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28/11/22

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28/11/22

Please see our website for information about the Year 7 Language choice process.https://t.co/ob1pEQCkli

28/11/22

Reminder: Sixth Form Open Evening Tuesday 29th November from 4.30pm to 6.30pm pic.twitter.com/vpMQVdSZBC

24/11/22

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08/11/22

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12/10/22

Reminder: Tomorrow, Thursday 13th October is the last day of term for students (Friday 14th October is an INSET day so school will be closed for all students). Students return to school on Monday 31st October.

12/10/22

Message from Havering Council: The Council have created a one-stop-shop for all of the financial & other support that may be out there for residents this winter and beyond, all in one handy place on our website.https://t.co/wmO4LD98Gq

05/10/22

YEAR 11 REVISION EVENING We are inviting you and your child to attend our mock examination preparation information evening which will be held on Tuesday 11th October 2022 at 6pmPlease see our website for full detailshttps://t.co/ob1pEQBMvK

01/09/22

You are invited to attend the Year 11 parents’ consultation evening on Thursday 8th September 2022 between 4.00pm and 7.00pm. This evening will be held onsite at Harris Academy Rainham. See our website for full details https://t.co/ob1pEQBMvK pic.twitter.com/ZvgTeGccBU

31/08/22

We are delighted to welcome our students back to the Academy next week. Dates and times for each year group are as follows;Year 7 - Monday 5th September 8.30amYear 11 - Monday 5th September 8.55amYears 8,9 & 10 - Tuesday 6th September 8.30am pic.twitter.com/WTAfsqVUuq

27/05/22

The Harris Academy Rainham Geography department is excited to launch a new gardening club In the spirit of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”, we would appreciate donations of gardening equipment, hand tools, gloves, seeds, soil, pots and anything gardening related. pic.twitter.com/98pgR2c7pb

23/05/22

Please go to our website for details of the Y11 intervention sessions on offer during the May half term.https://t.co/lEOke73VV9

23/05/22

Year 8 and 9 Parent Information Evening Your are invited to a parent information evening on Wednesday 25th May at 6:00pm, where we would like to speak with you on e-safety and how you can ensure your child is protected online. pic.twitter.com/qxjSVYynY9

19/05/22

HAR Sixth Form Consultation: See the letters home page of our website for the latest letter from the principal with details of upcoming consultation events.https://t.co/ob1pEQBMvK

12/05/22

Year 10 students visited Blenheim Underwriting in Fenchurch Street yesterday as part of their mentoring programme with an award-winning charity, Future Frontiers, where they received a warm welcome from CEO John Lynch.https://t.co/KmQkj5cJop pic.twitter.com/5Hr3boPZIy

09/05/22

Year 11 English Literature Challenge Seminars Friday Mornings 8.15-8.50 B33 with Mrs. Turker

09/05/22

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05/05/22

Yesterday some of our Y10 students visited London firm Crawford & Co. where they met the CEO and were mentored by business professionals to develop aspirations and build a life-long engagement with learning. Full story at https://t.co/5jIPxtE3I8 pic.twitter.com/hYsGeSbuAq

04/05/22

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31/03/22

April 1st will be a "wear something yellow or blue" non-uniform day, students and staff are encouraged to donate £1.We will also have a bake sale on this day so bring some cash and buy some treats!All money raised will be donated to The British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. pic.twitter.com/0w0YfT9YLj

Harris Academies
All Academies in our Federation aim to transform the lives of the students they serve by bringing about rapid improvement in examination results, personal development and aspiration.

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Westminster

Willesden

Safeguarding

Harris Academy Rainham is committed to providing a safe, secure and respectful environment for all children, staff and visitors. We promote a child-centred approach to wellbeing and safeguarding, ensuring that the individual rights and needs of the child are central to our decision-making and actions.

The Academy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Divakaran, Vice Principal. In Mrs Divakaran's absence another designated safeguarding officer will act as DSL, supporting the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs). The Academy Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) are:

  • Mrs French
  • Mrs Kench
  • Mr Whitehead
  • Mrs Ingram
  • Mrs Deacon
  • Mrs Knowlden

How to contact the safeguarding team

Parents and members of the local community can contact the Safeguarding Team via the Academy telephone number or by email on U.Divakaran@harrisrainham.org.uk.

Sharp logo

Students - do you have a concern? Report anonymously using our SHARP System at https://harrisrainham.thesharpsystem.com.

You can also contact the Safeguarding Team via the U.Divakaran@harrisrainham.org.uk and also hereforyou@harrisrainham.org.uk.

Please note that school emails are not monitored during out of school hours and are for non-emergencies. 

A member of the safeguarding team will be in contact as soon as they are available to respond.

For emergencies 999 should be contacted.

The following are also other contact details you may wish to use if you have a concern about a child: 

Havering MASH Team: 01708 433222 / 01708 433999 (out of hours) or tmash@havering.gov.uk (secure email)

Barking and Dagenham MASH Team: 0208 2273811 / 0208 5948356 (out of hours) or childrenservices2@lbbd.gov.uk

Thurrock MASH Team: 01375 652802 / 01375 372468 (out of hours) or thurrockmash@thurrock.gov.uk


Our approach to safeguarding

We foster an atmosphere of trust, respect and security by providing a caring, safe, inclusive and stimulating environment which promotes the social, moral, spiritual, cultural and physical development of all students.

We actively promote a climate in which children and adults are confident about sharing concerns about the wellbeing or safety of themselves or others. At Harris Academy Rainham, we treat all matters of safeguarding and wellbeing in a sensitive, respectful and professional manner.

Staff at Harris Academy Rainham are trained in response and reporting procedures frequently and are aware of the processes for making referrals to the HAR Safeguarding Team, Children’s Social Care and the Police.

On this page you'll find information about Child Protection and Safeguarding including topics such as e-safety, preventing harmful sexualised behaviour, PREVENT, female genital mutilation, and Child Sexual Exploitation.


Safeguarding aims

The aims of our Safeguarding policy are Prevention, Protection and Support in line with Child Protection guidelines. The Academy safeguarding procedures ensures that we:

  • Support our students' development in ways that foster security, confidence and independence
  • Raise the awareness and importance of recognising and reporting safeguarding, and of moral and professional responsibilities amongst all stakeholders including support and teaching staff, governors, students, visitors and parents
  • Provide high-quality training and awareness campaigns for staff, and ensure that the SLT/DSL/DDSLs undertake appropriate training (including biannual Level 3 training and safer recruitment training)
  • Provide a systematic means of monitoring all students, particularly those who are vulnerable or known to be ‘at risk’ of harm
  • Emphasise the need for excellent communication between staff, students, parents and external agencies (including the Police, PREVENT duty teams, social services, youth offending teams and other key agencies and workers involved in supporting our students and families)
  • Develop, implement and review structured procedures within the Academy so that they are effective and can be understood and consistently followed by all members of the Academy community
  • Maintain vigilance and an ‘it could happen here’ attitude, and build a holistic picture of each child’s needs by paying attention to each factor or piece of information.

The HAR Designated Safeguarding Team

The staff with overall responsibility for Safeguarding across the Academy are shown in the poster below:

Safeguarding PosterA3

The nominated governors with responsibility for safeguarding are:

  • Tina Staples - Chair of governors
  • Nicola Graham - Nominated governor for safeguarding

The HAR Designated Safeguarding Team consists of trained and qualified staff who are highly skilled and experienced in dealing with safeguarding issues.  The poster pictured above is displayed in every classroom, office and in corridors around the Academy. This is to ensure that every member of the Academy community can report and discuss matters with trained staff. 


Social care contact details

Members of the public are also able to make direct referrals to Social Care. Please find below details of Children’s Services in our local area.

Havering MASH Team: 01708 433222 / 01708 433999 (out of hours) or tmash@havering.gov.uk (secure email)

HES Safeguarding Team:

Barking and Dagenham MASH Team: 0208 2273811 / 0208 5948356 (out of hours) or childrenservices2@lbbd.gov.uk

Thurrock MASH Team: 01375 652802 / 01375 372468 (out of hours) or thurrockmash@thurrock.gov.uk

The Havering LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) dealing with allegations against members of staff are Lisa Kennedy / Donna Wright. Telephone:  01708 431653. Email: LADO@havering.gov.uk


Safeguarding concerns about an adult

For safeguarding concerns about an adult, contact the person mentioned in the diagram below, depending on who the concern is about.

If the allegation is about the Principal, Gareth Stananought

Go to:

Rebecca Hickey, Harris Federation Secondary Director

If the allegation is about a staff member in the Academy

Go to:

Gareth Stananought, HAR Principal

If the allegation is about a student in the Academy

Go to:

Usa Divakaran, Vice Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead


Health and safety

The strategic health and safety leads are:

The site manager and operational health and safety officer is V Stevens v.stevens@harrisrainham.org.uk

The Academy works closely with the counter-terrorism referral programme “Channel”. The programme uses a multi-agency approach to identify and provide support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism by:

  • identifying individuals at risk
  • assessing the nature and extent of that risk                           
  • developing the most appropriate support plan for the individuals concerned.

Prevent Lead

The Prevent Lead is:


Key staff training

Staff

Role and Email

Accreditation Training

U Divakaran

DSL/ Vice Principal

u.divakaran@harrisrainham.org.uk

  • Safeguarding training for Designated Safeguarding Leads
  • CASHE level 2 Certificate in understanding people and Young people’s Mental Health
  • Trauma Informed by UK Schools Accredited Trauma Informed Training “Trauma Informed Way” for senior leaders
  • Home Office PREVENT Duty Accredited training
  • Prevent Lead
  • Positive Handling accredited training
  • Female Genital Mutilation accredited training
  • Safer recruitment training 
  • Member of the Local Contextual Safeguarding Network

K French

DDSL/ Pastoral Lead

k.french@harrisrainham.org.uk

  • Safeguarding training for Designated Safeguarding Leads
  • Preventing and dealing with harmful sexualised behaviour training
  • Child Sexual Exploitation accredited training
  • Online safety accredited training
  • Home office PREVENT training
  • Substance Misuse
  • Positive Handling accredited training
  • Member of the Local Contextual Safeguarding Network

N Knowlden

Health officer

n.knowlden@harrisrainham.org.uk

  • Safeguarding training for Designated Safeguarding Leads
  • Suicide Prevention Awareness
  • Home office PREVENT training
  • Female Genital Mutilation 
  • Understanding Anxiety
  • Support Young People to Break cycle of self-harm
  • Domestic Abuse awareness
  • Mental Health featuring challenging behaviour.
  • CSE, CCE. & missing induction refresher
  • Qualified First Aider

Harris Academy Rainham Safeguarding Review Board

The purpose of this committee is to analyse and evaluate all aspects of safeguarding that have been reported through safeguarding systems within the academy, from external agencies or from other local trusted sources.

This is to ensure that the safeguarding measures, support and provision offered by the Academy fully meets the need that exists within the academy and local community. It will also ensure that the safeguarding provision at Harris Academy Rainham can evolve to meet new emerging safeguarding trends that may develop.

By reviewing this information, the academy leadership will be able to understand the contextual safeguarding implications and adapt the overarching safeguarding provision at the Academy.  This may involve changes to the support provided to students, the curriculum that is delivered or other specific aspects of our provision.

This committee is overseen by the Principal, Mr Stananought and consists of the Vice Principal and DSL, Ms Divakaran, DDSL, Ms French, DDSL, Mr Whitehead, Ms Ingram, Ms Schapira. 

The committee meets every half term and does not discuss individual safeguarding cases.  A report from each meeting is provided for governors at FGB meetings.


Staying safe online

The online world is a wonderful place for young people to explore, with unprecedented opportunities for learning and creativity. But just like the real world there are risks and dangers they should be aware of, and which we can act to protect them from. Although the Academy teaches students e-safety as part of the curriculum, it is vital that parents are aware of the risks too, and what they can do to develop a culture of e-safety in the home.

This page has some helpful resources for parents that will enable you to help your child stay safe online. If you have any concerns about your child's e-safety, there is always someone at the Academy who is available to talk to you. Click HERE to view Internet Safety Awareness presentation for parent/carers


Think You Know

The Think You Know website is created by the police for parents of children at secondary school. It contains useful information about:

  • what children are doing online
  • how to talk to children about what they are doing online
  • what risks your child might face
  • what tools are there to help them stay safe.

Think You Know have also produced the Parents' Guide to E-Safety as well as the following booklets to provide parents/carers with helpful information on how to explore and monitor their children’s apps.


Sexting

The term ‘sexting’ describes the use of technology to share intimate images of yourself. It’s a word-mix of sex and texting. The content can vary, from text messages to images of partial nudity to sexual images or videos. For more information and guidance for parents and children visit the Childnet website. If you have shared something online that you are now regretting you might find the So You Got Naked Online leaflet helpful, produced by the South West Grid for Learning.


Other useful resources

Parents' guides to Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok from the Online Safety AllianceDownload the guides.

List of helpful online resources produced by Childnet

www.childnet.com – Visit the ‘Know It All’ Section for an interactive guide about online safety

www.getsafeonline.org – Free up-to-date security advice

www.ceop.police.uk – Website of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware - the NSPCC has launched the Share Aware campaign which provides straightforward advice to parents on how to keep their 8-12-year-olds safe on social networks

https://coramvoice.org.uk/ Coram Voice is for any child in care, leaving care, or who has a social worker or needs one. Coram Voice can tell you about your rights, make sure you get the help you need and get your voice heard. You can also call their Advocacy Helpline 0808 800 5792. Download the Get Your Voice Heard leaflet.

Squid Games -  What Parents Need to Know

Download 'Online Safety Tips for Children', from National Online Safety. Click on the image to download.

Safe 1

Download a '9 Top Tips to Get Smart About Children's Devices', from National Online Safety. Click on the image to download.

Safe2


Tracking peer-on-peer abuse and adapting educational provision

Harris Academy Rainham maintains a comprehensive peer-on-peer abuse tracker that records all incidents that relate to the follow areas:

  • bullying (including homophobic, transphobic and biphobic)
  • sexual harassment (including derogatory language, inappropriate touching, upskirting and intimidation)
  • sexual violence
  • racist incidents
  • physical incidents

This information is reviewed monthly by the safeguarding review committee and the information on trends and analysis is used to evaluate and adapt our safeguarding curriculum and our assembly programme, at all key stages across the Academy.

This may result in resequencing of curriculum topics based on priorities identified from the peer-on-peer abuse tracker or by adding new safeguarding topics that have been identified within the local context or via the tracker trend evaluation.


Contextualised safeguarding

‘Contextual safeguarding’ is an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people's experiences of significant harm beyond their families. It recognises that the different relationships that young people form in their neighbourhoods, schools and online can feature violence and abuse.

HAR is located in Rainham London Borough of Havering and has bus and train links from Barking & Dagenham, Newham, Redbridge and other inner London Authorities.

Safe3

At Harris Academy Rainham we place our approach to safeguarding within the context of the community safety strategies and priorities of the London boroughs of Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Thurrock.


Contextualised safeguarding in action

Different contexts appear to have different ‘weights of influence’. For example, the influence of peers may outweigh that of parents/carers. There is also an interplay between different contexts and relationships. For example, the impact that young people’s experiences have on their relationships in school, and vice versa.

Each student is allocated to a Learning Guide (LG) who they see every morning for 25 minutes. Students should go to their LG if any problems arise in school. The role of the LG is to support each student both in terms of their wellbeing but also their academic work as well.

LG support students who:

  • Need support with timetables, uniform and equipment, attendance & punctuality
  • Feel upset or struggle emotionally
  • Struggle with friendships
  • Need extra support with behaviour
  • Need extra support academically/with homework

Heads of Year (HOY)

HOY are assigned to each year group for further support. Should any students/parents have any issues or need further support then they should contact their HOY on the email addresses below:

Year 7 – k.harrison@harrisrainham.org

Year 8 – g.hill@harrisrainham.org

Year 9 – a.koyas@harrisrainham.org

Year 10 –d.norris@harrisrainham.org

Year 11 – s.constable@harrisrainham.org

 

Safe4

 

Diagram: Contexts of Adolescent Safety & Vulnerability (Firmin 2013)

Young people’s engagement in extra-familial contexts can also inform, and be informed by, what is happening in their homes. Therefore, when young people are exposed to violence or exploitation in their school, community or peer group it may fracture their family relationships and undermine the capacity of their family to keep them safe.


Risk 1 - HAR continues to have high levels of concern for mental health related risks to children.

Please click HERE for a short presentation for parents to support their “Child with Anxiety”

  • HAR has a mental health programme to meet needs of students and staff. 
  • HAR DSL Mrs Divakaran is senior leader Mental Health lead and completed this training with Trauma Informed Schools (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policy, Practice and Leadership Department for Education Approved Senior Mental Lead Training)
  • All staff have completed Trauma informed Awareness training. 
  • HAR has staff who are Mental Health First Aiders.  These staff have been trained to spot signs of poor Mental Health and work effectively with agencies and DSL to provide immediate support.

Life coaches

We have appointed a number of life coaches to work with students on a 1-1 basis. These staff have a wealth of experience of working with secondary age children. The well-being of all our children is central to our ethos and this adds to our very strong programme of pastoral care.  As well as having timetabled sessions with students, there will also be opportunities for parent/carer workshops to work closely with families and support them holistically.

Counsellor

We have appointed a counsellor to also work with students on a 1-1 basis. The counsellor uses a different technique to life coaches and focus on specific causes for child anxiety.  These can be due to bereavement, trauma and other reasons.  The Academy also benefits from services from Havering Bereavement services.

Suicide awareness training

Staff have completed suicide awareness training.  We recommend parent/carer’s also complete this as it raises awareness of suicide and ways to prevent this - see link for details: https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/suicide-awareness-training

Further support

In addition to the above support the following interventions are also available at HAR to support Student to BECOME:

Interventions 

Description about the intervention

Art Therapy 

The course is designed to support students who are anxious or low on confidence; with a view to build up their self-efficacy. They will undergo a range of sessions and personalised 1-1 support. 

Confident me 

Designed to help combat low self-esteem in students. The intervention will include the following workshops: 

1 Introduction and Appearance Ideals 

2 Media Messages 

3 Confront Comparisons 

4 Banish Body Talk 

5 Be the Change 

6 Evaluation and feedback 

Strengthening minds 

Sessions will be delivered by the lead from strengthening minds around positive behaviour and a session around building self esteem. The sessions include some of the following topics; 1) Understanding Emotions 2) Exploring Aggressive Behaviour 3) Consequences of aggressive Behaviour 4) Taking responsibility 5) Less Stress 6) Strategies 7) The Power of Positivity 8) Mindfulness and me 9) Positive Communication 10) The joyful journey ahead. 

Inclusion programme 

Small groups bespoke intervention. The programme is designed to further develop skills in addressing behaviours and attitudes which compromise their ability to succeed. The different interventions include the following: Defiance, Violent aggressive behaviours, anger management, self-esteem, Racism, taking control. 

ESLA 

Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA) comprises of individualised support programmes to meet the emotional needs of children and young people in school. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed. This intervention includes work on security and relationships, active listening, emotional competence, loss and bereavement, building relationships, social stories, social and friendship skills, Lego therapy, self-efficacy, self-esteem, motivation and mindset. 

Pass score interventions 

Early intervention designed to intervene systemically on attitudinal or emotional issues in students whose issues are still invisible (in some cases) before they can impact on school performance. The interventions this academic year will run about attitudes towards attendance, attitudes towards staff and confidence in learning. 

Social Skills 

Intervention for students either with an ASD diagnosis or social communication difficulties. The social skills intervention involves steps to improve a child's ability to socialise and recognise social cues. This is with the goal of functioning well in society in mind. Children with special educational needs such as Autism Spectrum Condition may benefit from a social skills intervention. 

Talk Fitness 

Talk Fitness is an innovative group intervention aimed at improving functional and cross-curricular speaking and listening skills. The video-based platform provides a rich context for teaching, focusing on real-life situations that are authentic and meaningful to young people.  Pre- and post-intervention assessments provide comprehensive measures of progress. Units include Active listening, following instructions, Formal vs Informal talk, giving explanations, arguing a point and taking part in discussion. 

1-1 mentoring 

This intervention is designed for students who require a daily / weekly check-in with a member of staff. This may be because they are new to the school, have suffered anxiety, bereavement or friendship issues. 

Literacy 

A variety of literacy-based interventions including RWFS, Reciprocal reading, precision teaching, paired reading cued spelling and guided writing, targets students who have low literacy levels on entry to the Academy in year 7. More targeted intervention in year 8 and 9 continues for those who have not made sufficient progress.  

Dyslexia Gold

Develops literacy skills by combining successful phonological approaches with the very best of conventional, multi-sensory and structured teaching methods.

Handwriting 

This intervention uses the handwriting rescue programme and is designed for students who have untidy and difficult to read handwriting. These students will probably use a laptop as an alternative means to record their work so students will also be shown how to touch type. 

Numeracy 

This intervention is designed to cover pre teaching and consolidation of basic maths skills following the maths curriculum.  

In KS4 students will complete the entry level curriculum.

Social Understanding 

The social understanding course is designed for those students who either have an ASD diagnosis or have social communication needs. The course aims to cover the following areas: 

  • What is the difference between social skills and social understanding?  
  • Understanding Neurodiversity and how this must be applied in ALL interactions with autistic learners 
  • Developing competency in managing behaviour that challenges  
  • Developing interaction approaches that celebrate and foster a positive sense of self for autistic learners 
  • Understanding the difference between neuro-typical and autistic expectations in social situations and how to support others understand the need to accept autistic culture  
  • Understanding the impact of masking on autistic learners throughout the day 
  • Delivering activities to target social understanding in a group-based format for 11-16year olds  
  • Running groups for autistic females. Differences and considerations. 
  • Measuring progress, reporting back to line management and report writing for parents and other professionals  
  • Reflections, modifications, sharing best practice and focusing on our own social interaction with students.  
  • How to generalise skills into the classroom, playground, and other group settings (follow up day) 

 

With this support we hope all students will be able to be self-managers of their own wellbeing, having developed the strategies and tools to be able to look after themselves, whilst also being aware that there are people available to support them should they ever feel like they need some extra help.

To discuss any concerns around Wellbeing, please contact your child’s LG in the first instance. Your child’s LG will then liaise with the relevant person within school if further intervention or support is needed.


Risk 2 - Increased financial deprivation and increase use of food banks

HAR Pastoral and Safeguarding team are here to support families with their own food and uniform banks. We work with external agencies to support families financially. Parents/carers can get in touch with us to find out ways we can support. 


Risk 3 - Racism and extremism 

HAR is also at risk from extremist groups (far right) with propaganda material from these circulated via social media in the local area. HAR challenges extremist attitudes through our PHSE, LG and assemblies.

Radicalization (or radicalisation) is a process by which an individual, or group comes to adopt increasingly extreme political, social, or religious ideals and aspirations that reject or undermine the status quo or contemporary ideas and expressions of the nation – being coerced or forced into following someone’s extremist beliefs.

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on us to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, example indicators:

  • Spending increasing time in the company of other suspected extremists; changing their style of dress or personal appearance to accord with the group; their day-to-day behaviour becoming increasingly centred around an extremist ideology, group or cause; loss of interest in other friends; possession of material or symbols associated with an extremist cause (e.g. the swastika for far right groups); attempts to recruit others to the group/cause/ideology; or communications with others that suggest identification with group/ cause/ ideology.
  • Example indicators that an individual has an intention to use violence or other illegal means include: clearly identifying another group as threatening what they stand for and blaming that group for all social or political ills; using insulting or derogatory names or labels for another group; speaking about the imminence of harm from the other group and the importance of action now; expressing attitudes that justify offending on behalf of the group, cause or ideology; condoning or supporting violence or harm towards others; or plotting or conspiring with others.  How to spot the signs of radicalisation:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWa5GwmQsdM&safe=active


Risk 4 - Gangs

HAR is situated in Rainham Essex and shares its borders with Thurrock, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham.  All these boroughs have established gangs who have the potential to target our students for criminal activities.  

All these boroughs are easily accessible by public transport increasing the risk for county lines and other crimes.  Serious youth violence is linked to child criminal (CCE) and sexual exploitation (CSE), particularly around drug dealing and county lines.


Gangs

A gang can be summarised as a group who see themselves and are seen by others as a gang, and for whom crime and violence are a central part of their activities. Children and young people face all sorts of pressures, including possibly feeling pressure to follow friends who may be in a gang. If you have any concerns or questions about gangs please do contact our safer schools police officers (see above). You might also like to read the Home Office leaflet Gangs: You and Your Child which gives advice to parents on gangs and how to help children make the right choices. Westminster Council have also produced a leaflet with advice and guidance to parents and carers about serious youth violence, knife crime and gangs.


What is a Money Mule?

More young people across the UK are being approached by criminals who want to use their bank accounts or pin numbers for criminal purposes. This is called being a ‘money mule’. A ‘mule account’ is used to hide money that comes from illegal activities. The young person may be asked to transfer money, allow access to their account or open up a new one. Sometimes criminals will try and force young people to become mules or they might offer financial incentives such as cash or mobile phone credit.

We need your support to help educate young people around this issue. Has your child been approached or asked for their bank account to be used? Check any bank statements. Is there money going in and out that cannot be accounted for? Ask questions if you are unsure about anything.

Bank accounts are private and must only be used by the account holder.  Any misuse could not only be criminal but could cause serious credit issues for the account holder. Police are working in partnership with many schools across London to combat this issue. If you have any concerns, speak to your Safer Schools Police Officer (see below) and/or Action Fraud (www.actionfraud.police.uk) on 0300 123 2040.


Drugs networks ('County lines')

The National Crime Agency, the UK body charged with fighting organised crime, is very concerned that crime gangs are taking over drug networks using telephone hotlines (called 'county lines') and recruiting vulnerable people, often children, to act as couriers and to sell drugs. Please see our information sheet about 'county lines' and 'cuckooing' - the practice whereby professional drug dealers take over the property of a vulnerable person and use it as a place from which to run their drugs business.


What parents need to know about MOMO

Momo is a sinister ‘challenge’ that has been around for some time. It has recently resurfaced and once again has come to the attention of schools and children across the country. Dubbed the ‘suicide killer game’, Momo has been heavily linked with apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and most recently (and most worryingly)... YouTube Kids. The scary doll-like figure reportedly sends graphic violent images, and asks users to partake in dangerous challenges like waking up at random hours and has even been associated with self-harm. You can download a guide for parents about MOMO, published by National Online Safety


What is Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)? 

Abuse carried out by a Person(s) who hold a position of trust or authority in relation to the child. 

A type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status and most likely to be seen in children who are associated with ‘gang members’ or known to spend time with persons who are older than them. Grooming or forcing the young person into having sex. 

What should you look for? 

Gullible children – easily manipulated: Children or young people may be tricked into believing they are in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol where they may be coerced into performing sexual acts against their will. 

  • They may also be groomed online. Some indicators of children being sexually exploited are: Going missing for periods of time or regularly coming home late; regularly missing education and appearing with unexplained gifts or new expensive possessions and having older boyfriends or girlfriends. 
  • Children who are talking about receiving gifts.
  • Coming to school with new or up to date mobile phones, new trainers, cash, taxi’s and particularly in girls: false nails, hair extension or wigs. 
  • A child under the age of 13 is not legally capable of consenting to sex. If an individual has sex with a 13-year-old or bellow it is statutory rape – even if they have consented. 

 

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