Child Protection and Safeguarding 'Explainer' for Students 2024/25

This student friendly document is designed for students at Connell Co-op College.

We have created this document to explain what safeguarding is and to help you decide what could be a ‘problem’ and where to get help and support. There may be times when you want to talk to someone in college about a problem that might be upsetting you.

What is Child Protection about?

It’s about you. Your health, both physical and mental, safety and welfare are very important to us. We respect all students and help to protect their rights. We want you to remain safe, both in and out of college.

Safeguarding means that all staff will:

• Protect you from harm  
• Make sure nothing stops you from being able to complete your course  
• Make sure you have the best life chance and next steps.

How will we try to protect our students?

There are lots of different ways how we, as a college, work to protect our students.  

We try to provide a safe environment for students to learn in.  

We help you to recognise risks and to stay safe.  

We offer support to students who are experiencing difficulties in college or at home.  

We will make sure you always have someone to talk to.  

In College

All of the staff at Connell Co-op College will do their best to make sure the college is safe for you to learn in and spend time in.

We will make sure that we know who everyone is in the college by asking visitors to sign in at reception. You will always know who a visitor to the school is because they will have signed in at reception and will display the printed badge they receive on their lanyard. People that we do not know will never be allowed to spend time with you on your own and will not be allowed to walk around the college without a member of staff. The building and outside areas will be as safe as they can be for you.

Staff will look after you if the fire alarm goes off and you should know what to do and where to go. When you leave college to go on a trip somewhere, the staff will make sure they can keep you safe wherever you are going.

The four main areas of child protection concern:

Physical Abuse 

This includes; hitting, throwing of objects, bruising, biting etc.

Sexual Abuse 

This includes inappropriate touching which makes you feel uncomfortable. It could also be someone making you watch things to do with sex or encouraging you to act in an inappropriate way. This can be by an adult, both male or female but it could also be by another student. If someone is saying sexualised comments to you (or refers to this as ‘banter’) and is making you feel uncomfortable, then you must report this to the college safeguarding team as soon as possible. We will always take this very seriously when you tell us.

Neglect

This means things like if you are not provided with clothes, food or warmth and shelter. It could also mean not letting you go to the GP when you need to go. There are many different ways and reasons why a young person is neglected, it is really important that we know so we can help.

Emotional Abuse

This means when someone upsets you or makes you feel bad. Also, if someone in your family/circle of friends/wider family says things to you and makes you feel sad and worthless.

Abuse is never ok and if you are being or have been abused you must remember - it is not your fault. You must always tell a trusted adult so that the abuse can be stopped. There is always someone that can help you.

What are the next steps?

Remember, you can speak to any member of staff if you are worried about anything.

Sometimes a member of staff will need to check things with the Safeguarding Team.

There are times though when the Safeguarding Team may need to contact some other agencies for support. These may be Children’s Services  (Social Workers) or Police. There are lots of other agencies who support students and their families as well.

Your teachers are here to support you and will explain all of this to you, you can always go and ask them questions if you are unsure of anything.

Hints and tips for keeping yourself safe

Bullying

If you think a student or an adult is bullying you or someone you know, you must tell your parents/carer, a teacher/member of the Safeguarding Team or someone you can trust as soon as you can.

Verbal things

If anyone says something to you or you hear something that upsets you, you must tell your parent/carer, a teacher/member of the Safeguarding Team or someone you trust as soon as you can.

Physical contact

If someone is hitting, smacking and hurting you or if someone is touching you in inappropriate places, or making you feel uncomfortable, you might be asked to keep it a secret. Secrets like this are not to be kept. You must tell your parent/carer, a teacher/member of the Safeguarding Team or someone you can trust as soon as you can.

Presents

Presents are a good thing to receive from family and friends but sometimes other adults may try to give you money or gifts to persuade you to do things that you aren’t comfortable with. Always check with a parent/carer first.

Computers/Phones/Social Media

Everyone uses computers and phones to talk to friends and family and share pictures and stories. It is important you know how to stay safe online and on the computer, your phone and on social media. Never share passwords or login details with anyone, and never send inappropriate/intimate photos of yourself to anyone else.

Please talk to an adult/member of the college Safeguarding Team if you have seen something on your computer that makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. You can also contact www.thinkyouknow.co.uk.

The Safeguarding Team:

• Rosie Pate - Designated Safeguarding Lead & Safeguarding Manager
• Paul Heald - Assistant Principal & DDSL
• Carmen Castrillon - Student Support Officer & DDSL
• Thomas Slack - Senior Progression Tutor
• Ali Grady - Vice Principal
• Rhian Brady - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Lauren Turner - Assistant SENCo
• Emma Boswell - Operations Manager - Student Administration & Enrolment
• Rachel Blackmore - Attendance Office
• Holly Chung - Student Services Data Officer

Our photos are below so you know who we are. Call in and ask at the Beehive or Hive anytime.

Need to talk?

Please talk to an adult you feel comfortable speaking to, this could be your Progress Tutor or subject teacher or any member of the Safeguarding Team above. If you feel you are unable to talk to someone at school, please call Childline on 0800 1111, they can also offer you guidance and support.  When college is not open, for emergencies, the out of hours phone number for Manchester Children’s Services is 0161 234 5001.

If you have any safeguarding concerns you can email Rosie Pate at: rosie.pate@coopacademies.co.uk