We struggle to keep up with our children and their activities online but there is lots of information to help you.
Ofsted has created a webinar for schools and parents on how to help keep children safe online. The aim is to raise awareness about e-safety. Click here to view the webinar.
Do you know what ‘sexting’ is?
NSPCC has a very useful website with lots of information for parents, with simple to understand fact sheets, details about how to set parental controls and what to do if your child has been sexting. You can access it by clicking here.
Keeping Your Child Safe from Sexual Exploitation
Again in the news, there have been some high profile cases of children and young people who have been groomed and sexually exploited. As a family member, would you know what to look out for?
Child sexual exploitation is when people use the power they have over young people to sexually abuse them. Their power may result from a difference in age, gender, intellect, strength, money or other resources.
Signs of Grooming and Child Sexual Exploitation
Signs of child sexual exploitation include the child or young person;
- Going missing for periods of time or regularly returning home late
- Skipping school or being disruptive in class
- Appearing with unexplained gifts or possessions that can’t be accounted for
- Experiencing health problems that may indicate a sexually transmitted infection
- Having mood swings and changes in temperament
- Using drugs and/or alcohol
- Displaying inappropriate sexualised behaviour, such as over familiarity with strangers, dressing in a sexualised manner or sending sexualised images by mobile phone (“sexting”)
- They may also show signs of unexplained physical harm, such as bruising and cigarette burns
If you would like to learn more, there is a free online training tool which you can access here.
If you are worried your child maybe being sexually exploited, please speak to a member of staff or the police.
It is important to know what you can do to keep yourself safe, and what the adults around you should be doing to keep you safe.
The guides below include information on:
- Abuse and neglect
- Bullying
- Staying safe online
- Online bullying
- The role of professionals
- Where to get further help
We know that many students may miss aspects of their PHSE programme due to illness, missed education or exclusion. Please click on the icons below to download our take away packs on key PSHE topics that support you in keeping yourself safe and well.
What is Early Intervention at Parkside Academy?
Effective early intervention works to prevent problems occurring, or to tackle them head-on when they do and before problems get worse. It also helps to develop a whole set of personal strengths and skills that prepare a child for adult life.
Early intervention approaches often focus on supporting four key aspects of child development: their physical, cognitive, behavioural, and social and emotional development and where it has the potential to make the biggest difference and provide benefits throughout a person’s life.
Early intervention can take different forms. These are examples of Early Intervention offers and multi agency working at Parkside Academy which have taken place and continue to be offered.
This is not an exhaustive list:
- Termly Clinics for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome delivered by Ipswich Hospital Specialists held at Parkside Academy.
- Integrated Delivery Team – attendance at CPA Meetings, attendance at appointments at Walker Close, liaison with mental health team professionals.
- 4YP counselling – referrals to the service and students’ appointments supported by a member of the Parkside Academy Team.
- Orwell Sexual Health Clinic– referrals to the service students’ appointments supported by a member of the Parkside Academy Team.
- Opticians/ GP – Students can be supported to attend appointments.
- Emotional Well-being Hub: referrals completed, in consultation with parents.
- MASH Professional Consultation Line
- CAF Team– Common Assessment Framework referrals are completed with families for early help support.
- Integrated Delivery Team, Early Help (Family support Practitioner and Social Workers), Social Care, CP, attendance at meetings and close multi agency workings.
- PREVENT Team. Parents offered Prevent training by Parkside Academy’s Prevent Leads.
- Meeting with Attendance Service, Education Welfare Officer. Regular reviews with parents and students who are accessing reintegration timetables.
- Youth Offending Team – referring to Diversion programme.
- Referring students to Turning Point for support and intervention to promote well being and recovery from addiction.
- Youth Mental Health First Aid: trained staff.
- Ormiston Families: charity offering Parental Presence courses to parents at Parkside Academy.
- Breakfast Club available every morning for all students at Parkside Academy from 8.30 to 9am.
- Home visits completed by members of the Team as part of our induction process and carried out when needed to support children.
- Contact with GP for advice/guidance/support and supported attendance to appointments.
- Support offered in helping families complete Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims.
- Meet and Greets/Debriefs: students spend time with named staff at the beginning and end of the day to celebrate the positive and troubleshoot any issues.
- Multi Agency Referral Forms (MARFs) completed with parents to encourage support/intervention from early help.
- Make A Change Team attending teaching and learning meetings to share the work they do with vulnerable individuals.
- Contact with charities such as, Period Poverty for supply of towels and tampons.