Swindon CCG have started to commission Kooth which is an online counselling and emotional well-being support service for children and young people available free at the point of use. As an early intervention solution, Kooth helps to reduce waiting times for young people seeking help while removing the stigma associated with accessing mental health support. Please see below a link to a recent article for the local area and a link to the site itself.
First aid is the initial help a person gives a casualty for treatment of any sudden injury or illness, until more professional help arrives. This application can be at home or in the workplace.
First aid coverage in the workplace is a legal requirement under the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations, 1981 (1982 Northern Ireland).
First Aiders in school cannot diagnose medical conditions – if a child is injured or unwell it is the parent’s/ carer’s responsibility to obtain and administer any medication or take their children to the appropriate trained professional for diagnosis.
Parents / Carers play a crucial role in ensuring that their children understand the need to use the internet / mobile devices in an appropriate way. Research shows that many parents and carers do not fully understand the issues and are less experienced in the use of ICT than their children.
The school will therefore take every opportunity to help parents understand these issues. Guidance for parents is set out on the links below.
At The Dorcan Academy we pride ourselves on celebrating and promoting our diverse community with its many different ethnicities and religions. We also recognise however that in today’s world young people are faced with many pressures as they grow up and can often be influenced by strong feelings expressed by others in connection with a range of complex issues. Our overriding concern is that all our students feel safe and also express tolerance towards all cultures and religions even when personal views may be different.
The PREVENT strategy incorporating one organisation called “Channel”, is designed to protect people potentially at risk of being radicalised. There are a number of indicators that may possibly indicate that an individual may be being adversely targeted by an extremist group or cause, such as:
Suddenly changing how they dress or their appearance.
High absence rate from school with no clear reason.
Losing interest in friends or activities not associated with a particular ideology, with their behaviour becoming focused on an extreme idea or cause.
Possessing or being associated with material or symbols associated with an extremist cause, being in communication with suspected extremists, use of internet or other social media sites associated with extremism.
The Dorcan Academy fully endorses the PREVENT strategy that:
“Schools can help to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same ways that they help to safeguard children from drugs, gang violence or alcohol. Their purpose must be to protect children from harm and to ensure that they are taught in a way that is consistent with the law and our values. “
“Colleges have an important role to play in Prevent, particularly in ensuring balanced debate as well as freedom of speech. They also have a clear responsibility to exercise their duty of care and to protect the welfare of their students. Staff can identify and offer support to students who may be drawn into extremism.”
Please be reassured that all of our students are given information on staying safe in the school and wider community and are told about appropriate behaviour in terms of their day to day conduct and when using technology. We do follow up and refer any inappropriate or concerning behaviour and work closely with a range of other agencies, such as the Police and Social Care. Our Safeguarding Team are always available to discuss any issue you as parents/carers may be concerned about.
