Information
Now more than ever, it is important for everyone to know how to stay connected, stay safe online, check the facts and remember to take a break.
Your mental health is a vital factor in how you approach the world around you and indeed how you approach what life ‘throws’ at you. Good mental health allows us to be more resilient and deal more successfully with the ‘low moments’. However, sometimes we need a little support from other agencies/people to enable us to do this.
The services listed below offer help and support to young people. If you have any concerns at all about your mental health and would like to speak to someone in school, please email safeguarding@vaseacademy.co.uk and a member of the safeguarding team will speak with you and signpost you to the correct organisation or even support you themselves.
SEND Resources
Everyone is affected by change in one way or another and there has certainly been considerable change during the coronavirus pandemic. However, for people and especially children with special educational needs and disabilities these changes have had some considerable impact.
As a parent or carer you may feel concerned about how the current situation is affecting your child. This could include being worried about how you will manage your child’s care, educational needs at home and their well- being, while juggling your work from home.
Every child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is different therefore we have put together a number of links which offer advice to help you and your child find ways to cope together.
External Support Agencies
During uncertain, worrying and confusing times pressure can build on people in a multitude of ways. Therefore, we have included a variety of agencies which might be able to support you through these challenging times.
Online Safety
At V.A.S.E Academy we want to make sure all our pupils understand safe online behaviours, but most importantly can recognise the signs of unwanted contact online and thus raise the alarm with an appropriate adult. Parents/carers need to also understand the online risks which their children could be facing.
Therefore, we have created the online safety resources page where children and parents can gain access to websites to support them.
During the COVID-19 crisis many people within communities came together to offer support and help. However, do be aware that there will be those who try to exploit this situation. What are the issues and risks? While these may depend on the age of the child, the UK Safer Internet Centre has identified:
- Behaviour - sharing too much information. It is critical young people are aware of the impact they have online as well as on other people.
- Contact - strangers, bullies, groomers or radicalisers can contact children
- Commercialism and financial exploitation - hidden costs of advertising in apps, games and websites. Young people can be at risk of commercial exploitation online
- Extremism and radicalisation - When a young person is vulnerable radicalisers from extremist groups could target individuals via several means.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact safeguarding@vaseacademy.co.uk
Latest Safeguarding Communication
A dedicated website which contains information (including honest and candid interviews from people affected by knife and gang crime) for young people and parents on how to address concerns about knife crime.