Early Help
Early Help is about providing support to potentially vulnerable children, young people and their families as soon as problems begin to emerge, or when there is a strong likelihood that problems will start in the future. It is also about providing support at any and every stage of a child's life: pre-birth, during pregnancy, childhood or adolescence.
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Sapperton C of E Offer of Early Help |
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Universal source of help for all families in Gloucestershire:
Gloucestershire Family Information Service (FIS) |
Gloucestershire Family Information Service (FIS) advisors give impartial information on childcare, finances, parenting and education. FIS are a useful source of information for parents and professionals. They support families, children and young people aged 0-19 years of age (25 for young people with additional needs) and professionals working with these families. They can help link parents up with other organisations that might be able to help or provide the information themselves e.g. parents could ask them about holiday clubs for your children across Gloucestershire. Contact the FIS by emailing:familyinfo@gloucestershire.gov.uk Or telephone: (0800) 542 0202 or (01452) 427362. FIS also have a website which has a wealth of information to support many issues such as childcare and support for children with disabilities. http://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/home.page For information for Children and Young People with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) go to the SEN and Disability ‘Local Offer’ website: http://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/family.page?familychannel=2 |
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GSCB (Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children’s Board) website. |
Important information for parents and professionals across Gloucestershire in relation to keeping children safe and avenues of support including early help options. |
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Sapperton universal support for all pupils and families. |
All staff are available in a pastoral capacity should parents have a concern about anything at all. Staff may not have the answer but will try to find out the answer or sign-post parents/other professionals in the right direction. Parents can either talk directly with the staff or telephone the Head. Staff are available within office hours (9am – 5pm on weekdays during term-time).
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Sapperton PSHCE / SMSC curriculum
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Sapperton have combined PSHE (Personal Social Health Education), SRE (Sex and Relationships Education) and SMSC (Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural). This curriculum is based primarily on the Coram Life Education SCARF resources. Further information about the PSHE Curriculum is available at: https://www.coramlifeeducation.org.uk/scarf/ This comprehensive curriculum covers many aspects of keeping young people safe, healthy, resilient and aware of the world around them so that they can make informed decisions. Where pupils have specific issues that need discussing or addressing we will make their wellbeing curriculum bespoke to them. Other specific topics helping pupils stay safe covered within the curriculum include (age appropriate content): Sex education: Children in Y5 and 6 have formal Sex education – discussing puberty, changes, personal hygiene. Gender, identity and tolerance: preventing homophobic and transphobic bullying; preventing bullying of pupils from different types of families (e.g. same sex parents); avoiding anti-gay derogatory language; Gender identity - there isn’t such thing as a typical girl or a typical boy. Understanding and acceptance of others different than us, including those with different religions. Drugs: Alcohol, Smoking and illegal drugs. Keeping Safe: E-safety (facebook and internet); personal safety (out and about); How to respond to an emergency. Emotional well-being: Where to go for help if you, your friend or family member is struggling with emotional well-being/mental health problems? What are the signs someone is struggling? What makes you feel good; How to look after you own emotional well-being; Personal strength and self esteem; Being happy! Relationships: How to make and maintain friendship; family relationships; different types of families; Healthy Living: Taking responsibility for managing your own health; Importance of sleep; The main components of healthy living (diet, exercise and wellbeing);Focus on breakfast; Managing health and wellbeing when you are unwell (making sure you take your medicine when you should, have the right perspective, doing what you can do within the limitations of your health condition. Online Survey completed every 2 years |
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Home-school support |
All of our Early Help is offered in partnership with parents / carers. |
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E-safety |
E-safety is a key part of the ongoing (PSHE/SMSC/SRE) curriculum. Helpful websites for teaching staff and parents: -PACE (parents against child exploitation) UK is a useful website to engage parents with e-safety issues. www.paceuk.info/ - www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents (excellent resources) |
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Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) |
Sue Reed is our trained and qualified ELSA. Support can be offered for a range of pupils’ needs: e.g. managing pupil relationships, helping with managing emotions, dealing with family separation, bereavement etc. Sue is part of an active network of ELSAs. She receives regular and ongoing training. Referrals for support are made through the SENDCo (Charlotte Preece) |
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Counselling |
Pupils who are in need of counselling can be referred to a trained councillor. |
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Bullying (including cyber-bullying)/child death/suicide prevention |
All Gloucestershire schools including Sapperton are committed to tackling bullying. We want to know immediately if there any issues with bullying at school so that it can be addressed. It could be that bullying is related to a child’s home-school. School can also offer bespoke lessons on anti-bullying for anyone who has suffered bullying to encourage behaviours that might avert it in the future (e.g. assertiveness) or to boost self esteem. We have a series of teaching resources using Coram Life Education (SCARF) to support this. In serious cases of bullying parents should contact the police; particularly if there are threats involved. In an emergency call 999. Other sources of help and advice are: www.gscb.org (Gloucestershire Safeguarding children’s board) http://www.bullying.co.uk . Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning team provide alerts and resources in relation to supporting young people being bullied. www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk – A Gloucestershire website which also covers bullying as a topic and where to go for help. |
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Children or young people with multiple needs (vulnerable) or multiple needs (complex) requiring multi-agency input or assessment. |
Within Gloucestershire Early Help Partnership (co-ordinated by Families First Plus) provide multi-agency support for children and families. A phone call to discuss a possible referral is helpful before making written referral. Parents must consent to a referral. School actively seek support when appropriate. Referrals go to the Early Help Partnership (representation from Education, health, social care etc. and referring agencies are encouraged to attend. All agencies should view themselves as part of this Early Help Partnership. The referral meeting is a multi-agency discussion to decide the best way forward: Early Help Partnership/Families First Plus: Gloucester: gloucesterearlyhelp@gloucestershire.gov.uk Tel: 01452 328076; Stroud: stroudearlyhelp@gloucestershire.gov.uk Tel: 01452 328130; Tewkesbury: tewkesburyearlyhelp@gloucestershire.gov.uk Tel: 01452 328251; Cotswold: cotswoldearlyhelp@gloucestershire.gov.uk Tel: 01452 328101; FOD: forestofdeanearlyhelp@gloucestershire.gov.uk Tel: 01452 328048; Cheltenham: cheltenhamearlyhelp@gloucestershire.gov.uk Tel: 01452 328160 These teams are made up of the following professionals Early Help co-ordinators; Community Social Worker and Family Support Workers. They all work together from one base so they can recognise and respond to local needs and act as a focal point for co-ordinating support for vulnerable children, young people and their families. Support provided includes: Support for school and community based lead professionals working with children and families; Collaboration with social care referrals that do not meet their thresholds, to co-ordinate support within the community; Work in partnership to support children with special educational needs in school; Advice and guidance from a social work perspective on a 'discussion in principle basis' ; Signpost children with disabilities and their families to access activities and meet specific needs; Advice and guidance to lead professionals and the provision of high quality parenting and family support services to families. Youth Support Team (YST): The Youth Support Team provide a range of services for vulnerable young people aged between 11 - 19 (and up to 25 for young people with special needs), including: - Youth offending - Looked after children - Care leaver's support services (for those aged 16+) - Early intervention and prevention service for 11 - 19 year olds - Support for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities - Positive activities for young people with disabilities - Support with housing and homelessness - Help and support to tackle substance misuse problems and other health issues - Support into education, training and employment - Support for teenage parents - · For General Enquiries: T: 01452 547540 E: info.glos@prospects.co.uk · To make a referral: T: 01452 426565 E: fasttrackteam@prospects.co.uk · |
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Drug concerns |
www.infobuzz.co.uk/: Info Buzz provides individual targeted support around drugs & emotional health issues, development of personal & social skills, and information & support around substance misuse. Drugs education is covered in the school curriculum. A Schools Beat community police officer visits the school annually as part of the PSHE/SMSC curriculum as a preventative measure. https://www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk/ – advice on drug/alcohol misuse. |
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Mental health concerns
* Please note that in Gloucestershire CYPS (children and young people’s services) replaced CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) |
MENTAL HEALTH curriculum taught explicitly through KS2 supported by Coram Life Education (SCARF). |
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Child Sexual exploitation (CSE) “CSE is a form of sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantages of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants and /or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.” Child sexual exploitation Dfe Feb 2017 |
CSE screening tool can be located on the GSCB website: https://www.gscb.org.uk/media/13943/final-screening-tool-guidance-mar-17.pdf This should be completed if CSE suspected. THIS CAN APPLY TO BOYS AND GIRLS. Clear information about Warning signs, the screening tool and Gloucestershire's multi-agency protocol for safeguarding children at risk of CSE are at www.gscb.org. Referrals should be made to Gloucestershire social care and the Gloucestershire Police. Gloucestershire Police CSE Team: The CSE team sits within the Public Protection Bureau Single agency team (Police) Contact number: 01452 426565 Email: childrenshelpdesk@gloucestershire.gov.uk If it is an emergency, phone the police. Further information: • National Working Group (Network tackling Child Sexual Exploitation) https://www.nwgnetwork.org/ • PACE UK (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation) www.paceuk.info
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Domestic violence |
The GSCB (Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children’s board) have published a Domestic Abuse pathway for educational settings which is on the GSCB website. If a child or young person is suspected of living at home with a domestically abusive parent or if a young person has domestic abuse in their own relationship then the usual procedures should be followed and a referral made to the children’s helpdesk (tel: 01452 426565). The response will vary according to the age of the young person so that the appropriate agencies are involved. Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) www.gdass.org.uk MARAC Gloucestershire Constabulary: Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) prioritise the safety of victims who have been risk assessed at high or very high risk of harm. The MARAC is an integral part of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court Programme, and information will be shared between the MARAC and the Courts, in high and very high risk cases, as part of the process of risk management. Gloucestershire Unborn Baby Protocol: Research indicates that young babies are particularly vulnerable to abuse but that work carried out in the antenatal period can help minimise harm if there is an early assessment, intervention and support. ‘Working Together’ (2015) specifically identifies the need of the Unborn Child. Professionals should read and act upon the unborn baby protocol if there is suspected domestic violence and a pregnancy. The unborn baby protocol can be found at www.gscb.org |
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Teenage relationship abuse |
Please see comment about the Domestic abuse pathway for educational settings above (in domestic violence section). www.gov.uk – home office ‘teachers guide to violence and abuse in teenage relationships.’ All violence or suspected violence should be reported the police and/or social care as appropriate. GDASS (Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service) can be referred to for support.
Prevention: Resources used in the Coram Life Education (SCARF) Curriculum. |
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Fabricated and induced illness (FII) |
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fabricated-or-induced-illness for information on behaviours and motivation behind FII. Any professionals suspecting FII must involve the Police, Social Services and follow the child protection procedures outlined in this policy. |
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Faith abuse |
www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-action-plan-to-tackle-child-abuse-linked-to-faith-or-belief for copy of DfE document ‘national action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief.’ Judith Knight; Diocese of Gloucester Head of Safeguarding/faith abuse contact: jknight@glosdioc.org.uk. For other faith groups contact Jane Bee (GCC LADO). |
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Female genital mutilation (FGM) |
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal or the external female genitalia. FGM is illegal in the UK and as of October 2015 mandatory reporting commenced. If education staff or other professionals discovers that an act FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under 18 years old there is a statutory duty for them PERSONALLY to report it to the police. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/female-genital-mutilation for NHS information and signs of FGM. Any suspicion of FGM should be referred to the Police and social care. - Staff at Sapperton have completed the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children ‘Female Genital Mutilation’ course (January, 2024) - E-learning package- http://www.fgmelearning.co.uk/ is available for interested staff or professionals (free home office e- learning) Posters/leaflets on FGM shared with staff and pupils along with resources from Coram Life Education (SCARF). |
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Forced marriage |
SPOC (Single Point of Contact) for Forced Marriage in Gloucestershire is Acting DI Jo Mercurio (Gloucestershire Constabulary, Public Protection Bureau). UK Forced Marriage Unit fmu@fco.gov.uk www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage for information on Forced Marriage. Visit Home Office website to undertake Forced Marriage e-learning package https://www.gov.uk/forced-marriage. GSCB one day Awareness training delivered by Infobuzz www.gscb.org.uk Please see ‘Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines- Handling cases of Forced Marriage’ for more information and detail https://www.gov.uk/forcedmarriage. All practitioners must be aware of this, that is they may only have one chance to speak to a potential victim and thus they may only have one chance to save a life. This means that all practitioners working within statutory agencies need to be aware of their responsibilities and obligations when they come across forced marriage cases. If the victim is allowed to walk out of the door without support being offered, that one chance might be wasted. Prevention Freedom Charity- Aneeta Prem ‘But it’s not fair’ book. A book for teenagers looking at forced marriage from the point of view of school friends of the girl who went to India and didn't come back. This book promotes discussion. www.freedomcharity.org.uk The Freedom Charity (UK charity) have a helpline, text facility and app which can be downloaded to help to provide support and protection for victims of abuse, FGM or forced marriage. They can be contacted on tel: 0845 607 0133 or text 4freedom to 88802 or go to the website to download the app from the app page. |
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Gangs and youth violence |
Contact the Avenger Task Force/Inspector Neil Smith (Gloucestershire Police tel: 101). A task force set up to identify potential gang members as vulnerable individuals and potential victims and aims to help them. Prevention: wellbeing curriculum – self-esteem & identity, law & order and considering impact of violence on communities. |
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Gender-based violence/violence against women and girls (WAWG) |
www.gov.uk – home office policy document, ‘Ending violence against women and girls in the UK’ (June 2014). FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is violence against women and girls. Hope House SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre): 0300 421 8400 Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre: 01452 526770 There’s a 24-hour answerphone service and they’ll respond within 24 hours. Or you can use the confidential and anonymous email support service at support@glosrasac.org.uk. The support workers are all women, who are specially trained to work with survivors of sexual violence. They will work with you at your own pace, explaining your options and your rights – and most importantly of all, they will always listen to you and believe you. GRASAC also have really helpful booklets: a self help guide, a guide for families or loved ones and a guide if you have learning needs. You can access them on the www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk website or contact GRASAC for a free copy. www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk for ‘I’ve been raped or sexually assaulted’ information. |
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Honour based violence (HBV) |
· Honour’ based violence (HBV ) occurs when perpetrators believe a relative or other individual has shamed or damaged a family’s or community’s “honour” or reputation. Honour based violence cuts across all communities: Turkish, Kurdish, Afghani, South Asian, African, Middle Eastern, South and Eastern Europe for example. This is not an exhaustive list. Where a culture is heavily male dominated HBV may exist.
The police have made it a high priority to help communities fight back to tackle both honour based violence and hate crime. The ‘Honour Network Help line’: 0800 5 999 247 Inspector John Lynch-Warden is the Gloucestershire Police contact for honour based violence. |
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Private fostering |
http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/privatefostering Gloucestershire County council website information on private fostering. Refer to Gloucestershire Children & Families Helpdesk on 01452 426565 or Gloucestershire Private Fostering Social Worker 01452 425320. A private fostering arrangement is essentially one that is made without the involvement of a local authority. Private fostering is defined in the Children Act 1989 and occurs when a child or young person under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled) is cared for and provided with accommodation, for 28 days or more, by someone who is not their parent, guardian or a close relative. (Close relatives are defined as; step-parents, siblings, brothers or sisters of parents or grandparents). |
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Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism/HATE (PREVENT duty)
HM Government PREVENT duty: As of 1 July 2015 duty in the Counter-terrorism and security act 2015 for specified authorities (including all schools) to have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn in to terrorism.
If you see extremist of terrorist content online please report it via: https://www.gov.uk/report-terrorism |
The ‘Advice on the Prevent duty’ written by the Department for Education explains what governors and staff can do if they have any concerns relating to extremism. The Department for Education has also set up a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable people to raise concerns directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk. See Appendix 2 for more information on radicalisation. Prevention: Sapperton teach traditional British values through the Christian values in Collective Worship and is supported by the Coram Life Education (SCARF) curriculum. Sapperton Primary also seeks to equip parents with the knowledge of how to safeguard their children from radicalisation. Let’s talk about it is an excellent website for parents www.ltai.info/ as is www.preventtragedies.co.uk While it remains very rare for school age children to become involved in extremist activity to the point of committing criminal acts, young people can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views, including via the internet, from an early age. As with other forms of criminality or risk of harm, early intervention is always preferable. Schools, working with other local partners, families and communities, can help support pupils who may be vulnerable as part of wider safeguarding responsibilities. |
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Sexting |
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/sexting (NSPCC website). Gloucestershire Police have a small sexual exploitation team, visit https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact-us/enquiries/ ‘So you got naked online’ (sexting information leaflet produced for pupils by south west grid for learning) included in the Wellbeing (PSHE/SMSC) curriculum. Also shared with parents. Pupils informed that sexting is illegal but the police have stated that young people should be treated as victims in the first place and not usually face prosecution. The police’s priority is those who profit from sexual images of young people....not the victims. |
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Trafficking |
Serious crime which must be reported to Jane Bee (Gloucestershire LADO) and the Gloucestershire Police. Trafficking can include a young person being moved across the same street to a different address for the purpose of exploitation. It doesn’t have to include people, children or young people being moved great distances. See Appendix 2 for further information on Trafficking. |
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Children who run away (missing persons/missing children) |
PC Christina Pfister (Missing persons Coordinator Gloucestershire Police). Tel: 101 (Gloucestershire Police). GSCB Missing Children Protocol http://www.gscb.org.uk ASTRA (Gloucestershire): The ASTRA (Alternative Solutions To Running Away) has the primary aim of reducing the incidence of persistent running away across Gloucestershire. The project provides support, advice and information to young people up to eighteen years old who have run away. This might be from a family home, foster home or from a residential unit. ASTRA provides support after the event to enable a young person to address the causes of running away. The ASTRA project offers young people help and the support required in order to find Alternative Solutions to Running Away. Freephone Telephone number: 116000 EXCLUSIVELY for young people who have run away and have no money. All other callers are asked to use the 'ordinary' number (tel: 01452 541599). |
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CME (Children missing education) |
Anyone concerned that a child is missing education (CME) can make a referral to the Education Entitlement and Inclusion team (EEI) at Gloucestershire County Council. Tel: 01452 426960/427360. Children Missing Education (CME) refers to 'any child of compulsory school age who is not registered at any formally approved education activity e.g. school, alternative provision, elective home education, and has been out of education provision for at least 4 weeks'. CME also includes those children who are missing (family whereabouts unknown), and are usually children who are registered on a school roll / alternative provision. This might be a child who is not at their last known address and either: has not taken up an allocated school place as expected, or has 10 or more days of continuous absence from school without explanation, or left school suddenly and the destination is unknown. It is the responsibility of the Education Entitlement and Inclusion team, on behalf of the Local Authority (LA), to: Collate information on all reported cases of CME of statutory school aged children in Gloucestershire maintained schools, academies, free schools, alternative provision academies and Alternative Provision Schools (APS). The EEI Team will also liaise with partner agencies and other LAs and schools across Britain to track pupils who may be missing education and ensure each child missing education is offered full time education within 2 weeks of the date the LA was informed. |
Information provided here was accurate as at 09/03/2024