Useful Links for Parents

We have collated a range of useful link and information about safeguarding for our parents. Links, downloads cand contact deails can be found on this page.

We have also produced a leaflet for parents and children to explain what Safeguarding Children means.  This leaflet is distributed to all our families and you can request a copy from our school office as well.

If you are worried about a child who may be suffering from harm you can make a referral to Children Services. You can contact them by telephone 0161 234 5001 or by email mcsreply@manchester.gov.uk

If you are worried a child is being sexually abused telephone the police straight away on 999.

If a child is suffering from anxiety/depression/self-harm or having suicidal thoughts you can telephone the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) on 0808 800 5000 or Cahms (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) on 0161 203 3250

Children are taught how to keep themselves safe online through a combination of assemblies and lessons from their class teacher.

In particular, children are shown how to:

• use technology safely, respectfully and responsibility
• recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour online, such as cyberbullying
• keep passwords and personal information safe
• report when they feel unsafe
• understand their online presence and how to be in control of their own privacy

We understand that it can be overwhelming to keep up-to-date with new technologies so we highly recommend using the resources shared here to keep your children safe online.

Cyberbullying

This is bullying but using technology to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person. A comprehensive leaflet has been published by Childnet International on the subject of cyberbullying which can be downloaded from this page (pages 6 and 7 show how technology can be used to bully with advise on contacting service providers if necessary).

If you suspect your child is being bullied, including cyberbullying, please inform us by speaking to your child's class teacher, in the first instance.

Social Media Sites

Many children now have online contact with other children through a wide variety of games and social networking sites.. Children generally, should not have accounts until they are 13 years old, however we realise that some children may have social media accounts below this age. If your child does have any type of social media account or uses other social networking sites please talk to your child about the following:

• Insist that you know your child's login details.
• Insist that you and other family members are 'friends'.
• Make sure your child 'locks down' their profile to ensure only friends can access their page, pictures etc.
• Make sure any photos or videos are appropriate and don't reveal personal information, such as school uniform details.
• Any members of staff will not accept any online request.

You can also download a PDF on the left, of our 'Online Safeguarding Tips' leaflet for parents of children using social media.

What to do if something goes wrong?

The CEOP website has links for reporting inappropriate online behaviour. Look out for the CEOP symbol on websites or on the CEOP's own site which take you directly to their own page for reporting abuse.

Additional support and independent advice for parents, children and young people can be obtained from the Information Advice and Support Service (previously the Parent Partnership Service) and they can be contacted on a confidential helpline: 0161 209 8356 or by Email to parents@manchester.gov.uk

Or by looking at the local offer online at www.manchester.gov.uk/sendlocaloffer

Other useful contacts:

IAS, Formerly Parent Partnership – 0161 209 8356 - parents@manchester.gov.uk

Relate (parenting support) - 0300 1001234 - www.relate.org.uk

Autistic Society Greater Manchester – 0161 866 8483

The British Dyslexia Association – 0845 251 9002 - www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

The Dyspraxia Foundation – 01462 455016

Headway: The Brain Injury Association – 0808 800 2244

Lancasterian Sensory Support Service – 0161 445 0123

Manchester Autism Resource Centre – 0161 945 0040

Manchester Asian Parents Carers Project – 0161 227 8708

Manchester Mencap – 0161 728 8109

Manchester Speech and Language Therapy Service – 0161 248 1208

National Autistic Society, Greater Manchester – 0161 998 4667

National Blind Children’s Society – 0800 781 1444

National Deaf Children’s Society – 0808 800 8880

National Down’s Syndrome Society – 0333 1212 300

South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group - 07593 542 107

Rodney House Pre-school Outreach Team – 0161 230 6854

SEND Local Offer Hub Drop In Sessions – 0161 998 7280

The Sensory Team at Manchester City Council – 0161 219 2658

Sleep Manchester (sleep problems) – 0161 448 8895

Statutory Assessment Service – 0161 245 7439

Please follow these links for further support and guidance to help you with reading at home.