Safeguarding
Student safeguarding message
If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact Ms George (DSL) and Ms Brooks (DDSL) via safeguarding@sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk or via our Main Reception on 0208 6996731.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the ‘golden thread’ at Sydenham School and forms part of everything we do.
At Sydenham School we explicitly teach pupils about safeguarding themselves in and outside of school, including online, through a broad and balanced curriculum. We establish and maintain a culture in which children feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to.
If a student is worried about something that is happening either at school or outside of school we have lots of members of staff that can help. The tutor is often a good place to start, or the members of staff shown on the posters displayed throughout the school. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms George.
Students can tell the chosen member of staff that they need to speak to them. If the concern is serious, the student should say so, and the member of staff will make time to speak with them straight away.
Our Inclusion Faculty also offer drop-in support in Inclusion at break time and lunch time.
Outside school hours, students can seek support via Childline on 0800 1111. In an emergency out of school hours, please call 999.
Useful links
Kooth
Kooth is a free online mental health and wellbeing service available to all young people in Lewisham aged 10-25. Kooth offers free support with no waiting lists and is a safe and anonymous space for young people to talk about their wellbeing without the fear of judgement. Please do review these resources and this video for more information about Kooth's support.
If you are feeling anxious or low in mood or have any other worries about your emotional health just visit Home - Kooth
Childline
If you feel like you need to talk about how you are feeling or about anything that is affecting your wellbeing you can call ChildLine for free on 08001111
Childline also has online support. Get Support | Childline
Compass
For guidance around issues that may affect your health and wellbeing visit; Young People - Compass
The Mix
For free information and support for under 25s in the UK. Get advice about sex, relationships, drugs, mental health, money & jobs. The Mix: 0808 808 4994; The Mix
Urgent Concerns
If you have an urgent concern outside of school hours, please contact the Family First Contact Hub (previously known as MASH) for the borough that the child lives in.
If you are worried about a child’s immediate safety, call the police on 999 or 101.
Family First Contact Point- FFCP for CP referrals (previously known as Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub – MASH). Duty is for out of hours referrals.
· Lewisham FFCP: 020 8314 6660 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Emergency Duty Team: 020 8314 6000 (Outside of Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Lewisham Council - Families First Contact Point (FFCP)
· Bromley FFCP: 0208 461 7373/7379 (Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm)
Emergency Duty Team: 0300 303 8671 (Outside Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm)
Bromley Children and Families Hub
· Southwark FFCP: 020 7525 1921 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Emergency Duty Team: 020 7525 5000 (Outside of Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Report a child at risk | Southwark Council
· Lambeth FFCP: 020 7926 3100
Emergency Duty Team: 020 7926 5555
helpandprotection@lambeth.gov.uk
Report concerns about a child | Lambeth Council
· Greenwich FFCP: 020 8921 3172
Emergency Duty Team: 020 8854 8888
Email: mash-referrals@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Report your concerns about a child | Royal Borough of Greenwich
· Croydon FFCP: 020 8255 2888 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Emergency Duty Team: 0208 726 6400 (Outside of Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Email: mash@croydon.gov.uk OR SSD-EMERGENCY-DUTY-TEAM@croydon.gov.uk
Concerned about a child? | Croydon Council
Sydenham School is also part of Operation Encompass, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police. This means that the school is informed before the start of the school day if one of our students has been involved in, or exposed to, a domestic incident that has been reported to the police. Our staff are then able to provide support for the student to meet their needs following the incident. If you have any questions about this, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Ms George
Worried about something?
If you are worried about something, remember that you can always talk to any member of staff- try your Tutor, Pastoral Manager or Head of Year.