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Autumn Term Safeguarding Newlsetter
Wednesday 17th December 2025
RE: Safeguarding Updates:
Dear Parent / Carer,
I write to you as we end the Autumn Term in the next fews days, to make you aware of the most recent issues around student safety and welfare. If you have any concerns or further questions on anything listed below please do not hesitate to contact the Safeguarding Team before the start of the Christmas break at 1pm on Friday or on our return on Monday 5th January 2026.
Community Safety & Support:
Children who have a family member in prison
This week I was introduced to the work of the Sussex Prisoners' Families charity. Like many similar groups across the country, they support families at courts during trials and sentencing, work with prisons to enhance visits and family days, and in the community provide advice, one-to-one support, groups, activities, and creative projects to amplify families’ voices. Children with a parent in prison confront many complex emotional and practical challenges, from stigma and uncertainty to disrupted routines and caregiving shifts. On release there can be challenges too, perhaps around probation for example. Although Sussex Prisoners' Families works only with children and families across their county, many of their resources are helpful for everyone. They have a wide-range of resources to provide professionals with insights and tools to recognise the needs of children who have a family member in prison. Find the resources here:https://www.sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk/professionals/resources/
Grieving Children
We know the countdown to Christmas is not always an exciting time for some students and families who have suffered a recent bereavement or the memories and feelings this time of year can bring. Winston’s Wish is a brand-new webpage that speaks directly to bereaved children aged 12 and under and gives them the resources to help them find their feet when their world is turned upside down by grief. Packed with real voices content, activity videos, new Grief Galaxy activity sheets, and ideas to help you support bereaved children when they need you the most. Find the Resources here:
Local Support
Just a reminder that Essex Frontline is a community project to help front line workers and members of the public quickly find details of local health and wellbeing services and to contact services through call back and referral options. https://essexfrontline.org.uk/
Online behaviour and risks:
Sort Your Settings
Essex Police is excited to relaunch its popular Sort Your Settings campaign, continuing their commitment to helping families stay safe online during the busiest shopping season of the year. First introduced in 2022, this initiative provides parents and guardians with practical, easy-to-follow advice to protect children from online risks - especially as festive deals and digital purchases surge.
Why It Matters More Than Ever…
The Online Safety Act 2023 is now in force – a major milestone in making the digital world safer for children. This new law means platforms like social media, gaming sites, and search engines must step up: blocking harmful content, enforcing age checks, and giving parents better tools to keep kids safe online. Ofcom will be making sure they deliver, with regular risk assessments and tough compliance checks. For parents, this is great news – more support than ever before. But it also means taking action at home. With Christmas just around the corner and new devices on many wish lists, now’s the time to make sure those gadgets are set up securely. A few simple steps can make all the difference in protecting your child online.
https://www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/news/news/2025/november/sort-your-settings/
Online Gaming
When discussing online safety with your child we really recommend not only keeping a check on age ratings of games being played but possibly use some of the family time to play games with your child or peruse the internet so that they have a better understanding of potential risks they may be facing and have a discussion based around this. Many students often inform us they are not aware of the dangers linked to online gaming.
Safeguarding measures parents and carers can support us with:
Parking and collection
Just a reminder that we do really understand that a safe collection of your child at the end of the school day is a priority for us all. However there has still been an increase in parents/carers collecting students on the yellow zig zag no stopping areas in front of the school gates. It is becoming a concern and causing health and safety issues on site and on Hall Lane. We have personally again reported these issues to the local policing team and traffic enforcement but we really need your support to keep these areas clear and safe at all times. Please do not park either side of the main gates / no stopping areas. These areas are usually completely clear by 3.20pm, could you arrange a slightly later collection time? There are plenty of clubs your child can attend or even complete some homework for 15 minutes before they meet you. Or alternatively could your child meet you slightly away from the school gates?
Medical Updates
Just a reminder that we need to be fully up to date with all of our students' medical needs in order to support and safeguard them on site. Please respond to our email request for medical information and updated Individual Healthcare Plans or contact the relevant year team with any updates as soon as possible if they need to be discussed further. We are not able to store or administer any medication unless we have written permission from a parent or guardian on one of our Medical Administration Forms AND the medication is in the original packaging / prescription sticker attached. The forms are available from reception. If you are unsure what you need in place for your child please do not hesitate to contact us.
Mental Health Support:
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can encourage us to pay attention to the present moment, helping us step out of autopilot and become more aware of our thoughts, feelings and surroundings. Research shows that mindfulness can reduce stress, ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve our overall wellbeing. Take a look at this handy guide:
How to look after your mental health using mindfulness | Mental Health Foundation
Transition:
We know as our Year 7’s end their first term at HDHS many students do not feel ‘new’ to the school at all. However some still feel they are in a transitional period from Primary School and this animation from the Anna Freud Society is a great resource. It is aimed at supporting pupils who have recently started Year 7, or are due to start soon. Moving up! The transition to secondary school | Anna Freud
Difficult Conversations:
The following online resources are links that may be helpful in managing difficult conversations with young people:
NSPCC: How to have difficult conversations
Red Cross: Talking with children about a major emergency (5–11-year-olds)
Red Cross: Talking with young people about a major emergency (11–19-year-olds)
Educational Psychology Parent Helpline
This is a new support offer for families. The helpline is there to give advice, support and signposting. It is a confidential, private, and safe service for parents and carers. No referral is needed - just a pre-booked appointment. The booking is designed to provide an easier and more convenient experience:
Available on alternating Mondays and Tuesdays
- 1pm to 5pm
- 25-minute appointments bookable via MS Teams
- No more waiting – instant booking confirmation
For booking details and further information, please click here
(Please note: the previous helpline system and telephone number are no longer in use).
Teentalk
Just a reminder that Teentalk is a local ‘Listening Ear’ service. They are still based on site one day a week and can also offer their services throughout the school holiday at their local office. Please have a look on their website for further information and how to refer your child: https://teentalkharwich.co.uk/
And lastly we know that term time creates routine and stability as well as access to staff, whereas the holiday periods change this support that school offers. We have therefore reminded students of all of the out of school support they can access. Many students have picked up one of our ‘Feeling Stressed?’ cards that remind them of all of the external support platforms while school is closed. We also have our ‘What do I do?’ poster on the website that gives lots of support options for students to access independently or with parents/carers support.
Out of hours safeguarding concerns:
During the Christmas holidays, if you have any urgent concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of a child, please call the Children and Families Hub on 03456037627 or Essex Police via 999 in an emergency or 101, or via text (18000).
Any concerns sent in from 1pm on Friday 19th December to 8am on Monday 5th January may not be picked up immediately, so please refer to the sources above during this period. All non-urgent concerns can still be sent to school or reported via the Whisper button but will not be picked up until 8am on Monday 5th January.
https://www.swgflwhisper.org.uk/report/har4
Have a safe and restful Christmas break.
Yours faithfully,
Charly Doyle