A message from our Safeguarding Team
Dear Parents and Carers
After another busy term we are looking forward to the Christmas break. This term we continued to discuss positive strategies with our students around keeping themselves and others safe. Our Anti Bullying Ambassadors completed the Diana Award and continue to work hard to prevent bullying in ACS. To support positive conversations at home we have shared useful information with parents and carers via the newsletter, social media, parent workshops and safeguarding emails. Please do send me any feedback on this as we always developing our practices to try to ensure our whole community is as safe as possible.
At this time of year I am also very mindful that some of our families will face challenges over the holiday period and I am therefore writing to all our families to signpost some potentially helpful information with the links below. Please also see the safeguarding page on our website .
Kids Eat Free in Asda Cafes: Many of you would have seen this extended offer from Asda- https://corporate.asda.com/newsroom/2020/11/30/kids-can-eat-free-in-asda-cafes-throughout-december
The Online Safety Hub for Parents : https://olympustrust.onlinesafetyhub.uk/parent/home
This fantastic resource will help you keep up with what’s going on in your child’s online world over the holiday. It has lots of useful guidance on the latest apps, trends or online risks you need to be aware of. It can also help you set up controls on new devices your children receive for Christmas. If you have not already seen them, the slides from the parents workshop in November are also available: https://www.abbeywoodschool.com/docs/Parents_workshop_Online_Safety_Hub_Project__2022_Olympus_Trust_Secondary.pdf
KOOTH –mental health support for young people.
https://www.kooth.com/ or for more urgent support at https://www.kooth.com/urgent-support
Samaritans: You can access confidential emotional support at any time from Samaritans either by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org
https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/
The Enough Campaign - Domestic Abuse is part of the next phase of the government’s ‘ENOUGH’ campaign to tackle violence against women and girls, the Home Office has added a resources page for teachers and school staff to the campaign website. This includes guidance on responding to, and prevention of, abuse in a school setting as well as resources for teaching about sexual harassment, sexual violence, and abuse. Enough Campaign website: https://enough.campaign.gov.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQ78xZSCG8
Unwanted Prisoner Contact (formerly Victims Helpline)
This is a national service that prevents victims including survivors of domestic abuse, or any member of the public, receiving unwanted contact from prisoners. It protects victims and witnesses from unwanted contact. This is especially important if the victim is vulnerable or subject to controlling or coercive behaviour, exploitation, harassment, or intimidation. Preventing contact is critical in stopping further harm or trauma, maintaining confidence, and supporting prosecutions. It can be used by anyone who wishes to STOP contact from prisoners. This includes
- stopping unwanted letters,
- blocking phone calls,
- texts or
- messages from a prisoner. Scan the QR Code for more information or go to www.gov.uk/stop-prisoner-contact
We will be back in school on the 3rd January 2023 and welcoming student back on Wednesday the 4th. If you require urgent support during this period please find below some support services you can access during school closure:
- In an absolute emergency - call 999
- General medical assistance; call NHS direct - 111
- South Glos Access and Response Teams (ART) - 01454 86 6000.
Monday - Friday (9am - 5pm) For any concerns regarding the risk of harm and/or safety of a child.
- ART - Out of hours (after 5pm) / and Weekends- 01454 615165. Please only use this out of hours number if you have any immediate concerns regarding the safety of a child.
- Bristol First Response Teams 0117 90364444
- Specific support for mental health can be accessed via CAMHS Mental Health 24/7 Response Line – (0300 303 1320)
The safeguarding team at ACS send you all festive greetings and hope that you all have a safe and happy break!
