Safeguarding
Emergency Safeguarding Number
01205 310446
This number is for out of hours safeguarding emergencies only
Online Safety Hub
Our Online Safety Hub is a brand-new online resource we are offering to parents as part of our parent package and ongoing commitment to safeguarding. Included within is lots of expert advice and guidance to help you as a parent/carer, manage your child's safety online. It includes information on the latest hot topics when it comes to keeping children safe, such as how to manage your child's screen time, understand the latest gaming platforms, what they mean for your child’s safety and lots more.
Boston High School Online Safety Hub
Safeguarding at BHS
As a Safeguarding team, we recognise our responsibilities for safeguarding children and protecting them from harm. We follow the procedures set out by the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) and follow the of guidance issued by the DfE. All these procedures are set out in our safeguarding policy, which is updated annually.
If you have any safeguarding concerns please do not hesitate to contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead or a Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
If you suspect or believe a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm (including any form of mistreatment or abuse) you should AT ALL TIMES report your concerns. If there is no immediate danger to the child, or if you need some advice or information, you can contact the Children Services Customer Service Centre on 01522 782111 (if you are a member of the public). If it is outside of normal office hours, you can contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01522 782333. In an emergency always dial 999.
Safeguarding Team
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Mental Health First Aid |
Senior Lead, Mental Health First Aid Family Support Officer |
Pastoral Officers |
Directors of Key Stage |
 Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs Franks |
 Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs Gilton |
 Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs Osborn |
Safeguarding Trained |
Other Useful Contacts
| Safeguarding Children Lincolnshire |
01522 782111 Lincolnshire's Children's Services customer service centre for reporting concerns and early help team for advice |
| Police (emergency) | 999 |
| Police (non-emergency) | 101 |
Child Abuse Definitions
Child abuse is any action by another person, adult or child, that causes significant harm.
It can be physical, sexual or emotional, but can just as often be about a lack of love, care and attention. We know that neglect, whatever form it takes, can be just as damaging to a child as physical abuse.
Physical
Children who are emotionally abused suffer emotional maltreatment or neglect. It’s sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause children serious harm.
Sexual
A child is sexually abused when they are forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This doesn’t have to be physical contact, and it can happen online
Emotional
Children who are emotionally abused suffer emotional maltreatment or neglect. It’s sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause children serious harm.
Neglect
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It’s dangerous and children can suffer serious and long-term harm.
On line abuse
Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks, playing online games or using mobile phones.
Sexual Exploitation
Child sexual exploitation is a type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status.
Female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.
Bullying and cyberbullying
Bullying can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It’s usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.
Domestic abuse
Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse, and teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their relationships.
Child trafficking
Child trafficking is a type of abuse where children are recruited, moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.
Grooming
Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know - for example a family member, friend or professional.
Harmful sexual behaviour
Children and young people who develop harmful sexual behaviour harm themselves and others.
Online Safety
If you are concerned about any activity online, please speak to a member of the safeguarding team, or out of school hours you can report to CEOP.
Our school takes online safety (previously e-safety) very seriously and we include online safety lessons in the school curriculum, within Enrichment and Computing. We also implement a variety of filtering and monitoring systems to help ensure that our students don’t have access to inappropriate online material.
All staff and students are also required to sign and agree to abide by an ICT Acceptable use Policy.
Students: Online safety is about keeping yourself and people you care about protected when using any device which is connected to the Internet, this includes desktop computers, laptops, tablets, phones or even games consoles, handhelds and smart TVs. We want you to be able to use all the variety of resources and services available online, however unfortunately there are some dangers to young people, as well as adults, that we should all be aware of. For example:
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Social networking sites are a popular and good way of communicating with your friends & family, however it can be unsafe if you are communicating with people you don’t know.
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You are very likely to have a list of friends who you share images, thoughts and other information with, but be very careful with sharing things with people you don’t know as they may not be who they say they are!
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Also do not share personal details with anyone online, particularly your surname, the place you live, your date of birth, your school and other information from images you share which could be used to identify you.
Thinkuknow is an excellent website for advice to help you with online matters:
The UK Safer Internet Centre also has films, games, quizzes and advice to help you to use the internet safely, responsibly and positively.
Free, safe and anonymous online counselling and support is provided by Kooth.
Parents: Young people use the internet to both study and socialise, and it is essential that you are involved and set boundaries in your child’s online life. Emphasise that not everyone is who they say they are and make sure your child knows never to meet up with someone they only know online. Further advice to support your child can be found on the Thinkuknow website. Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.
Thinkuknow - Advice for Parents
The Internet Matters website also provides useful age appropriate advice for parents.
#DITTO is a free online safety (e-safety) magazine for schools, organisations and parents to keep you up to date with risks, issues, advice and guidance related to keeping children safe online, with a view to enjoying and learning about technology. A new edition is released approx. every 6 weeks.
Sadly, no filters or controls are 100% effective so make sure your child knows that they can, and should, talk to someone if they see or hear anything upsetting online.
Quick Chat about Game Ratings
Quick Chat About Sexting
Quick Chat About Parental Controls
Safeguarding and Mental Health
If you need out of school support, please contact the following support agencies.
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Relate (relationship advice) - 0300 0032164 - relate.org.uk
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Add-action (drugs) - 0800 3047021 - addaction.org.uk
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Lincoln Centre for Grief and Loss - 01522 546168 - lcgl.org.uk
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Kooth - kooth.com
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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) for males - 0800 585858 - thecalmzone.net
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MIND (mental health charity) - 0300 1233393 - mind.org.uk
https://ssscpd.co.uk/education/parentsandguardians/child-mental-health-10-tips-for-parents/-/ZwOdLJ4lZKEipQRjqTyjpj==
We are also working closely with our Mental Health Service Team, who see students who are struggling with anxiety or low mood, working through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). If a student feels they would benefit from this support, please make this known to a member of the Pastoral Team.
The Underwear Rule
As it can sometimes be very difficult to discuss issues surrounding child abuse, the NSPCC has launched a campaign designed to help parents talk to their children about keeping safe. More information can be found by visiting the NSPCC website.
If you are unsure you must contact the Safeguarding Team at School. We are here to help and advise parents/carers.
Safeguarding Resources
Boston High School Safeguarding Policy
Boston High School School Closure Safeguarding Update
Boston High School Whistleblowing Policy
DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education
DfE Working Together to Safeguarding Children Inter-Agency Guidance
Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership
Boston High School Safeguarding Flowchart
