Safeguarding is at the core of everything we do at William Howard School to ensure our students receive the highest standard of care and education. We are fully committed to the welfare and safety of every student, believing that each one deserves to learn in a supportive, caring, and secure environment, free from all forms of abuse. Our “Not in Our School” mantra reinforces the message that every individual has the right to feel safe, valued, and supported. In addition to our Designated Safeguarding Leads, we have a dedicated wider safeguarding team that works collaboratively to provide exceptional safeguarding measures across our entire school community.

If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a child in the school, or if you have any safeguarding queries, please contact our School Safeguarding Team.

Email: safeguarding@williamhoward.cumbria.sch.uk

Alternatively, you can speak to any member of staff in school if you are concerned about bullying, discriminatory behaviour, risk-taking behaviour or anything that makes you worried for your own or someone’s safety.

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are:

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Richard O’Connor
(Deputy Headteacher)

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Ellen Mothersdale
(Assistant Headteacher)

Mrs Mothersdale (emothersdale@williamhoward.cumbria.sch.uk) is also the designated teacher responsible for children who are looked after, or previously looked after children.

Cumbria Education Trust’s Child Protection and Engagement Officer is Mrs G Creighton (gcreighton@cumbriaeducationtrust.org)

Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership

Every Local Authority area has an Independent Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). LSCB’s are responsible for ensuring agencies work together to safeguard children and for testing how effectively this happens. The Cumbria LSCB became The Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) in 2019.

https://cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk

Please find below a range of links for help and information on safeguarding issues

You can also find a range of information and support on mental health and wellbeing issues here

AGENCY CONTACT DETAILS

Provides advice and support to young people on any issue they wish to discuss

Childline is there to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through.

You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to support you

Website: Childline | Childline

Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. You can talk to us:

Whatever feels best for you.

Support and tips to help you keep children safe.

From advice on children’s mental health to staying safe online, support for parents and what to do if you’re worried about a child.

 

Website: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/

Helplines:

  • Help for adults concerned about a child
    Call 0808 800 5000
  • Help for children and young people
    Call Childline 0800 1111
  • Help for people who have experienced sexual harassment or abuse in education. Call 0800 136 663

The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people.

They provide help and advice on any challenge you’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs.

Website: The Mix – Essential support for under 25s

Talk to us via our online community, on social, through our free, confidential helpline or our counselling service.

Telephone :08088084994

One to One Chat

Crisis Messenger

Prevent

If parents feel that their child has been exposed or have any concerns about radicalisation.

Website: Prevent – Cumbria Constabulary

 

Give a range of advice for parents if their child is being bullied or if they suspect they are being bullied.

Website: https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying/advice-for-parents

Helpline: 0808 800 2222

 

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse. Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools before the start of the next school day when a child or young person has been involved or exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous evening. The information is given in strict confidence to a school’s Key Adult to enable support to be given dependent on the needs and wishes of the child.

https://www.operationencompass.org/

Online Safety Information

CEOP

If you are worried about online abuse or the way someone has been communicating online let CEOP know. CEOP is here to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. CEOP Safety Centre

CEOP for Parents/Carers: https://parentinfo.org/

How to Keep Kids Safe on YouTube [Full Guide 2022] (safetydetectives.com)

UK Safer Internet Centre

Provides a range of advice and guides on a range of online safety issues and advice on how to stay safe. Homepage – UK Safer Internet Centre

UK Safer Internet Centre SEND advice pages

Provides a range topics and suggestions for starting and having discussions with young people with SEND about their online experiences. SEND – UK Safer Internet Centre

National Online Safety

Provides a range of online guides for parents on a variety of online platforms and other cyber issues. https://nationalonlinesafety.com/guides

Think u know?

CEOP education programme. They provide a range resources and information on how to protect yourself online. Resources are provided for parents and for different age groups of children. CEOP Education (thinkuknow.co.uk)

Little Digital Helps Toolkit

Created in partnership with Tesco Mobile, this is a one-stop shop for all the things you need to set controls and privacy settings on new and old devices that your children use, with plenty of advice on how to deal with online risks. https://www.internetmatters.org/little-digital-helps-toolkit/

Roblox Privacy & Safety Checklist

Roblox is home to millions of immersive experiences, from gaming to social hangouts, to concerts, sports, fashion shows, education, and entertainment. https://swgfl.org.uk/assets/documents/roblox-checklist-2023.pdf