Safeguarding & Online Safety

The academy aims to create an atmosphere in which pupils feel secure and valued.

We are concerned about the welfare and safety of all our students and work to provide an environment in which they feel safe and listened to.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children includes protecting children from maltreatment and ensuring children are able to grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Our Safeguarding Policy, which can be found in our policy section on our website, underpins this work, as does the statutory DfE guidance detailed in Keeping children safe in education.

If you have a safeguarding concern, please email our safeguarding team:

At our school, we are committed to supporting children and families as early as possible when challenges arise. Our Early Help approach focuses on providing timely support to prevent concerns from escalating and to ensure every child can feel safe, happy, and ready to learn.

We recognise that families may need support at different times, and we aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to offer practical help and guidance.

Support We Can Offer

We can provide a range of support within school or through referrals to external services, including:

  • Food parcels and referrals to local foodbanks
  • Toiletry and hygiene support
  • Assistance with school uniform
  • Support with emotional wellbeing and referrals to services such as CAMHS
  • Signposting and referrals to local support services tailored to your family’s needs
  • Advice and guidance around parenting, routines, and behaviour

All support is offered in a respectful and non-judgemental way, with the aim of helping families feel supported and empowered.

Listening to the Voice of the Child

We prioritise creating a safe and supportive environment where children feel able to share their thoughts, worries, and experiences.

Our staff are trained to listen carefully and respond with sensitivity, ensuring children feel heard, valued, and understood. We take all concerns seriously and support children to manage their emotions in a positive and safe way.

Within the school, there are several safe spaces available for children when they need additional support. The Safeguarding Office is one of these spaces, providing a calm and secure environment where children can speak to a trusted adult.

Listening to Parents and Carers

We believe that strong partnerships with parents and carers are essential. We aim to provide a welcoming and supportive environment where you feel comfortable sharing concerns or asking for help.

Our staff are available to listen, offer guidance, and work with you to identify the most appropriate support for your family. We understand that every family’s situation is unique, and we approach all conversations with respect and discretion.

Team Around the Family (TAF) Meetings

In some cases, we may suggest a Team Around the Family (TAF) meeting. This is a supportive meeting that brings together you, school staff, and other professionals who may be involved with your family.

The purpose of a TAF meeting is to:

  • Share information
  • Identify strengths and areas where support may be helpful
  • Agree on a clear plan of support for your child and family

These meetings are collaborative and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for your child.

Seeking Advice from External Agencies

At times, we may need to seek advice or support from external agencies to ensure that the right help is in place. This may include contacting services such as the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).

Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, we will always aim to discuss this with parents and seek consent. However, as part of our duty of care, there may be occasions where we need to seek advice without consent in order to keep a child safe. In these situations, we are guided by safeguarding procedures and professional advice.

Legal Responsibilities

The school has a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. This means we must take appropriate action if we have concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

Our safeguarding practices are guided by national legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (which can be found above). 

We are committed to working openly and honestly with families while always prioritising the safety and wellbeing of the child.

Children at The Linden Academy are consistently taught and reminded how to keep themselves safe online. Along with assemblies and workshops for children and families being planned for each academic year, reminders are given to check children's understanding at the start of each session where they may be utilising netbooks or iPads in school to support their learning.

The following slide is shared with children regularly to remind them of how to keep safe whilst online: 

Linden esafety

With more and more children having access to the internet via phones and tablets, we urge you to ensure that their use of such devices is supervised. 

Children love interacting with one another in school and are often keen to carry on their conversations with their friends at home. Therefore, many children talk about using Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Whats App, Tik Tok and many more. All of these have an age limit above primary age however we are becoming increasingly aware of their use by primary school aged children.

Please see the following guidance for advice on key APPs the children are talking most frequently about. Please see below.

We are also aware of a range of games children are playing which are not designed for children of primary school age. We discuss this as part of our ongoing PSHE learning. Please see the following parental guidance on some of the popular games we hear about. See below.

Further information on Internet Safety can be accessed from external organisations including the following:

The NSPCC has a wealth of information as a highly respected practitioner and advisory body.

NSPCC Keeping Children Safe Online

Another valuable and easily accessible source of information is the UK Safer Internet Centre.

UK Safer Internet Centre- Free Internet Safety Resources for Parents

Safeguarding and Advice

  • NSPCC: Support and advice for keeping children safe.
    Helpline: 0808 800 5000
  • Childline: Free, confidential support for children and young people.
    Helpline: 0800 1111
  • Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): For reporting concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing in your local area.

Duty number: 01582547653

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Support for Families

Online Safety

Domestic Abuse Support

Financial and Practical Support

Local Support

We also encourage families to access local services available through your local authority. Please visit the Luton Borough Council website for information on local support services, including Early Help, family centres, and community resources.

If you would like support accessing any of these services, please contact the school safeguarding team at- TLASafeguarding@thelindenacademy.co.uk we are here to help.

Please find below a list of guides for various social media and gaming platforms. 

Protecting Children Online - Advice to Parents & Carers

Parents Guide to Call of Duty

Parents Guide to Fortnite

Parents Guide to Facebook

Parents Guide to Instagram

Parents Guide to Snapchat

Parents Guide to WhatsApp

Parents Guide to YouTube