Contextual Safeguarding

“Contextual Safeguarding is an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families. It recognises that the different relationships that young people form in their neighbourhoods, schools and online can feature violence and abuse. Parents and carers have little influence over these contexts, and young people’s experiences of extra-familial abuse can undermine parent-child relationships.”  https://contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/

Safeguarding incidents and/or behaviours can be associated with factors outside of our Academy, for example factors specific to the local community and population. When assessing, planning, or implementing safeguarding polices, protocols and procedures, staff consider a range of contextual factors contributing to the risk of the individual’s safety, wellbeing, and welfare. When making a referral or sharing information with agencies, these risks must also be considered and well documented.

(Diagram, above-right: Triangle chart for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families)

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Contextual Safeguarding Priorities and what we do to support our students at Harris Science Academy East London.

How do we support our students at HSAEL?

• We offer a free breakfast every morning for all students.
• Wellbeing hub every lunchtime run by the pastoral team.
• Guidance for parents/carers to ensure free school meal applications are completed for those eligible.
• Parent coffee mornings to support and advise our families.
• Work closely with operation encompass with key safeguarding team having completed the training.
• Attendance bus service that completes regular home visits and encourages students to attend school.
• Safer schools officer regularly visits the Academy to talk with students and supports at the end of the day.
• HSAEL early help programme which includes support through ELSA trained staff.

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London Safeguarding Children Procedures 

At Harris Science Academy East London, we prioritise the safety and well-being of our students. This includes recognising the potential risks they may face beyond their families. Our safeguarding team, along with all staff, is trained to identify these "contextual safeguarding risks.” These are situations where young people experience harm or abuse outside the home environment. This could occur in their neighbourhoods, online, or even at school. We understand that different environments can have varying influences on young people.

Since the Academy is in Canning Town North ward, with many students residing in both the Newham and Tower Hamlets, we must consider the specific safeguarding priorities of both boroughs. This ensures we can effectively respond to the potential risks students face in their communities.

The last inspection of Newham Local Authority Children’s Services was in 2022 and graded “Good” – full report here.

The last inspection of Tower Hamlets Local Authority Children’s Services was in 2019 and graded “Good” – full report here.

Safeguarding Priorities

London Borough of Newham	London Borough of Tower Hamlets	Harris Science Academy
Domestic Abuse	Domestic Abuse	Mental Health
Poverty	Poverty	Child on Child Abuse
Substances Misuse	Housing	Attendance
Child Criminal Exploitation	Child Criminal Exploitation	Abuse

Contextual Safeguarding Priorities and what we do to support our students at Harris Science Academy East London.