Safeguarding is the underpinning ethos of Silverdale School. We are committed to educating our students and their parents and carers on how to stay safe in all aspects of our community and the ever-changing culture they face.

We recognise that in today's society our young people are growing up in a more challenging and unpredictable environment which can have additional dangers that may not be readily noticeable. For example, the growing concerns around social media, online grooming and grooming in general, gangs, weapons, sexualised behaviour and exploitation of young people, a rise in the viewing of pornography and its negative impact on relationships, as well as the radical views of extremists. Safeguarding covers much more than the few listed and further on you will see the knowledge we aim to instil and the interventions and support we offer.

We also pride ourselves on our strong community links and our positive relationships with external agencies.

To ensure our young people are equipped in recognising safeguarding concerns and how best to manage these concerns, education around these issues is delivered each academic year with specific events calendared in.

Read more about our student support team here. You can read our current safeguarding policy on our policies page here.

WHO TO TALK TO

If you want to speak to someone about any concerns you have for yourself or a child you know, then please contact our safeguarding team:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (Director of Safeguarding and Inclusion, Chorus Education Trust):
  • Mrs Katie Anderson
  • Urgent enquiries outside normal school hours: 07375 388885
• Designated Safeguarding Deputy — Safeguarding and Inclusion Officer:
  • Mrs Tracey Pawlak
  • Urgent enquiries outside normal school hours: 07375 388831
• Designated Safeguarding Deputy (HI) — Hearing Impaired Unit Manager:
  • Mrs Kathy Grieve

If you cannot contact them please the school reception on 0114 236 9991, and they will find you the right person to talk to.

If you do not want to speak to someone face to face, there are organisations you can call, which are listed at the bottom of this page. You can speak to them in confidence about any problem you or a friend has. You don't have to give your name if you don't want to.

Remember: there is always someone you can talk to, everyone has a right to be safe.

WHO TO CONTACT WHEN SCHOOL IS CLOSED

As part of our aim to increase support for our students and school community, the safeguarding team are available during school holidays, Monday – Friday 9am till 3pm (excluding bank holidays).

If you have any safeguarding concerns/questions you wish to raise during any school closure, please contact 0114 236 9991 and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team.

If you have a safeguarding emergency outside these hours please contact the Sheffield Safeguarding Hub 0114 273 4855. If you believe a child to be in immediate danger please call 999.

ESAFETY — GROWING UP ONLINE

As your child grows and becomes more independent, it is only natural that they take this independence online. In our teenage years we explore, try new things and sometimes push boundaries and take risks, this is an essential part of growing up.

With all of the potential that the online world and new technology offers, young people now have access to huge opportunities. They use technology to express themselves, explore, and be creative; it has changed the way they communicate.

The internet has changed all of our lives, and your child has grown up during this change. Many of the things that confuse, baffle or even scare us are part of the everyday for them. For many of us, this can all be a bit too much.

Whether you’re a technophobe or a technophile, it's still likely that you'll be playing catch-up with the way your child is using the internet.

You might wonder whether what they are doing is safe, and you might also be thinking: “how I can be as good a parent online as I am offline?”

Useful Telephone Numbers

• South Yorkshire Police: 0114 220 2020
• Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111
• Childline: 0800 1111
• NSPCC Helpline: 0800 800 500
• Children's Social Care, Sheffield: 0114 273 4855
• Internet Watch Hotline: 0845 600 8844

Useful Internet Sites

• www.chatdanger.com — Chatdanger: a website explaining the potential internet dangers for children and young people.
• www.iwf.org.uk — Internet Watch Foundation: The UK website for reporting illegal internet content.
• www.nspcc.org.uk — NSPCC: Information for parents and children/young people on the dangers of surfing the net.
• www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents — ThinkUKnow: Advice and information from the National Crime Agency's CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) Command

HELPFUL ORGANISATIONS

• Childline: for advice and support to children and young people. Phone 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
• Kidscape: a children's charity that gives practical advice to young people about bullying and keeping safe. Visit www.kidscape.org.uk.
• The Samaritans: confidential helpline for young people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Phone 08457 90 90 90 or visit www.samaritans.org.
• Youth Access: this organisation will put you in touch with local services that offer information, advice and counselling. Phone 020 8772 9900.
• The Hideout: for young people affected by domestic abuse. Visit thehideout.org.uk