Safeguarding

How do Parents Report a Safeguarding Concern?

If you believe that a child is in imminent danger, contact the police - dial 999

 

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How to report to Children’s Social Services?  

 

A referral should be made for Merton residents to:

020 8545 4226 / 020 8545 4227

Out of Hours - 020 8770 5000

More information about safeguarding children and young people in Merton can be found at

Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership (MSCP) website

 

Early Help referrals will be made if there is not an immediate safeguarding concern via the LA

Early Help referral system fsd@merton.gov.uk

 

A referral should be made for Croydon residents to:

For urgent child protection matters - 0208 255 2888

For SPOC consultation and advice for non-urgent cases - 0208 726 6464

Out of Hours - 0208 726 6400

 

More information about safeguarding children and young people in Croydon can be found at

Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) website

 

Early Help referrals will be made if there is not an immediate safeguarding concern via the LA

Early Help referral system earlyhelp@croydon.gov.uk

 

A referral should be made for Lambeth residents to:

 For urgent child protection matters - 0207 926 5555

More information about safeguarding children and young people in Lambeth can be found at

Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) website

 

Early Help referrals will be made if there is not an immediate safeguarding concern via the LA Early Help referral system

 0207 926 9079 / helpandprotection@lambeth.gov.uk

 

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How to Report Radicalisation and Extremism?

Further information about reporting concerns can be found on the Government Action Counters Terrorism website.

If you’re worried about someone, call the ACT Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, to share your concerns with specially trained officers.

The local Prevent Polie Officer is Christopher Kendrick 

Chris.Kendrick@met.police.uk 

0208 545 4226 / 4227

The  Local Prevent Lead is Ms. E. Willis 

Prevent@merton.gov.uk

 

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How to Contact The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)?

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is John Shelly.

There is a duty system and one of the CP Coordinators in the Quality Assurance Unit is on duty each day to deal with LADO issues.

The duty telephone number for all LADO enquiries/referrals is 020 8545 3633

or they can be contacted via email at lado@merton.gov.uk

 

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How to Contact Merton’s Virtual School (VS)?

The Head Teacher for Merton’s Virtual School (VS) is Karen Reid.

The VS provides support and challenge to all those who work with LAC and Care Leavers to

promote their educational achievement and to make sure they reach their potential.

You may contact Karen Reid on virtualschool@merton.gov.uk or 020 8454 4196

 

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How do Students Report a Safeguarding Concern?

Students can speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team or any member of staff.

All staff have annual and regular safeguarding training led by the DSL.

 

 

 

 

Early Help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life.

The Academy recognises that Early Help is more effective in promoting the welfare of children, than reacting later and therefore is central to the Academy’s safeguarding ethos.

Although Early Help is led by the DSL, the Academy has an Early Help Team, who work full time to support vulnerable children and parents/carers at the Academy.

This team enables us to work more closely with external agencies, provide support to families and strengthen contextual safeguarding.

 

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Meet the Early Help Team

*Please note Early Help services are continually reviewed and subject to change

The Academy offers a wide range of Early Help support to ensure that students are equipped with the information and advice needed to help safeguard themselves and overcome any challenges that they may face; this could be either in or out of the Academy setting.

Our Early Help strategy and offer outlined below mirrors Merton’s new Safeguarding Children Partnership Early Help Strategy.

Some of the support offered by our Early Help Team includes peer mentoring, 1:1 support, self-esteem and resilience programmes, lunchtime clubs and safeguarding workshops to raise awareness of topics such as knife crime, healthy relationships, and child sexual and criminal exploitation. Our aim is to give students the confidence needed to make good choices in life. 

 

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Early Help Support - Where can Students Seek Support?

 

The Learning Zone

The Learning Zone has been designed to support the educational needs of vulnerable students in the Academy. It provides a quiet, safe working space at lunch time and during after school enrichment activities; it is required throughout the day for SEND support and intervention

 

The Intervention Zone

The Intervention Zone is a designated room in the Academy for workshops, intervention sessions and 1:1 support and advice sessions. It serves all students, but also provides targeted intervention for the most vulnerable students.

It is open at KS3 and 4 lunch times for students to seek support and advice from the Academy Early Help Team about anything that is worrying them.

Students can also spend lunchtimes in the Intervention Zone socialising with their peers and taking part in structured activities, or attend drop-in sessions run by the Early Help Team or external agencies such as Off The Record.

 

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Local Authority Safeguarding Partnership’s and Early Help Support

 

Merton

More information about safeguarding children and young people in Merton can be found at

Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership (MSCP) website

 

Early Help referrals will be made if there is not an immediate safeguarding concern via the

LA Early Help referral system  fsd@merton.gov.uk

 

Croydon

More information about safeguarding children and young people in Croydon can be found at

 Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

 

Early Help referrals will be made if there is not an immediate safeguarding concern via the

LA Early Help referral system earlyhelp@croydon.gov.uk

 

Lambeth

More information about safeguarding children and young people in Lambeth can be found at 

Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP)

 

Early Help referrals will be made if there is not an immediate safeguarding concern via the

LA Early Help referral system

 0207 926 9079 / helpandprotection@lambeth.gov.uk

 

 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Simpson, is the online Safety Lead.   

Other members of the online safety team, are: 

• Aisha Samad- DDSL/Principal 

• Allan Henry- Vice Principal  

• Gareth Holden- Assistant Principal  

• Jamie Semple- Assistant Principal 

• Tharmila Umanithan- Assistant Principal 

The Academy has an e-Safety policy which explains how we try to keep students safe at the Academy and how we respond to online safety incidents.  

Online safety is taught through the Department for Education’s (DfE) statutory guidance Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education (RSHE)-  found HERE.The Academy acknowledges that in July (2025) the DfE released the new statutory guidance that will come into force in September 2026 found HERE. Significant consideration to this new statutory guidance was given when planning the online safety curriculum as we are keen to ensure our students benefit from the latest advice and are kept up to date on National safeguarding agendas. 

 

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Monitoring Online Activity 

We monitor students' use of the internet by using filters and monitoring systems (Securus). Securus is monitoring software that can monitor a wide range of devices. It monitors against an inbuilt library of keywords and phrases organised into categories with each one given a default severity rating.  

The library is developed in partnership with a number of charities and specialist organisations within law enforcement and child protection. The programme monitors both online and offline material and recognises inappropriate or harmful content, words, and phrases. 

A screen shot (known as a ‘capture’) plus other details are taken of every incident triggered, showing what was displayed at the time, who was involved and when the incident took place.  This information is shared with the DSL, Mrs Simpson, the Principal, Ms Samad, and the Vice Principal, Mr Henry, allowing Academy staff to implement further actions or interventions as required.  

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Online Safety Advice 

 

Support for Students

• Childline for free and confidential advice
• UK Safer Internet Centre to report and remove harmful online content
• CEOP for advice on making a report about online abuse
• NSPCC guidance and reporting for children and adults
• National Online Safety advice for children and adults

 

Support for Parents and Carers

Although the Academy teaches students online safety as part of the curriculum, it is vital that parents/carers are aware of the risks too, and what they can do to develop a culture of online safety in the home.

For any concerns about a child's online safety, there is always someone at the Academy who is available to support. Simply call the Academy and ask for the DSL, Mrs Simpson, or speak to any member of staff.

In addition to this, the following sites can offer support and advice:

• Childnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support.
• Commonsensemedia provide independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media for children and their parents.
• Government advice about protecting children from specific online harms such as child sexual abuse, sexting, and cyberbullying.
• Internet Matters provide age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world.
• Let’s Talk About It provides advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation.
• London Grid for Learning provides support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online.
• Lucy Faithfull Foundation StopItNow resource can be used by parents and carers who are concerned about someone’s behaviour, including children who may be displaying concerning sexual behaviour (not just about online).
• National Crime Agency/CEOP Thinkuknow provides support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online.
• Parentzone provides help for parents and carers on how to keep their children safe online.
• UK Safer Internet Centre provide tips, advice, guides and other resources to help keep children safe online.

 

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Childline ‘Report, Remove’

Childline has released support for children of all ages to help remove nude images shared online. To get the images removed, visit the website. The child will need to:

• Select their age
• Create a Childline account to receive updates on the report
• Report the image or video to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)

The only information you will give to the IWF are the images, videos, or URLs you report. There is space to add information such as where the image or video is on a webpage. Childline will never see the pictures and videos or URLs you share with the IWF. The only information the IWF shares with Childline apart from your case number is if they will take down your images or videos, and why.

https://www.internetmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Childrens-Commissioners-Office-Talking-to-Your-Child-About-Online-Sexual-Harassment-A-Guide-for-Parents.pdf

 

 

 

Sexual Violence and Harassment

Radicalisation and Extremism

Child-on-Child Abuse

Sharing Nudes and Semi Nudes

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Child Missing Education (CME).

 

Please also see our website for full details of all specific safeguarding issues from 

Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025)

 

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Sexual Violence and Harassment

The Academy does not tolerate any form of sexual harassment or violence. As per government guidance in 'Keeping Children Safe In Education 2024', the Academy works on the assumption that sexual harassment and violence ‘could happen here' and insists that no member of our community ever treats sexual violence or harassment as 'banter' or 'a part of growing up'.

To ensure our culture of safeguarding is consistent and embedded throughout, the Academy puts a series of proactive measures to reduce the risk of such incidents. Along with regular reinforcement, staff and student training and consistency, the key strategy is education, specifically of appropriate behaviour through our RSHE programme.

The Academy educates students to understand sexual harassment may appear in many forms, and all members of our community have a duty to report any possible sign of sexual harassment or violence. These may include, but are not limited to: 

• Sexual comments, such as telling sexualised stories, making lewd comments, making sexualised remarks about clothing and or appearance and calling someone sexualised names
• Sexualised “jokes” or taunting 
• Physical behaviour, such as deliberately brushing against someone or interfering with someone’s clothes
• Online sexual harassment. This may be standalone, or part of a wider pattern of sexual harassment and/or sexual violence
• Consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nudes, images and/or videos 

The NSPCC have launched a dedicated helpline for children and young people who have experienced abuse at school, and for worried adults and professionals who need support and guidance. The helpline is to provide appropriate support and advice to victims of abuse, and concerned adults, including onward action such as contacting the police if they wish to. 

This dedicated helpline will offer support to:

• all children and young people making current and non-recent disclosures of abuse
• any children or young people who want to talk about being involved or witnessing any incidents
• any adults who have experienced non-recent abuse
• parents and carers who have any concerns about their own or other children
• professionals who work in schools and need support in this or related issues.

Anyone who gets in touch through this dedicated helpline will also be signposted to other relevant support services available, including Childline - which provides ongoing support and counselling to children and young people. 

The Report Abuse in Education helpline comes after a high number of anonymous testimonials were submitted to the Everyone’s Invited website, documenting abuse in all types of schools, colleges, and universities. 

Young people and adults can contact the NSPCC helpline, Report Abuse in Education on 0800 136 663 or email help@nspcc.org.uk

 

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Radicalisation and Extremism

The Academy’s Prevent Duty Lead is Mrs Simpson, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The Academy believes and actively supports the view that all students should be protected from radicalisation and extremism.

• Prevent duty guidance- Home Office guidance
• Prevent duty: additional advice for schools and childcare providers - DfE advice
• Educate Against Hate website  - DfE and Home Office advice

Further information about reporting concerns can be found on the Government, Action Counters Terrorism website. If you’re worried about someone, call the ACT Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, to share your concerns with specially trained officers.

The local Prevent Police Officer is Christopher Kendrick Chris.Kendrick@met.police.uk 0208 545 4226 / 4227 and the Local Prevent Lead is Ms. E. Willis.

 

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Child-on-Child Abuse

Children can abuse other children. This is generally referred to as child-on-child abuse and can take many forms. This can include (but is not limited to):                                                                                   

• Bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying).
• Abuse in intimate personal relationships between peers.
• Physical abuse, which can include: hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm.
• Sexual violence and sexual harassment.
• Consensual and non-consensual sharing of nude and semi-nude images and/or videos (also known as ‘sexting’ or youth produced sexual imagery).
• Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, such as forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party.
• Upskirting, which typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to obtain sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress, or alarm.
• Initiation/hazing type violence and rituals.

We believe that all children have a right to attend school and learn in a safe environment. Children should be free from harm by adults and other children in school.

We are clear that there will be a zero-tolerance approach to any of the forms of abuse, including child-on-child abuse.

 

 

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Sharing Nudes and Semi Nudes

The practice of children sharing nudes and semi nudes (formerly known as ‘sexting’ or youth produced sexual imagery) and videos via text message, email, social media, or mobile messaging apps has become commonplace. Online technology has given children the opportunity to produce and distribute sexual imagery in the form of photos and videos. Such imagery involving anyone under the age of 18 is unlawful.

Children’s nudes and semi nudes refer to both images and videos where:

• A person under the age of 18 creates and shares sexual imagery of themselves with a peer under the age of 18.
• A person under the age of 18 shares sexual imagery created by another person under the age of 18 with a peer under the age of 18 or an adult.
• A person under the age of 18 is in possession of sexual imagery created by another person under the age of 18.
• Voyeurism Act 2019 – Upskirting is now a criminal act in the UK.  Visit this link for more information.

Childline ‘Report, Remove’

Childline has released support for children of all ages to help remove nude images shared online. To get the images removed, visit the website. The child will need to:

• Select their age
• Create a Childline account to receive updates on the report
• Report the image or video to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)

The only information you will give to the IWF are the images, videos, or URLs you report. There is space to add information such as where the image or video is on a webpage. Childline will never see what pictures and videos or URLs you share with the IWF. The only information the IWF shares with Childline apart from your case number is if they will take down your images or videos, and why.

 

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Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

We know that different forms of harm often overlap, and that perpetrators may subject children and young people to multiple forms of abuse, such as criminal exploitation (including county lines) and sexual exploitation. In some cases, the exploitation or abuse will be in exchange for something the victim needs or wants (for example, money, gifts or affection), and/or will be to the financial benefit or other advantage, such as increased status, of the perpetrator or facilitator.

Children can be exploited by adult males or females, as individuals or in groups. They may also be exploited by other children, who themselves may be experiencing exploitation – where this is the case, it is important that the child perpetrator is also recognised as a victim.

Whilst the age of the child may be a contributing factor for an imbalance of power, there are a range of other factors that could make a child more vulnerable to exploitation, including, sexual identity, cognitive ability, learning difficulties, communication ability, physical strength, status, and access to economic or other resources.

 

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited, they are given gifts, drugs, money, status, affection etc in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they are in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they are being abused.

Visit the NSPCC website for more information about preventing CSE.

 

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Criminal exploitation is child abuse where children and young people are manipulated and coerced into committing crimes.

Visit the NSPCC website for more information about preventing CCE.

 

County Lines

County Lines is the police term for urban gangs exploiting young people into moving drugs from a hub, normally a large city, into other markets, e.g., suburban areas, market and coastal towns, using dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines”. Children as young as 12 years old have been exploited into carrying drugs for gangs. This can involve children being trafficked away from their home area, staying in accommodation, and selling and manufacturing drugs.

For further information please visit the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the NSPCC for further information and guidance.

 

Money Mules

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 a new one. We need support to help educate young people around this issue. 

• Remember – where there is an urgent and immediate need to protect a child or young person call the police on 999.
• In all cases of suspected child sexual exploitation contact Children Social Care services via the MASH (multi-agency safeguarding hub)

 

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Children Missing in Education (CME)

Missing school can be an indicator of abuse and neglect, and in older children may raise concerns around child sexual exploitation. To safeguard pupils who are missing education, the Academy will ensure compliance with local authority policy and procedures for Children Missing Education. The Attendance Officer and Safeguarding Team will monitor unauthorised absence and follow CME procedures particularly where children go missing on repeated occasions.

 

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Specific Safeguarding Issues

Expert and professional organisations are best placed to provide up-to-date guidance and practical support on specific safeguarding issues. Please visit www.nspcc.org.uk.  

 

We welcome parent feedback at any time.

Please contact Mrs. Simpson, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to help us ensure that we keep all students, staff, and our community safe.

Mrs Simpson – DSL - Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent Lead  

0208 623 5509 / 077186 70 894 / simpsonr@harrismerton.org.uk

 

REPORTING

If you suspect a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm, call the Police on 999 

To make a report to social care after 5pm during the week or at the weekend please call the Local Authority emergency out-of-hours line: 

Merton 0208 543 9750 / Croydon 0208 726 6400 / Lambeth 020 7926 5555 / Wandsworth 020 8871 6000 / Sutton 020 8770 5000  

NSPCC 0808 800 5000 

Childline (18 or under) 0800 1111 

Link to report HERE

The Academy believes and actively supports the view that all students should be protected from radicalisation and extremism.

The Academy’s Prevent Duty Lead is Mrs Simpson, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The Prevent Duty lead has two specific strategic objectives to safeguard our students against radicalisation, extremism and any actions or beliefs that are contrary to British Values and our Academy ethos. 

These are to:

• Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it
• Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support

Further information and guidance on the Prevent Duty can be found here:

• Prevent duty guidance- Home Office guidance
• Prevent duty: additional advice for schools and childcare providers - DfE advice
• Educate Against Hate website  - DfE and Home Office advice

 

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How to Report Radicalisation and Extremism?

Further information about reporting concerns can be found on the Government Action Counters Terrorism website.

If you’re worried about someone, call the ACT Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, to share your concerns with specially trained officers.

The local Prevent Polie Officer is Christopher Kendrick 

Chris.Kendrick@met.police.uk 

0208 545 4226 / 4227

The  Local Prevent Lead is Ms. E. Willis 

Prevent@merton.gov.uk

The NSPCC have launched a dedicated helpline for children and young people who have experienced abuse at school, and for worried adults and professionals who need support and guidance. The helpline is to provide appropriate support and advice to victims of abuse, and concerned adults, including onward action such as contacting the police if they wish to. 

This dedicated helpline will offer support to:

• all children and young people making current and non-recent disclosures of abuse
• any children or young people who want to talk about being involved or witnessing any incidents
• any adults who have experienced non-recent abuse
• parents and carers who have any concerns about their own or other children
• professionals who work in schools and need support in this or related issues.

Anyone who gets in touch through this dedicated helpline will also be signposted to other relevant support services available, including Childline - which provides ongoing support and counselling to children and young people. 

The Report Abuse in Education helpline comes after a high number of anonymous testimonials were submitted to the Everyone’s Invited website, documenting abuse in all types of schools, colleges, and universities. 

Young people and adults can contact the NSPCC helpline, Report Abuse in Education on 0800 136 663 or email help@nspcc.org.uk

The Academy is enrolled onto the Operation Encompass scheme, a joint project between the Metropolitan Police Service and Merton Schools; where our DSL is notified of all domestic abuse incidents that have occurred and been reported to Police. This provides an opportunity for us to ensure the right support is in place at the right time for children who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Living in a home where domestic abuse takes place is harmful to children and can have a serious impact on their behaviour, wellbeing and understanding of healthy, positive relationships, including impacting upon their own personal, intimate relationships. Children who witness domestic abuse are at risk of significant harm and staff are alert to the signs and symptoms of a child suffering or witnessing domestic abuse.

 

What Should I do if I Suspect a Family is Affected by Domestic Abuse?

To talk through your concerns, call Children’s Social Care or click here for Merton’s Domestic violence and abuse support page where a number of helplines and support services are listed.

One Stop Shop Merton has a confidential drop-in service for people experiencing domestic abuse.

It’s held every Monday between 9.30am -12.00 noon (except bank holidays) at Morden Baptist Church, Crown Lane, Morden, SM4 5BL.

For further details call One Stop Shop on 020 7801 1777.

• Victim Support: 0808 168 9111
• Refuge: 0808 2000 247
• National Domestic Women and Girls Network: 0808 801 0660
• Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men: 0808 801 0327
• Galop: 0207 704 2040
• Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247

“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. Parents and carers have little influence over these contexts, and young people’s experiences of extra-familial abuse can undermine parent-child relationships.”  https://contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/

Safeguarding incidents and/or behaviours can be associated with factors outside of our Academy, for example factors specific to the local community and population. When assessing, planning, or implementing safeguarding polices, protocols and procedures, staff consider a range of contextual factors contributing to the risk of the individual’s safety, well-being and welfare. When making a referral or sharing information with agencies, these risks must also be considered and well documented.

 

Triangle chart for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families

 

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London Child Protection Procedures

Understanding the contextual safeguarding risks means that we can respond to the experiences that young people face in their wider, extra-familial environment. The safeguarding team, along with all Academy staff, are aware of the potential risks and that students may be vulnerable to multiple harms beyond the home. The Academy is located in the Pollards Hill ward in the London Borough of Merton; however, with the majority of students residing in London Boroughs of Merton and Croydon. Therefore, is it important that contextual priorities are considered across both London Boroughs. The last inspection of Merton local authority children’s services was in 2022, the graded was ‘outstanding’ – full report here.

The last inspection of Croydon local authority children’s services was in 2020, the graded was ‘good’ – full report here.

 

 

What are the Safeguarding Priorities for Merton and Croydon Local Authorities?

Merton’s local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership https://www.mertonscp.org.uk/

The current priorities of the MSCP are:

1. Early Help

This work is part of a whole system approach and is based on a clear understanding of local need.  The Partnership’s priority is to ensure that there is clear coordination and quality assurance of Early Help, with a shared focus on the journey and experience of the child and family.

2. Think family: Domestic Abuse and Neglect

The Safeguarding Partnership actively monitors, promotes, coordinates, and evaluates the work of partner agencies to help protect children at risk of domestic abuse, including working effectively with other multi-agency groups that have responsibility for responding to domestic abuse.

The Partnership actively monitors, promotes, coordinates, and evaluates the work of all agencies to ensure they help and protect children at risk of neglect, this includes working effectively with other multi-agency groups that have responsibility for responding to neglect.

3. Contextual Safeguarding

The Partnership will work with all agencies to ensure that there is a highly coordinated multi-agency and whole-council approach to a range of adolescent risks that occur in contexts beyond the family home (e.g., neighbourhood, schools, local shopping centres, youth venues etc.). These risks include child criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation, serious youth violence, peer on peer abuse, harmful sexual behaviour, and other overlapping forms of harm. The Partnership is aware of the risks of exploitation in their local area.

 

 

How does Harris Academy Merton support Merton’s Contextual Safeguarding Priorities?

 

Risk and Priority	Academy Response
Early Help	Academy Early Help Strategy and Team- support for students and families. Extensive Academy Early Help offer- internal support and external referrals. An Intervention Zone for students to seek support or guidance. A Learning Zone to support academic achievement. Early help workshops run by the Early Help Team. Strong partnerships with external agencies. Referrals to Local Authorities to access well-being and early help support. Student support offered at break, lunch and after school. Early Help signposting throughout the RSHE curriculum. Red Academy post boxes (‘worry boxes’), SharePoint reporting button, and RSHE question boxes for students to seek support both on and off site if they do not feel able to speak with someone in person initially.
Think Family: Domestic Abuse and Neglect	Academy Early Help Team– support for students and their families. Established links to make early help referrals for families. Home visits by the DSL and Safeguarding Team. Signposting for parents through the website and message updates. Specific teaching on domestic abuse and neglect in the RSHE curriculum. Signposting around the Academy. Safeguarding newsletter.
Contextual Safeguarding	Contextual safeguarding survey for students examining safeguarding in and outside of school. Parent safeguarding survey and safeguarding/ RSHE newsletter. Staff feedback survey after teaching RSHE. Collaboration with local agencies and partners. Close partnership with the Academy Safer Schools Police Officer. DSL attends Merton DSL forums and contextual safeguarding forums. Contextual safeguarding and risks outside of the home issues highlighted and taught in the RSHE curriculum. Detailed information gathering when students start at the Academy. Establishment of positive working relationships with students and parents.

 

How does Harris Academy Merton support Croydon’s Contextual Safeguarding Priorities?

 

Croydon’s local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership https://croydonlcsb.org.uk/

 

Risk	Academy Response
Looked After Children – high rate	Designated Teacher for LAC is supported by the SEND and Safeguarding Support Officer, Ms Forsyth, who works with LAC students to promote academic achievement and ensure the voice of the student is heard. Opportunity for LAC students to have external academic tutoring.
Young carers	Designated teacher for Young Carers, Ms Forysth, who works closely with the Early Help Team and inform staff of students who are Young Carers. Young carers can seek support through the Early Help Team. A referral can be made to the LA Young Carers Support network.
Child criminal exploitation and county lines / Violence in the community	Specific teaching on CME and county lines through the RSHE curriculum Grooming taught within the RSHE curriculum. Term 1 RSHE the theme is Healthy Relationships with a focus on CCE and CSE. Use of St Giles Trust within Personal Development RSHE sessions students to access specialist guidance.  Attendance, punctuality, and CME monitoring by ALT, DSL and Attendance Officer.
Homelessness, Housing and Welfare	Academy Early Help Team– support for students and families. Referrals for families where living arrangements may create safeguarding concerns. Early Help Local Authority referrals to support families. Home visits by the DSL and Safeguarding and Early Help Team.
Mental health and well being	Early Help Team available all day to support students. Many staff have been involved in the trauma informed schools training. Mental health champions. Youth Mental Health trained and First Aid Mental Health trained and within the staff body. Mental health and wellbeing are taught within the RSHE curriculum. Academy enrichment programme and Personal Development programme, break and lunch time clubs in the Intervention and Learning Zone. Off the Record and close work with Merton TAMHs clinician.
Parental- mental ill health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, neglect	Academy Early Help Team– support for students and their families. Established links to make early help referrals for families. Home visits by the DSL and Safeguarding Team. Signposting for parents through the website and message updates. Specific teaching on domestic abuse, abuse in intimate relationships in the RSHE curriculum. Substance misuse drop-down sessions in Term 3 as part of the RSHE curriculum.

Term 1

During Term 1, the new cohort of safeguarding ambassadors discussed the character values at Harris Merton. Each student chose a value they wish to represent and embody in and out of school.

RSHE topics like friendships, bullying and online safety were discussed in focus groups and then shared among each other. The Safeguarding ambassadors interviewed some of their peers to see what students valued most about friendship.

 

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Term 2

Safeguarding ambassadors discussed safety in school, touching on lockdown protocol and the importance of vigilance and alertness.

The ambassadors explored what unity means and how we can implement unity within Academy community. Culture days, school shops, student newsletters and taking part in assemblies, were planned for the summer term.  

During term 2, the ambassadors demonstrated unified teamwork to create a ‘Unity tree’ for visitor's reception and poems that could be used around the Academy.

    

 

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Term 3

During term 3, Safeguarding ambassadors reopened the school shop. Most items sold out quickly- they enjoyed interacting with their peers, organising themselves and working as a team.

A few students also attended some Year 6 transition workshops, offering guidance and encouragement for the new Year 7’s starting in September ‘25. They showed students round the Academy and took part in activities to welcome their younger peers to Harris Merton.

Melissa, Jon- Nathan, Nina & Stacey are Safeguarding Ambassadors and wrote a poem titled Unity, which they read in the summer term Safeguarding Assembly.

 

Melissa

Jon- Nathan

Nina & Stacey

 

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