West Leigh Infant School

MASH+

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding & Support Hub (MASSH) is a partnership between Southend City   Council children's social care, education and youth services,

Essex NHS, Essex Police and the Probation Service working together to safeguard children and young people. We have a duty of care to the children in our school to report concerns in a timely manner and seek appropriate advice to ensure the safety of children and their families.

If you have any concerns about a child or young person in Southend being at risk of harm, abuse or neglect, it is important that you contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01702 215007  and give as much information as you can. However, if the child is at immediate risk then call the Police on 999.

You can also report any concerns anonymously through the NSPCC website.

ENCOMPASS

As part of our  School's commitment to keeping children safe we have signed up to implement the principles and aims of the Operation Encompass Model. Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has been exposed to, or involved in, any domestic incident.

In signing up to Encompass the Governing Board and Senior Leadership Team:

Endorse the Encompass Model and support the Key Adults in our school to fulfil the requirements of the Encompass Protocol

Promote and implement Encompass processes and use these in accordance with internal safeguarding children processes.

Recognise the sensitive nature of the information provided and ensure that this is retained in accordance with the principles of data protection

Operation Encompass will ensure that a member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been involved in, or exposed to, a domestic abuse incident. 

We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved. If you would like more information about this initiative, you can contact our Key Adults at school.

Prevent

The way we educate our young people shapes the society we will live in. British schools have long been dedicated to encouraging students to think for themselves and to think about others, a blend of critical thinking and empathy that is the best inoculation against radicalism and extremism.”

Russell Hobby NAHT General secretary 06/11

In March 2015 new statutory duties were placed on schools by the ‘Counter Terrorism and Security Act’ (2015) which means we must work to prevent children being drawn into extremism. Safeguarding children from all risks of harm is an important part of a school’s work and protecting them from extremism is one aspect of that.

As a school we believe that our children should be given the opportunity to explore diversity and understand Britain as a multi-cultural society. Providing a safe learning environment in which children can raise controversial questions and concerns without fear of reprimand or ridicule and explore boundaries of what’s acceptable engenders an open attitude to multi-cultural and race issues. Our teaching is based on the principle that we should treat everyone with respect whatever their race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, special need or disability. We aim to enable our teachers to engage children in promoting a positive attitude to others with a focus on shared values whilst developing a high regard for themselves. By building self-esteem children are encouraged to stand firm and be positive about others and not influenced by negative peer pressure.

What is PREVENT?

PREVENT is a key part of the Government’s strategy to prevent extremism and radicalisation. Early intervention is at the heart of PREVENT in diverting people away from being drawn into terrorist activity. PREVENT happens before any criminal activity takes place – it is about recognising, supporting and protecting people who might be susceptible to radicalisation in whatever form that may take e.g. developing and pursuing political and religious beliefs that may harm and endanger others.

Awareness of PREVENT, and an understanding of the risks it is intended to address, is vital to help identify young people whose behaviours suggests they may be drawn into terrorism or extremism.

Radicalisation: process by which people come to support terrorism and extremism and in some cases, go on to participate in terrorist groups.

Extremism: vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths.

Warning Signs and Risk Factors

Accessing extremist websites, especially those with a social networking element

Possessing extremist literature

Peer, social, family or faith group rejection

International events in areas of conflict and civil unrest having a personal impact on the young person resulting in a noticeable change in behaviour

Verbal or written support of terrorist attacks or extremist views

First-hand experience of racial or religious hate crime

Extended periods of travel to international locations known to be associated with extremism

Evidence of fraudulent identity/use of documents to support this

Experience of disadvantage, discrimination or social exclusion

History of criminal activity

Pending a decision on their immigration/national status

Being in contact with extremist recruiters

Help and advice

Concerns about suspicious activity or behaviour can be reported to the Confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. In the case of an immediate threat, always dial 999.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Child Sexual Exploitation (or CSE) is a term that explains what happens when abusers encourage children and young people under 18 into sexually exploitative situations, contexts and relationships. These often involve the young person being given things such as food, accommodation, drugs, affection, gifts of money in return for performing sexual activities. Victims will often be groomed for a period of time before physical or sexual abuse takes place.

Child Sexual Exploitation is a form of child abuse, it is not a specific criminal offence but the term encompasses a range of different forms of serious criminal conduct and a number of individual offences. The sexual exploitation of a child or young person will almost certainly involve the commission of a crime, or have the potential for a crime to be committed.

CSE can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition, for example the persuasion to post or send sexual images of themselves with no immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the young person have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and resources available to them.

Violence, coercion and intimidation are common in child sexual exploitation cases as many perpetrators target vulnerable young people. The vulnerability is often due to economic or physical circumstances that leave the young people with few choices, however, it is important to remember any child may be targeted so it is important to help them keep safe.

Online Safety

Information on CEOP

The 'Click CEOP' button is an asset of the National Crime Agency CEOP command which works to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation both online and offline. It has been developed for children and young people and is offered as a convenient and potentially less intimidating method of reporting these sensitive types of crime, alternative to face-to-face and telephone reporting to local police forces. It provides children and young people with access to an online mechanism for reporting known or suspected child sexual exploitation or child sexual abuse directly to CEOP.

Reporting to CEOP

CEOP takes all reports seriously and children of all ages can report through the Click CEOP button below. The reporting form is designed to be as accessible as possible by children, but it is highly recommend that young children seek the support of an adult they trust to help them make a report.

All reports to CEOP are treated sensitively and are read and risk assessed by a CEOP Child Protection Adviser. It is not possible to report to CEOP anonymously as CEOP have a duty to ensure the child or young person is safe. Reports made outside of office hours are viewed by the NCA Control Centre. Urgent concerns about a child’s safety are referred by the Control Centre to local police. CEOP advise any urgent reports where a child is in immediate danger should be reported to the local police force where the child is located.

PACE (Parents against Child Sexual Abuse) have created a free online learning module about the signs and symptoms as well as the impact of CSE. It also gives advice on what to do when you think a child might be at risk of CSE http://paceuk.info/training/keep-them-safe/.