Safeguarding – Mulberry Academy Woodside

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, governors, and volunteers are trained to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. We work closely with parents, carers, and outside agencies to ensure the wellbeing of all pupils.

Mulberry Academy Woodside fully recognises its responsibilities towards child protection and safeguarding children and that we have an active role in protecting our students from harm and promoting their welfare.

We recognise that we may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk, and so we endeavour to maintain an environment where students can feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to. We aim to ensure that students can be supported through a school-wide ethos that promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment, valuing students’ independence, feelings and individuality.

Key Safeguarding Staff

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Chinice Oliver
Deputy DSLs: Laura Sanford and Holly Peter
Safeguarding Governor: Alice Crawley

To read our Safeguarding policy, click here.

You can also read our Shared Values here.

Useful websites:

Childline NSPCC

Visitors/Parents/Carers – Report it directly to our safeguarding team – click here
Staff – report through MyConcern
Students – contact any member of staff

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Mulberry Academy Woodside demonstrates a clear commitment to the promotion of diversity and equality as highlighted in our Development Plan, Community Cohesion Policy and other policies and related documents. To find out more, please go to our Diversity and Inclusion page.

PREVENT

Building resilience of young people and the promotion of fundamental British values is at the heart of preventing radicalisation. Schools can do this by providing safe places in which children can discuss controversial issues, and be given the knowledge and confidence to challenge extremist beliefs and ideologies. Schools play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in their care. To read more about our Prevent action plan, click here. For an introduction to the Prevent duty and an explanation of how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised, HM Government has created an e-learning module following consultation with a range of individuals and organisations. The module has been created with the feedback of teachers, local authority officials, community-based groups, youth workers and many others. https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/

MENTAL HEALTH & EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

At Woodside, we believe in promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. To find out more about what we do at Woodside, click here.

E-SAFETY

We are committed to ensuring that students are safe when using the internet at Mulberry Academy Woodside. You can find out more about e-safety by clicking here.

FGM

INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN CAN BE FOUND HERE

FEMALE CIRCUMCISION & CUTTING

It has been estimated that over 20,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK each year, and that 66,000 women in the UK are living with the consequences of FGM. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a growing cause of concern in schools.

FGM is child abuse and a form of violence against women and girls, and therefore it is dealt with as part of existing child and adult safeguarding/protection structures, policies and procedures. It is illegal in the UK to subject a child to female genital mutilation (FGM) or to take a child abroad to undergo the procedure – Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. Despite the harm it causes, FGM practising communities consider it normal to protect their cultural identity. The age at which girls are subject to FGM varies greatly from shortly after birth to any time up to adulthood. The average age is 10 to 12 years.

At Mulberry Academy Woodside, our staff are trained in dealing with FGM and are alerted to the following key indicators:

A child’s family comes from a community that is known to practise FGM.
A child may talk about a long holiday to a country where the practice is prevalent.
A child may confide that she is to have a ‘special procedure’ or to attend a special occasion.
A child may request help from a teacher or another adult.

Any female child born to a woman or has a sister who has been subjected to FGM will be considered to be at risk, as much as other female children in the extended family. Any information or concern that a child is at risk of FGM will result in a child protection referral to Children’s Social Care.

The new mandatory reporting duty for FGM under the Serious Crime Act 2015, requires teachers in England and Wales to report known cases of FGM in under 18-year-olds to the police. Guidelines on mandatory reporting can be found here.

Further guidance on FGM can be found here.

Call the FGM helpline if you’re worried a child is at risk of, or has had, FGM. It’s free, anonymous and they are available 24/7. Call them on 0800 028 3550, or email them at fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk

OTHER SITES THAT CAN HELP…

Medical advice and information about FGM.
NHS Choices

Advice and counselling for anyone affected by FGM.
Forward

Support for young people from women who have experienced FGM themselves.
Daughters of Eve

Read what the Government has to say about FGM and a quick list of places you can get help.
GOV.UK

White Hart Lane,
Wood Green
London, N22 5QJ

020 8889 6761
020 8365 8164
mail@mulberrywoodside.org

Part of the

Mulberry Academy Woodside is part of the Mulberry Schools Trust which is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Company No. 10035860).

Company’s registered office: Mulberry Schools Trust, Richard Street, Commercial Road, London E1 2JP.