Crofton Academy takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people in its care.  “The welfare of the child is paramount” (the Children Act 1989).  Our first and foremost priority is to keep your child safe and healthy. We aim to safeguard and promote the welfare of children by protecting them from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s mental health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Crofton Academy works in partnership with the Wakefield & District Safeguarding Children’s Board (WDSCB) and follows all recognised procedures and protocols. We follow the statutory expectations set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020.

All adults working with or on behalf of children have a responsibility to safeguard and protect children. There are, however, key people within school who have specific responsibilities under Child Protection procedures.

Safeguarding Team at Crofton Academy

The Designated Child Protection Teacher at Crofton Academy is Associate Assistant Headteacher Miss Sarah Rowe. The Deputy DCPT is Mr Richard Pool (Assistant Headteacher).

If any member of staff at Crofton Academy has concerns over a pupil this will be reported to a member of the safeguarding team. Our priority is to work with you, but there may be times when we have to involve other people.  This could include a discussion with outside agencies or a referral to social services in order to protect identified children from suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

Parents/Carers are the most important people to keep their children safe  –  You should always:

• Feel confident to raise concerns about your child.
• Talk to school if you need help or support.
• Read the school child protection policy available to access on Crofton Academy website
• Let the school know if your child has a medical condition.
• Let the school know if you have any court orders relating to the safety of your child.
• Let the school know if there is a change in your circumstances such as a house move, a new contact number, a change of name, a change of parental responsibility.
• Let the school know if your child is going to be absent and the reasons why.

Safeguarding Children & Young People in Wakefield

You can find out more about Wakefield’s commitment to safeguarding and young people and how you can play a part in protecting children & young children by clicking on the links below.

Safeguarding Documents

Academy Policies

E Safe Parents

E Safe Pupils

Safeguarding Links

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Together we can tackle child abuse

Childline

NSPCC

CEOP

Let’s Talk Pants

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Mental Health and wellbeing plays a vital role in the work we do at Crofton Academy with all members of our community.  We aim to create an environment in which everyone is welcome and everyone is cared for.  As well as providing support and direction, we also encourage pupils to care for themselves as well as know where in school they can turn to for help and advice.  Below is information from external organisations who can provide essential support and information on a range of topics, we feel this information will help you when things don’t feel quite right and you need some help and advice.

WF-1 Can

An online resource for children and young people in Wakefield to find information and advice, plus self-help tips, WF-I-CAN is a place to find information and advice as well as self-help tips that can increase your confidence and resilience.

WF-I Can Website

Mental Health Support

• Childline – www.childline.org.uk – 0800 1111 – have a one to one chat service as well as other forms of support
• Kooth – www.kooth.com – free, safe, anonymous online mental welfare community support
• Young Minds – www.youngminds.org.uk – offer support for parents and children including a free texting service. Download their Guide to caring for the mental wellbeing of a child
• NHS 111 – Phone 111 – speak to a fully trained health advisor 
• Samaritans – wwww.samaritans.org – a safe place to talk any time you like, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and you can either call or email them
• Shout – giveusashout.org – resources for mental well being
• Action for happiness – www.actionforhappiness.org – how to be happy ideas
• Children’s society  – www.childrenspciety.org.uk – supporting you for a brighter future
• NSPCC counsellors offer a 24/7 support to parents and anyone worried about their child

Support for Self-Harming Concerns

• National Self Harm Network – talkofftherecord.org provides support for those who self-harm and support their family and carers.
• Selfharm UK – www.selfharm.co.uk is a project dedicated to supporting young people impacted by self harm, providing a safe space to talk and ask any questions. Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm over the age of 14 years.
• An award-winning Calmharm app calharm.co.uk is a free app to help teenagers manage the urge to self-harm, it provides tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm.

Suicidal Thoughts Support

• Papyrus – www.papyrus-uk.org provide confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worries about a young person.
• The Stayalive app – www.prevent-suicide.org.uk is packed full of useful information to help you stay safe or help someone else.

Stay Safe On Line / On Mobile

• Parentinfo  – parentinfo.org offers help and advice for families in a digital world
•  NSPCC – www.nspcc.org.uk have a range of tips and advice to help you keep children safe whether they are at home, out and about or online.  Support is offered to help children who’ve been abused, protect children at risk and find the best ways to prevent child abuse from ever happening.
• Safer Internet Centre provides information and resources to help the internet a better place for children

Gaming / Social Media

• The O2 teamed up with NSPCC – www.02.co.uk online safety to give guidance and advice on gaming.
• Internet Matters – www.internetmatters.org offer online safety experts, to guide you through the many issues children can experience when using the internet.

Substance & Alcohol Misuse

• If you are concerned about underage drinking, drug taking and challenging behaviour, find out how you can keep your child safe and aware of the risks on the NSPCC www.nspcc.org.uk site.
• You can also Talk to FRANK – www.talktofrank.com– who offer local or online/text support.

County Lines

County Lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries (although not exclusively), usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs. The ‘County Line’ is the mobile phone line used to take the orders of drugs. Importing areas (areas where the drugs are taken to) are reporting increased levels of violence and weapons-related crimes as a result of this trend.

Parentinfo.org for further advice and support

Eating Disorders

Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity and  provides helplines for young people/families, offering support and information about eating disorders.

LGBT Support

• MindOut is a mental health charity for LGBT community.
• Stripes is a local youth group open to all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Questioning young people between 13-17 years old.