Safeguarding

At Richard de Clare Community Academy the health, safety and well-being of every child is our primary concern. We are all committed to safeguarding our school community by ensuring that we provide an environment for pupils that is safe, secure and one where pupils have confidence in our staff to care for them and keep them safe from harm and risk.

All school staff are trained in Child Protection. Staff are trained to look out for the four signs of abuse: physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. All staff, volunteers and visitors are required to report these and any other concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms B Herrtage (Safeguarding and Pastoral Manager) and can be contacted via email: safeguarding@richarddeclare.com or via telephone to the main office 01787472153 and selection option two.

Richard de Clare takes the welfare and safety of students very seriously, working hard to reduce any kinds of harm that children can suffer, including abuse, bullying, discrimination and avoidable injuries. We strive to ensure that every child in school feels safe, secure and well cared for to enable them to reach their full potential.

On occasion, our concern about a child may mean that we have to consult with external agencies. We will ensure that all concerns are initially discussed with parent/carers, before any referrals are made, unless we believe that such a move may be contrary to a child’s welfare.

With this in mind, to ensure that all children are safe both inside and outside of school, we ask that if you have any concerns surrounding any pupil of Richard de Clare Community Academy that you make contact with a member of the Safeguarding and Pastoral team at your earliest convenience.

If the issue is urgent and the school is closed, please contact Essex Children and Families Hub. Contact number: 0345 606 1212. Email: Emergency.DutyTeamOutOfHours@essex.gov.uk

If you believe that a child is in imminent danger you must contact the police by dialling 999.

Our Safeguarding and Pastoral Team

Ms B Herrtage (DSL)

Miss L Bellett (Deputy DSL)

Miss F Shaw (Deputy DSL)

Mrs L Freeman (Deputy DSL)

Mrs M Leon (SENDCO)

Mrs K Rugg (Pastoral HLTA)

Bullying

Bullying is not tolerated or accepted at Richard de Clare Community Academy

At Richard de Clare, intolerance and bullying are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

We as a school prevent bullying by:

Teaching difference and acceptance within the curriculum
Explicitly teaching kindness within all subject areas
Explicitly encouraging responsibility by teaching students how to raise awareness to potential bullying situations
Briefings on anti-bullying
Celebrating diversity e.g., LGBTQ+ History Month, Black History Month, Women’s History Month
Uniform inclusion
Student voice

For unkind behaviour to be defined as bullying it must include the following three aspects:

Repetitive
Deliberate/ intentional
Imbalance of power

Bullying is anti-social and will not be tolerated from any member of our School community. It is vital that we encourage good behaviour and respect for others, and to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils. All Richard de Clare staff are alert to signs of bullying and act promptly and firmly, demonstrating to pupils that this issue is taken seriously and that the situation will not be allowed to continue.

Bullying encompasses a wide range of behaviours.

Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. To be defined as bullying, the offending behaviour is repetitive (Has this happened before?), deliberate/ intentional (Has the bully purposely gone to cause harm or distress?) and there is an imbalance of power (Does the bully hold the power within the incident?).

Power is influenced by a range of factors including but not limited to; gender, intelligence, size, age, experience, qualifications, and knowledge

In all cases of bullying, the victim is unable to defend themselves, resulting in persistent distress. It is important to remember that it is often difficult to tell the extent of the hurt or upset caused to individuals who are bullied.

Bullying can be:

Emotional: being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g., hiding books, threatening gestures)
Physical: pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
Racist: racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
Sexual: unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
Homophobic: because of or focussing on sexuality
Transphobic: because of or focussing on transgender
Verbal: name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
Cyber: all areas of internet, such as email and internet chat room misuse, mobile threats by text messaging and calls, misuse of associated technology, i.e., camera &video facilities
Intellectual/Neurodiversity (SEND): Being unfriendly, excluding, and abusive to another because of one’s educational needs

Bringing this issue out into the open amongst all Richard de Clare pupils will lead to greater understanding of the nature of the problem and will encourage more people to confront and tackle bullying.

Encouragement to Tell

All pupils (and parents) want bullying to stop but, in seeking help, they are often afraid of making the situation worse. It is important to develop and maintain an atmosphere in the school where pupils who are being bullied, or others who know about it, feel that they will be listened to and believed, and that the action taken will be swift but sensitive to their concerns.

Pupils need to be aware that their ‘not telling’ protects the bully or bullies, and gives the message that they can continue, often bullying others too.

RdC Anti-Bullying Policy

RdC Behaviour Policy

Protected Characteristics

We work to ensure that our children understand that:

There are no outsiders at Richard de Clare
Everyone is different
We celebrate our differences
We are all equal in our differences

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics:

Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Race
Religion or belief
Marriage or civil partnership
Sex
Sexual orientation
Pregnancy and maternity

At Richard de Clare, we actively promote these in our curriculum and work to embed them into our ethos.

Under the Equality Act you are protected from discrimination:

When you are in the workplace
When you use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or local hospital) or education (for example, at your school or college)
When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods (like shops, restaurants, and cinemas)
When you use transport
When you join a club or association (for example, your local rugby club)
When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments

Embedding Protected Characteristics into the whole ethos of Richard de Clare promotes:

An understanding of the importance of recognising and combating discrimination
An increase in self-confidence, self-esteem and self-knowledge
Responsibility for their own behaviour
Respect for different cultures
Understanding of how they can contribute positively to lives of others
An understanding of Equality, Human Rights and Protected Characteristics
An acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour

Child on Child Abuse

Child on child on child abuse can be motivated by perceived differences e.g. on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other differences. It can result in significant, long lasting and traumatic isolation, intimidation or violence to the victim. Children or young people who harm others may have additional or complex needs e.g. significant disruption in their own lives, exposure to domestic abuse or witnessing or suffering abuse, educational under-achievement, being involved in crime. It should be recognised that child on child abuse is harmful to both the perpetrator and the victim.

This form of abuse is when there is any kind of physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse or coercive control exercised between children/young people both on and offline.

Spotting the Signs and Indicators

absence from school or disengagement from school activities
physical injuries
mental or emotional health issues
becoming withdrawn – lack of self esteem
lack of sleep
alcohol or substance misuse
changes in behaviour
inappropriate behaviour for age
harmful towards others
aggression
impulsivity
a need for control or to assert dominance
lack of empathy
less likely to take responsibility for their actions

Further Information for Parents and Carers

Further Information for Parents and Carers - Online Child on Child Abuse

Substance Misuse and Parenting

Most parents or carers who drink alcohol or use drugs do it in moderation and are not a risk to their children. But if their drinking or drug use becomes harmful, this is substance misuse and it can stop them from providing safe care for their children.

So it's important that parents and carers can get support if they're concerned about their drinking or drug use. We've got advice and support services for parents or carers who are worried about how their habits affect their children.

What is substance misuse?

Substance misuse is when someone's drinking or drug use becomes harmful or dependent. By 'harmful' we mean when someone puts themselves or others in danger. They might continue to drink or take drugs even if it puts them at risk of illness, psychological problems or physical accidents.

Dependent drinking or drug use is when someone craves alcohol or drugs and continues to use them even though it causes them social, health or even financial problems.

How does substance misuse affect children?

Living in a household where a parent or carer misuses substances doesn't mean a child will experience abuse but it can be a risk.

Substance misuse can have negative effects on children at different stages in their lives.

During pregnancy, drinking and drug use can put babies at risk of birth defects, premature birth, being born underweight and withdrawal symptoms.

In later years, substance misuse can put children at risk of:

physical and emotional abuse or neglect
behavioural or emotional problems
having to care for their parents or siblings
poor attendance at school or low grades
experiencing poverty
being exposed to drugs or criminal activity
being separated from parents.

There are many organisations providing support to children and families include:

We Are With You

Free and confidential support to people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health.

AdfamAdvice and support for families affected by drugs and alcohol.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Help and emotional support through AA meetings for people experiencing problems with alcohol.

FRANK

Friendly, confidential advice on drugs and details of local and national services.