Safeguarding
Safeguarding Team
Mrs Curtis - Headteacher
Mr Browne - Deputy Headteacher
Mr Brown - Safeguarding Lead/ Pupil Engagement Welfare Officer
Mrs McDonald - Pastoral Care Worker
Mr Harrison - Safeguarding Governor
Mr Saunders - Assistant Head teacher
To contact our Safeguarding team please email: contact.safeguarding@talbot.poole.sch.uk
Useful Safeguarding and Family Websites
Mental Health support for young people and families
If parents/ carers require additional mental health support, the following charities are available to support:
- Mind
Information and support as well as helplines for people experiencing mental health problems and their friends and families. - Rethink Mental Illness
Advice as well as services and support for people affected by mental illness and their friends and families. - Samaritans
Round-the-clock confidential support for people going through a tough time. - SANE
Emotional support to people affected by mental health problems and their families and friends.
Are you concerned about online safety?
The internet is a fantastic resource of information and entertainment. However there are many examples of ways children can be exposed to danger and risk online without proper supervision and guidance. As a parent, the balance between giving your child the freedom to explore and learn, and keeping them safe can be difficult. Your child may not feel they need a parents support however it is vital you support them whilst they learn to use technology safely.
Is it just online safety that I need to think about?
No. Mobile phones, tablets, games consoles and any electronic device that can share information, pictures or video need to be considered.
What are the potential issues with online safety and technology?
Childnet lists many topics that give information about potential problems of going online and using technology. These include, cyberbullying, grooming and in-app purchases. For more information visit their website here.
In addition, the Government has produced advice for parents and carers about cyberbullying here.
How do I know if a game, film or book is suitable for my child?
This can be a difficult question to answer because all children mature at different rates. Parental intuition is always important, but if you want to get advice and reviews from other parents, Common Sense Media provides a comprehensive search facility with information about age appropriateness.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
How can I protect my child?
It’s important you spend time reading and researching matters related to online safety and discuss this with your child at home. Whilst open and frank conversations with a child can be difficult, it is vital you do this to keep them safe. In addition, you can ‘take control’ of how they use the internet and technology. Please visit the NSPCC guide here.
Where else can I get help and support?
If you have concerns please speak with the school.
In addition, the following websites contain useful information:
https://www.internetmatters.org/
https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/ai-voice-clone-scams
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
Net Aware update from the NSPCC – UK Safer Internet Centre
www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/our-work/digital/
Latest concerns and trends- November 2025
Salt Challenge:
Salt & Ice Challenge – Risks to Children and Young People September 2025 Background The “Salt and Ice Challenge” is an online trend where young people place salt on their skin and press ice on top for as long as possible. This creates a chemical reaction, rapidly lowering the temperature and causing cryogenic (cold) burns, similar to frostbite. Children and young people may underestimate the harm as the cold numbs the skin, masking pain until significant damage has occurred. Risks • Secondor third-degree burns, potential need for skin grafts, lasting scarring, nerve damage, and impact on wellbeing.
What’s Ap Concerns
The 'Add Everyone' WhatsApp group is recirculating amongst children. This group has been highlighted as a significant safeguarding concern due to the potential to expose children and young people to explicit, abusive and harmful content.
The group's purpose is to invite children to join a chat that contains inappropriate content and encourage them to add inappropriate comments and add other children but not their parents or safe adults. Children as young as 9 have been reported as being on this group.
Roblox concerns – information sent to parents.
When children are playing the game Roblox a 'pop up' message is seen encouraging them to download the app: Pollybuzz
Please remind your child about talking to them straight away (or another trusted adult, if appropriate) if they see anything online that is worrying or inappropriate.
Please find attached a link with parental controls, containing instructions of how to put these on can be accessed via this link: Parental Controls Overview – Roblox Support
https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/30428310121620-Parental-Controls-Overview
Changes to Early Help for parents- commenced from April 2025
Self referral Early Help parenting support– Please use if you need support. Early Help As part of the new Early Help BCP strategy parents are encouraged to use the Early Help advise point for support with challenging behaviour, family support or parenting advise (information on left of page). Please visit: Family hubs, early help and outreach centres.
Family hubs, early help and outreach centres
Our Safeguarding Curriculum
Safeguarding Newsletters
Autumn 1 2025-26 Safeguarding Newsletter
May 2025 Safeguarding Newsletter
February 2025 Safeguarding Newsletter
November 2024 Safeguarding Newsletter
February 2024 Safeguarding Newsletter
November 2023 Safeguarding Newsletter
Parents and Carers guide to Safeguarding
- Operation Encompass Talbot Statement.pdf
- Why was Operation Encompass created? : Operation Encompass
- Keeping children safe in education 2025-26 Part One
- Keeping children safe in education 2025-26
Parents Guide to Keeping Children Safe in Education in Different Languages
- Updated_KeepingChildrenSafe_Portugese.docx.pdf
- Updated_Keeping Children Safe_Traditional Chinese.docx.pdf
- Updated_KeepingChildrenSafe_Korean.pdf
- UPDATED_KeepingChildrenSafe_Polish.pdf
- Updated_KeepingChildrenSafe_Bengali.docx.pdf
- Keeping Children Safe_Turkish.pdf
- Updated_Keeping Children Safe_Romanian.pdf
- Keeping-Children-Safe-in-Education-Ukrainian.pdf
Behaviour Policy
Online Safety Portal
Good Morning,
I am pleased to share with you the Hamwic Online Portal. The Portal has been designed to support for parents with online support.
Dear Parent,
Find out how to keep your child safe online.
Don’t forget that the Online Safety Hub is now live! You can access it for free here:
https://hamwic.onlinesafetyhub.uk/
The Online Safety Hub is a brand-new online resource with lots of expert advice and guidance to help you manage your child's safety online as a parent.
It includes information on the latest hot topics when it comes to keeping children safe, such as how to manage your child's screen time, understand the latest gaming platforms, what they mean for your child’s safety and lots more.
We’re also offering you as a parent, a free Qustodio account facilitating parental controls on any individual device and free premium access for 30 days. Gain more visibility on what’s going on in your child’s online world. Block dangerous content, introduce screen-free schedules, receive alerts for inappropriate content, keep tabs on their location and more. Follow the link to create your free account
https://www.qustodio.com/en/30-days-school-special/?utm_source=internal&utm_med
ium=OSHub&utm_campaign=hamwic
If you have any questions on any of the above, please get in touch.
Many thanks
Mr C Brown
DSL
Further information to parents in relation to the Online Hub:
Dear Parents/ Carers,
Following on from my recent email in regards to the Online Safety portal, please can i encourage you to complete survey below which will support the up and coming training for parents who may wish to join.
We know how important it is to keep children safe online, and we want to make sure our upcoming online Information Session answers the questions that matter the most to you.
Hopefully, you’ve all managed to look at our new Online Safety Hub (OSH) for parents. If you haven’t yet used this new resource, this is a link to it:
https://hamwic.onlinesafetyhub.uk/.
In the New Year, experts in online safeguarding from the OSH will host a trust-wide event designed for parents and this is your chance to shape the content of the session.
Would you like information on Roblox, YouTube, social media safety, or cyberbullying? Or maybe something else? Tell us what you want to learn more about by completing this short survey:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=0eOodPEzvUyf7zkEjGkOCQ1Fv4so_WdBsNR7uf7qg3FUOEVIWDJEWUw1QUJHRVJGT0hTRUs0UUtHTSQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl
Don’t miss the chance to influence the content - please complete the survey by Wednesday 3rd December.
Up and Coming courses for Parents
Talking about self-harm
Date: Thursday 27 November
Time: 12.30pm - 2pm
This webinar is aimed at anyone who supports young people, such as parents, carers, teachers, youth workers, tutors and lecturers.
The session aims to:
• Discuss what is self-harm
• Understand the risk factors and vulnerabilities
• Learn practical guidance and how to support a young person
Please see visit the Charlie Waller Trust.