguarding Information

‘Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.’
Keeping Children Safe in Education – September 2019

'A co-ordinated approach – safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe. No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances and, if children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.'
Working together to Safeguard Children, July 2018.

Carisbrooke College fully recognises the responsibility we have to protect and support every student, member of staff and visitor, while at the same time needing to act in a professional manner in accordance with relevant statutory procedures.

We understand that safeguarding covers all situations where a student might be at risk of harm to their safety, health or welfare. This includes the full range of possible scenarios including, for example, neglect, instances of bullying, or even physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
The College is committed to ensuring that all staff are approachable and aware of how to deal with any potential difficult situations or disclosures, as well as how to pass the information on to designated staff.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Carisbrooke College is Mike Peake. Alongside Mr Peake, there is a dedicated team who are able to offer assistance with any concerns or enquiries that you may have.

Mike Peake potrait

If you are worried about bullying these are the people who can help:

Tutor
Head of Year

Text us if you are worried about bullying:

07760666305

Email us if you are worried about bullying:
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We are here to help!

Please see below for further information regarding the safeguarding of children.

SnapMaps

Last week SnapChat, used regularly by many children and young people, launched a new feature. SnapMaps allows users to see the location of their contacts. This feature allows others to accurately pinpoint where you are. There are three possible privacy settings: •Ghost mode, where only you can see your position; •My Friends mode, where any contact can see your location; and •Select Friends mode, just those who you choose can see you

ChildNet have posted a thorough explanation of SnapMaps and how to ensure users stay safe. Well worth a read to share with anyone you know who uses the app. Although I know many adults don't use these apps on a regular basis, if we are to protect children, we need to have at least a working knowledge of the risks and uses of such apps.

Further reading: Introducing SnapMaps (ChildNet)

Protection from sexual abuse

Whilst it’s an uncomfortable thought, parents need to ask questions of any childcare provider, play scheme or holiday centre children's services, about how they prevent their workers harming a child. The NSPCC has a useful video about the prevention of sexual abuse in particular and what adults can do to ask organisations about how they keep children safe.

FGM Information

Ditch the Label

Dealing with unwanted requestes for sexual images

Voice Box, Childline’s weekly video chat, features Molly chatting about how to handle the pressure of being asked to send nudes, and what to do if you receive one. Childline has relaunched the Zipit app, which uses humour to help teenagers deal with unwanted requests for sexual images of themselves. The free app offers young people a gallery of images and animations which they can send in response to requests for sexual pictures and to deal with difficult sexting situations.

Source: Youtube Date: 01 November 2017
Further Information: Zipit App

The 12 ways that Christmas shoppers can keep children and data safe when buying smart toys and devices (ICO)

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Planning to spend a couple of hours in a Christmas Market or even on Amazon? This Christmas there will be more tech toys than ever before, and many of them will use bluetooth or wifi to link to apps and the wider internet. Some of these toys will have cameras and microphones recording the environment and the child's play.

Safety alert: see how easy it is for almost anyone to hack your child’s connected toys (Which?)

Which? Magazine have also surveyed many connected toys and found that, without appropriate safety features, they can also pose a big risk to your child’s safety.

The Which video below shows just how easy it is for anyone to take over the voice control of a popular connected toy, and speak directly to children. Which? found that it is easy enough for almost anyone to do, not only skilled hackers.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2017/11/safety-alert-see-how-easy-it-is-for-almost-anyone-to-hack-your-childs-connected-toys/

BBC launches Own It website

The BBC has launched Own It, a website for 9 to 12 year olds to help them maximise opportunities in the digital world as well as helping them to develop the confidence and resilience to tackle the everyday challenges they face online. The site includes quick links to charities and organisations including Childline to provide urgent support should children need it.

Further information: BBC website: Own It

NSPCC

The NSPCC website is an amazing resource that contains lots of tips and advice on keeping our children safe. From talking PANTS to approaching difficult issues, they have a range of tips and advice to help you keep children safe whether they’re at home, out and about or online. Follow the link below, for more information. Have a lovely and safe Christmas. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/

The Resource Vault (Children's Society)

The Children's Society website is an absolute treasure-trove of information with just about everything young people need to know about emotional and mental health. Called the Resource Vault, the resources are organised by age group. Each entry has further links about where to find more information. Although aimed at young people themselves, it’s a good resources for staff working with them to dip into.

Website: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/mental-health-advice-for-children-and-young-people/the-advice-resource-vault

#DITTO Online safety magazine from the e-safety advisor Alan Mackenzie

Alan's latest newsletter is now available from his website. In the January 2018 edition Alan and his contributors discuss cyberbullying, live Streaming, sanctions and rewards and the Yubo app. In #DITTO JUNIOR there are articles from children and young people.

You can download #DITTO magazine here: http://www.esafety-adviser.com/latest-newsletter/

Children of Prisoners

Barnardos estimate that 200,000 children each year will experience the imprisonment of a parent. Research increasingly shows the impact that parental imprisonment can have on these children with poorer learning outcomes, isolation and financial difficulties. The charity created i-HOP, an information and advice service to support school staff in working with children affected by parental offending. Resources include:

Supporting children and families affected by a family member's offending - A Practitioner's Guide

Children affected by the imprisonment of a family member: A handbook for schools developing good practice

If You Don't Know, Don't Go

(West Yorkshire Police and Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership)

West Yorkshire Police and Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership have launched a campaign warning young people to be wary of invites to free parties from older people who they know little about.

A tactic used by perpetrators of child sexual exploitation is to lure children to parties through social media and word of mouth, where they then ply them with drinks and drugs before pressuring them into sex. They may also bribe them into doing things they aren’t comfortable with in return for a lift home, as the ‘party’ is often held in an area that the young person is unfamiliar with.

Advice to Young people

If you do accept an invitation to a party or gathering there are things that you need to do keep yourself safe:

• Make sure you know the location of where you’re going and whose party it is.

• Read the road signs if you accept a lift.

• Tell a trusted adult where you are going and who you’re going with.

• Tell someone what time you’re expected back.

• Make sure you have credit on your phone.

• Make sure your mobile battery is fully charged.

• Take enough money with you to get you home