Safeguarding

  • Please see our Child-on-Child Abuse webpage here

  • Please see our Online Safety webpage here

  • Please see our Safeguarding Early Help Offer webpage here

Keeping Children Safe at Balshaw's

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2024 we do everything possible to prevent people who pose a risk of harm from working with children in our school. We adhere to Safer Recruitment and Selection guidelines. We incorporate measures into our recruitment and selection procedures that help to deter, reject or identify people who may abuse children or who are otherwise unsuited to work with them. All staff play a part in keeping children safe whilst working in or visiting the school site.

At Balshaw’s High School, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as our highest priority. We expect everyone to share this commitment.

Our key contacts in school for Safeguarding are:

Dear Parent/Carer

Please find below a Safeguarding newsletter for October with helpful details on keeping your child safe online in relation to Image Sharing, What Consent means and an app to be aware of called Telegram which is a popular platform among young people. I hope you find this information helpful.

Kindest regards

Mrs Wilson - Deputy Headteacher/Safeguarding Lead

Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter - October 2024

Have you heard of ‘County Lines’?

This is regularly covered in the national news as it’s affecting families and communities up and down the country. ‘County lines’ is when urban gangs use children and vulnerable adults to expand their illegal drugs businesses into other towns. In Lancashire, we see pockets of county lines gangs coming in from Manchester, Merseyside, London, and West Yorkshire. The police are working proactively to dismantle these gangs from the top and protect the young and the vulnerable.

You might know someone who needs your help.  They might be a family member, neighbour, or someone else in your community.

Gangs recruit and force vulnerable adults and children to work as couriers, transporting drugs and cash for them. They often set up a base in towns in other counties, taking over the home of a vulnerable person and sending runners to stay there. These are ways gangs distance themselves from criminal activity so that their victims carry the risk.

Look out for children and teens who are:

  • Going missing from home/school without explanation
  • Mixing with new friends their parents don’t know
  • Using more than one mobile phone
  • Appearing nervous, scared, evasive, and/or secretive
  • Suffering injuries they can’t explain
  • Holding tickets for train or coach travel.

Look out for vulnerable adults who:

  • Have withdrawn from family, the community or social services support
  • Have lots of different visitors at unusual hours
  • Are in a relationship with someone controlling
  • Have their curtains or blinds closed most of the time
  • Have more anti-social behaviour close to their home.

You can report any concerns anonymously to Crimestoppers at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

It can be hard to report concerns about someone as they may have committed offences.  Whether you phone them on 0800 555 111 or report your concerns online, Crimestoppers won’t pass on who you are or give any information that might suggest who you could be. They simply receive the information they need to stop these gangs and protect vulnerable people.

 

Safeguarding Documents

 

 Where Can I Access Support?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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