Key Safety Information
‘Staying safe’ and ‘asking for help when you need it’ are key parts of our CORE curriculum.
Our co-operative values include self-help and self-responsibility, and we encourage our students to develop these skills as they become adults.
All the big topics that you may worry about, like bullying, sexual health, radicalisation, online safety etc, are covered sensitively and professionally during our two-year CORE curriculum. We don’t just talk about these things once, we do it regularly and, in particular, we remind students about key safety messages as we approach the holidays. Most importantly, we regularly talk about where to get help – at college and out-of-hours. Students have access to an extensive list of helplines and sources of information through their student website.
Read our Child Protection and Safeguarding Explainer. It’s been created specifically for students to understand what safeguarding is and to help you decide what could be a ‘problem’ and where to get help and support.
FILTERING AND MONITORING
When students use college equipment, their internet use is monitored to ensure student safety. Online safety concerns are automatically flagged to the safeguarding team.
The following links provide information about being safe online:
- UK Safer Internet Centre – Be careful who you trust online.
- NSPCC – Keeping children safe online.
- CEOP Thinkuknow – Advice for parents and carers, children and young people and those that work with them.
- Safer Internet Day – It’s held every year in February.
- ChildLine – Lots of online and mobile safety tips for children and young people.
- CEOP – Support for young people, parents and carers while online; and on topics such as: cyberbullying, hacking and harmful content.
- Childnet – Guidance and handy tips to help young people navigate and enjoy the online world.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Help is available if you’re struggling with your mental health. You can speak to any member of staff about your mental health and they’ll support you to get the help you need in college. You can email mhsupport@connell.ac.uk to let us know you need some help with your mental health. Tyra or Carmen will then book an appointment with you to talk things through.