Embedded Files
What can you do to safeguard your child:
Join us for parent forums to receive information about how we safeguard, and be apart of the conversation about how we can best safeguarding together.
Have conversations with your child about information which comes home in end of term safeguarding letters so your child feels encouraged and confident in being open about concerns or feelings they have.
Sign up to the Hackney Safer Schools app for parents to help your child to navigate keeping safe online.
Signpost your child to Kooth or https://giveusashout.org/ which are online national websites offering mental health support free to anyone. The NSPCC website also has a wealth of literature that can support you and your child.
Talk to us about how we can better support your child. We want to work with you as parents to create a safe environment for your child.
Advice about Online Safety:
The online world is now a part of children's everyday lives. It is important to understand the dangers of what happens online to ensure that your child is kept safe.
Online platforms can be used as a way that young people explore self-harm. Given the private and personal nature of self-harm, many young people share their experiences or seek out information online first, rather than coming to an appropriate adult or even peer. Unfortunately, there is a plethora of harmful information on social media. Young people are able to find pro self-harm content by searching specific hashtags and code names. In forums, strangers may even encourage young people to self-harm. We would advise looking out for internet searches: spotting searches or hashtags around depression, self-harm or suicide. Also look for online conversations: young people may be having discussions on online forums, social platforms or amongst peers where they share experiences of self-harm, using codenames and hashtags.
Talk to your child regularly about what they do online. This will create an environment where it isn't unnatural for you to talk to them if you have concerns about their online use; and also may create an environment where your child will feel comfortable coming to you if they are worried about something online.
Look into getting parental controls on the Wi-Fi or device so that there are restrictions on what children can access. Talk this through with your child so they understand why you are taking these precautions.
For further information about online safety, the NSPCC has some useful information and has these top tips for online safety.
The Department for Education has given the following websites for parents to help you keep abreast and knowledgeable of developments in protecting young people online:
Internet matters - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online.
London Grid for Learning - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online.
Parent info - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online.
Thinkuknow - for advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online.
UK Safer Internet Centre - advice for parents and carers.
Advice about risks outside the family:
There is a wide range of risks that children can face outside the family home - this is called contextual/extra-familial safeguarding. Contextual safeguarding is particularly important for adolescents as they often spend more time socialising away from their families. Some of these risks include criminal and sexual exploitation, gangs, serious youth violence and harmful sexual behaviour. It is important to understand about these risks to ensure you know how you can keep your child from harm.
Get to know your local area so that you know the risks within the community.
Talk to your child about their experience outside the family home. Create an environment where they can share their concerns about the risks in the community, and where you can educate them on what to look out for.
Page updated
Report abuse