The High School Leckhampton The High School Leckhampton

Pastoral Support

Our Pastoral Vision: 

The High School Leckhampton's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Alice O'Riordan.

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) is Morgan Powell-Jones

To report any safeguarding concerns please email: admin@hsl.gloucs.sch.uk or call 01242 383351

All pupils are to feel safehappyknown, supported and enjoy coming to school. 

Pupils will be immersed in a culture of high aspirations. 

Staff will work together with pupils and parents to ensure that students achieve pastoral and academic success

At The High School Leckhampton, we strongly believe that high quality pastoral care will equate to happier children who will thrive academically. Our core message is that every child matters and this valued focus is underpinned by our house system. 

Each child will have a supportive and caring tutor to help ease any worries and is a key point of contact should parents need to get in touch with the school. The role of the tutor is crucial in helping to develop well-rounded, happy, and healthy young adults. Our dedicated team of teachers are on hand throughout the school day to offer support and guidance to worried or anxious pupils, as well as lending a friendly ear if the day is not going as planned.  

Mrs O’Riordan’s Pastoral Office is designed to be a safe and friendly space where pupils can come should they need to seek any support, guidance, and/or help. Mrs O’Riordan offers an ‘open door policy’ where students can drop in and talk about any concerns or successes they may be experiencing.  

HSL has also appointed Mr Powell-Jones as a pastoral support leader. He is located in the pastoral offices when he's not teaching to also support our young people on a daily basis. As well as this, Mrs McKenzie is a pastoral support administrator who has had years of pastoral experience working with young people. 

We recognise that there will be times when people need support.  The positive relationship between children, parents, friends, the community, and school are fundamental in developing a well-rounded member of society. If you would like to let the school know of any issues you are facing or would like any school support, please contact your form tutor or the pastoral lead teacher. 

It may be appropriate to seek support from a GP, the school nurse, or another medical professional if a child is physically and/or mentally unwell. When this is the case, it may be appropriate for a parent to contact a child’s tutor to inform the school of any sensitive matters that may have an impact on the school day. 

General Help 

There are a number of charities that provide support and advice to young people and families on a range of issues.  The following charities are important organisations that we recommend on a regular basis to parents.  Visit the websites and then use their search engines to find more information.

The NSPCC  The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children are the the leading children's charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK with a range of advice on different issues for parents and children

Glos Families Directory Is a local information page that is linked to local authority providers, with information on a range of issues​

Childline provides counselling service for parents, children and young people.

Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning provides support around the PSHE curriculum to teachers and advice for parents. There are resources, as well links to partner organisations to support the emotional health and wellbeing of all children and young people.

Parenting Support Line (no website) is a free confidential advice line providing guidance and emotional support on any aspect of parenting and family life.

Call 0800 542 02 02, email familyinfo@gloucestershire.gov.uk, or message on Facebook.

Available Monday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm and Saturday 10.00am to 6.00pm

Young Minds Matter - HSL

 

For the Privacy Notice Letter - please click here 

 

School Support 

The Pastoral Team at The High School Leckhampton: 

Mrs A O’Riordan – Designated Safeguarding Lead 

Mr M Powell-Jones - Pastoral Support Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs Mckenzie - Pastoral Support Administrator

Year 7 Tutors are:

7CH1 Katie Hancock

7CH2 Ludette Joice

7LB Katherine Kennedy 

7IS Helen Holland

7WI Matthew Bunting

Year 8 Tutors are:

8CH Imogen Simms

8IS Rebecca Vaughan

8LB Ali Cox

8WI Grant Taylor

Year 9 Tutors are:

9CH Lindsey Wright

9IS Will Ruxton

9LB Georgina McAlpine

9WI Lisa Claydon

All members of staff at The High School Leckhampton have a duty of care to safeguard the children.  

Students and parents can also find a wealth of additional supportive services via the pastoral support page on the VLE.  

The School Nurse

Our school nurse, Lauren Keveren visits the school weekly during Tuesday lunchtimes and is based in the pastoral area in the school.  These sessions are designed for pupils who feel they may need some additional support or guidance. Pupils can book appointments or just pop in to see her as part of her 'drop in service'.

Mrs O'Riordan is very happy to arrange a session for any pupil. Depending on the age of the pupil, we may need to seek consent from a parent/guardian for this referral. 

There is a self-referral form you can complete if you would like to see the school nurse, this can be found by clicking here. You will need consent from a parent/guardian to complete this referral. If you do complete this form, we would also recommend that you let your tutor and a member of the pastoral team know. 

Text School Nurse 

Young people aged 11-16 can get text advice from the school nurse, Lauren, by texting 07507333351

School Counsellor: 

Children at The High School Leckhampton will have access to a dedicated school counsellor who can offer support for pupils, appointments are made through the pastoral team. Consent from a parent/guardian is needed for a child to access this service. 

Education Welfare Support;           

The Trust employs a Welfare support worker who provides support to the school and parents with advice on improving attendance.

Early Help

What is Early Help?

Early Help is about getting timely and effective support to children, young people and their families who need it, and also focusses on how families can be supported to do things for themselves and build on their strengths.

Early help could be in the form of:

  • Seeing the school nurse
  • Having mentoring sessions at the school for reading/spelling/maths/pastoral reasons
  • Seeing the school counsellor
  • Making referrals to external agencies to work with and support our pupils
  • We will use Gloucestershire's 'Windscreen of Need' to support our young people

Early Help Coordinator:

Jubaida Rashid visits The High School Leckhampton regularly and works closely with the Pastoral team.  Early help involves everybody and the aim is to identify emerging problems, to enable the right level of intervention and support when needed, through the designated school lead and other professionals. 

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with Mrs O'Riordan (DSL) should you wish to discuss the school's pastoral systems or exploring Early Help for your child.

 

Mental Health 

Young Minds is a national charity that provides practical support and advice on Mental Health.  They also have a Young Minds Parent Helpline phone number: 08088025544

Chat Health is a confidential text messaging service for young people to get in touch with a healthcare professional for advice and support on physical and mental health issues.

Kooth is an online support platform for 11 to 18 year olds where young people can access free anonymous counselling, join friendly discussion boards, keep online journals, goal trackers, and read self-help articles with the option to contribute their own experiences or advice.

Young Gloucestershire offer Counselling by phone and via online chat for 16 to 25 year olds facing challenges with their mental and emotional wellbeing. Young people can be referred or can refer themselves.

The Mix supports under 25s with mental health, money, homelessness, finding a job, relationships and drugs. They can talk to young people about their situation and signpost them to organisations that could help.

Heads Together is a charity designed to promote support and communication about mental health issues

Headroom - The BBC have created a new website called 'Headroom'.  This website has lots of resources to help those who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.

The NHS have a website offering mental health support called 2gether this website offers a range of other services for young people and parents at this location

Students against depression offers excellent advice for anyone feeling low, stressed or depressed

Mindful is a new service for 11-17 year olds providing help and advice on mental helath and emotional well being

On Your Mind is a website run by NHS to provide advice to people with a range of concerns from Mental health to Bereavement

Teens In Crisis is a charity who aim to to improve, preserve and promote good mental health and well-being among young people and their families.

Anxiety UK is a charity to help people suffering from anxiety disorders

Calm Harm is an app designed to help reduce the need to self harm. It offers lots and lots of ways to distract yourself, it is endorsed by the NHS

No Panic is a helpline providing support for panic attacks and anxiety disorders

Gloucestershire self harm is a safe, non-judgmental helpline for young people and adults who self harm, and their friends, families and carers.

There is a brilliant charity called Stem4 - Supporting Teenage Mental Health 

Which is filled with a wealth of resources relating to the following:

  • Asking for Help - a booklet to support young people to ask for additional support
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Depression 
  • Self Harm
  • Eating Disorders
  • Addiction

They also recommend some apps such as 'Clear Fear' to help support children and their parents. 

 

 

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Bereavement 

Winstons Wish Provides services to bereaved young people and their families offering practical advice and guidance in helping to grieve and cope with bereavement.

Hope is a charity set up to help young people effected by bereavement

Cruse Bereavement Care - Provides Information on what you can do to help a child or young person who is grieving.  

Hope Again - is aimed at young people aged 12-18 and is part of Cruse Bereavement Care.  The website is designed to help young people find their own way with dealing with loss. 

Child Exploitation 

CEOP website The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children. That means we are part of UK policing and very much about tracking and bringing offenders to account either directly or in partnership with local and international forces." You can also report concerns and abuse and will find a button to CEOP on most social networking sites as well as in instant messaging and other interactive software.

Internet/Online Safety 

The Safer Internet website has lots of information whether you're a student, a parent or carer, or a member of staff on how to access the internet safely. Click logo for link.

These websites were recently recommended in a government publication:

Thinkuknow - By National Crime Agency-CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) provides resources for parents and carers and children of all ages to help keep children safe online.

Childnet - has developed guidance for parents and carers to begin a conversation about online safety.

Parentinfo - is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP, providig support and guidance for parents and carers related to the digital world from leading experts and organisations. 
NSPCC  - has guidance for parents and carers to help keep children safe online

LGFL - has support for parents and carers to keep children safe online 

Net-aware - has support for parents and carers from the NSPCC, including a guide to social networks, apps and games. 

SWGFL - South West Grid For Learning have created 'checklist' resources for parents to help keep their children safe when using social media. This information includes: parental controls, reporting issues and sorting out privacy settings.

SWGFL parent guide - South West Grid For Learning have created an online safety guide for parents.

NSPCC - Guide to Cyberbullying

Parents can seek further guidance on keeping children safe online from the following organisations and websites: 

Social Media 

Safer Internet Center offer advice on how to ensure that young people remain safe when online

Instagram Checklist to make sure that your Instagram account is safe

Snapchat Advice on how to ensure that snapchat is used safely

Tik Tok parental advice on usage

Facebook Information and advice on how to stay safe on Facebook

Whats App advice and guidance

Sexting Advice from the South West Grid for Learning for parents and young people dealing with issues arrising from sexting. 

SafeTo Net  This is an app for parents to help you safeguard your children from online risks like cyberbullying and sexting, whilst respecting yourchild’s rights to privacy. 

Own It The BBC have a website and app called own it. The website has a lot of content for children to help them navigate their online lives, and the free smartphone app comes with a special keyboard which can intervene with help and support in the moments that children need it the most. It can be downloaded for free in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

LGBTQIA+ support 

Gay Gloucester is a local charity providing support for LGBT people, their families and friends

Young Stonewall - provides support for young LGBTQ people at home, school or work.

Stonewall is  a lobbying and focus group working for equality for LGBT and provide support and help for people experiencing abuse and/or discrimination because of their sexuality.

Drugs and Alcohol 

Frank is a charity that provides advice and information for young people and parents on drugs.

Radicalisation 

Educate against Hate The Educate Against Hate parents' hub provides resources and government advice for parents and carers on keeping young people safe from extremism, including online.

Lets Talk About It This website provides support for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation.

GOV.UK referral tool Any member of the public can report terrorist content they find online through the GOV.UK referral tool. More information about what to report and what happens when you make a report can be found on the Action Counters Terrorism campaign.

 Other helplines

Samaritans are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.

The Hideout - A website designed by women's aid for children and young people to help them understand domestic abuse.

Family Lives - This website provides information, advice, guidance and support on any aspect of parenting and family life.  

Beat eathing disorders -This charity aim to support people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members.

The Early Intervention Foundation supports early intervention measures to tackle the root cause of social problems among young people

First Aid advice can be found at the British Red Cross website

Carers Trust - The carers trust have a list of organisations that can help if you are a young carer alongside lots of useful advice.