Applebee Wood Safeguarding Leads

Mr J Cockerill - DSL

Mrs J Beaghan - Deputy DSL

Mrs M Padgeon - Deputy DSL

Miss H Hall - Back-up DSL

Mr D Earl - Back-up DSL 

Applebee Wood School is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. 

Our safeguarding team are all advanced safeguarding trained. The safeguarding team meets weekly to ensure we are all working to best support all our vulnerable pupils. 

Our role in school is to also provide support, advice and information to the families within our school community. We can help you with any worries that you may have in relation to your child's education behaviour and welfare. We are also here as someone to talk to if you need it!

Advice and support is confidential although concerns relating to the safeguarding of children will always be dealt with in accordance with the school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. 

Child Criminal Exploitation

Child criminal exploitation is defined as a form of abuse where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child into taking part in criminal activity, for any of the following reasons:

• In exchange for something the victim needs or wants
• For the financial advantage or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator
• Through violence or the threat of violence (this could be online or through technology)

Specific forms of CCE can include:

• Being forced or manipulated into transporting drugs or money through county lines.
• Working in cannabis factories.
• Shoplifting or pickpocketing.
• Committing vehicle crime.
• Committing, or threatening to commit, serious violence to others.

Applebee Wood Community Specialist School recognise that pupils involved in CCE are victims themselves, regardless of whether they have committed crimes, and even if the criminal activity appears consensual.

Applebee Wood Community Specialist School will also recognise that pupils of any gender are at risk of CCE.

Staff will be aware of the indicators that a pupil is the victim of CCE, including:

• Associating with other children involved in exploitation
• Suffering from changes in emotional wellbeing
• Misusing drugs or alcohol
• Going missing for periods of time or regularly coming home late
• Regularly missing school or education
• Appearing with unexplained gifts, money or new possessions.

Criminal exploitation of children can include County Lines. This is a geographically widespread form of harm that is a typical feature of county lines criminal activity: drug networks or criminal networks / gangs groom and exploit children and young people to carry drugs and money into one or more areas. Key to identifying potential involvement in county lines are missing episodes, when the victim may have been trafficked or the purpose of transporting drugs.

As well as the general indicators for CCE, school staff will be aware of the specific indicators that a pupil may be involved in county lines, including:

• Going missing and subsequently being found in areas away from their home.
• Having been the victim or perpetrator of serious violence, e.g. knife crime.
• Receiving requests for drugs via a phone line, moving drugs, collecting money
• Being found in accommodation they have no connection
• Owing a ‘debt bond’ to their exploiters
• Having their bank account used to facilitate drug dealing.

If you are concerned your child maybe being criminally exploited or recognise any of the above signs, then please inform one of our DSL’s who will offer support and advice. Early recognition and sharing intelligence is key to accessing the right support.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Child sexual exploitation is defined as a form of sexual abuse where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child into sexual activity, for any of the following reasons:

• In exchange for something the victim needs or wants
• For the financial advantage, increased status or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator
• Through violence or the threat of violence, this could be online or through technology.

Staff at Applebee Wood Community Specialist School recognise that CSE can occur over time or be a one-off occurrence, and may happen without the pupil’s immediate knowledge, e.g. through others sharing videos or images of them on social media. Applebee Wood Community Specialist School will recognise that CSE can affect any pupil who has been coerced into engaging in sexual activities, even if the activity appears consensual; this includes pupils aged 16 and above who can legally consent to sexual activity. Applebee Wood Community Specialist School will also recognise that pupils may not realise they are being exploited and they believe they are in a genuine romantic relationship.

Staff will be aware of the key indicators that a pupil is the victim of CSE, including:

• Appearing with unexplained gifts, money or new possessions.
• Associating with other children involved in exploitation.
• Suffering from changes in emotional wellbeing.
• Misusing drugs or alcohol.
• Going missing for periods of time or regularly coming home late.
• Regularly missing school or education or not taking part.
• Having older boyfriends or girlfriends.
• Suffering from sexually transmitted infections.
• Displaying sexual behaviours beyond expected sexual development.
• Becoming pregnant.

Where CSE, or the risk of it, is suspected, staff will discuss the case with the DSL. If after discussion a concern remains, local safeguarding procedures will be triggered.

If you have any concerns relating to CSE, please contact one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads at Applebee Wood and they will be happy to offer advice and support.

Prevent Duty Statement

Applebee Wood  School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our learners. We recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation and extremism is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability.

What is the Prevent strategy?

• Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
• The Prevent Strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.

How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?

• From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
• This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from any other harm.
• Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues, at an appropriate level so they better understand how to protect themselves.

All staff at Applebee Wood School have completed the government's Prevent training on how to identify radicalisation and extremism. We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in our care.

What does this mean in practice?
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

These include:
· Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity.
· Challenging prejudices and racist comments
· Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self -identity.
· Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy

How does Prevent relate to British values?
Schools have been required to promote British Values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy.

British values include:
· Democracy
· The rule of law
· Individual liberty and mutual respect
· Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

For further information about the Prevent Duty please visit www.gov.uk