Author: Ashley, Claire

Keeping children safe parent workshop Telford and Wrekin
With more access than ever before to phones and other technology, it can be difficult to understand how to keep your child safe in an increasingly digital world.
The workshop is fully funded and will cover:
The workshop is fully funded and will cover:
What online harm is and online gang recruitment.
Ways you can effectively help and support your children
Understand why and how children can become victims
How your response can support your child
An award-winning approach to support young people at risk of exploitation
Delivery by lived experienced professionals
To access the workshop (delivered via Teams – Teams app not necessary for participation), please click on the link below just before the training begins.
Tuesday 12 March 2024 5.30 - 6.30pm
Click here to join the meeting

Staying Safe online:
These resources provide reliable information and strategies to help you keep your child safe online, but if you have an immediate concern please contact school and we will be ready and willing to help.
We recently commissioned some training for parents from 'Amazing ICT' on how to keep your children safe online, please click on the link below to access a recording of this.
Parent Online Safety Training
Parents homepage (thinkuknow.co.uk)
Including how to report online incidents to the child exploitation and online protection arm of the police
Net Aware: Your guide to social networks, apps and games (net-aware.org.uk)
A NSPCC guide to apps and games that your children may be using to allow you to understand what is and isn't appropriate. And guides to keep your child safe including how to add parental controls
Parent Info | From NCA-CEOP and The Parent Zone
Guides and tips to keep your children safe online
Parents and Carers | Safer Internet Centre

CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION (CSE) / CHILD CRIMINAL EXPOLIATION (CCE) / COUNTY LINES (CL) – INFORMATION SESSION
Primary schools in Telford and Wrekin are being asked to deliver an information session to parents of Year 5 and 6 children in the autumn term of each academic year. Ours will be on Tuesday 17th October on TEAMS at 5:45PM
Parents have told us they are often unaware about some of the indicators and prevalence of CSE/CCE and CL and that when technology moves so very quickly, they aren’t always aware of what their child is doing online. Although issues such as county line drug dealing can sometimes seem like another world away, we know that it doesn’t take much for children to get caught in very serious matters that can have a profoundly detrimental impact on the rest of their lives

Child sexual exploitation is a type of modern slavery when a male or female under 18 is sexually exploited for the benefit or gain of someone else. The benefit or gain can come in many forms such as increased social status or financial gain. Some victims are also trafficked for the purpose of exploitation.

Sexual exploitation of children and young people can occur in a variety of ways:
Online – through things such as the internet, social media, smart phone apps and games consoles
Through people the person will know, this might include other children or young people, family or friends or someone in power
Through parties
Through gangs
Through grooming and coercion
Through opportunist situations.

Any young person regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or class can be exploited.
This means they are forced into sexual acts or the misuse of sexual images.
In return, they, or another person, may be provided with drugs, alcohol, or other items of value or other basic necessities such as affection or attention. Sometimes they are threatened with violence or shame.

The internet is used by child abusers, as the anonymity of social networking sites and instant messaging can provide easy access to children and young people.
Using the internet means that sexual exploitation can also occur when the child has no direct contact with the person exploiting them. For example, the child is groomed to post sexual abuse images of themselves on the internet for the gratification of another person.

Who's at risk?
Some experiences can make a child more vulnerable to exploitation, some examples are:
Homelessness
Going 'missing' - driven by push factors (running away from something) or pull factors (running to something)
Low self esteem
Regular substance misuse (including alcohol)
Additional needs eg learning disabilities or mental health issues
Being in care
Experiencing death, loss or illness of a significant person
From families that are new to an area
From time-poor families
Those experiencing criminal exploitation
Any adverse childhood experiences (violence, abuse or neglect)

Indicators of child sexual exploitation
Skipping school.
Staying out late or overnight.
Unexplained gifts/new possessions.
Drugs and alcohol misuse.
Secretive behaviour.
Inappropriate or sexualised behaviour.
Friendship or relationships with older adults.

Any child or young person is vulnerable to exploitation.
Spot the signs you need to look out for - Telford & Wrekin Council