Ashgate School Area Parking

As a courtesy, I let parents know that police patrols around the school area have been and will continue to be undertaken.  A report from the Derbyshire Alerts system has confirmed that drivers have been receiving ‘words of advice’ relating to vehicle-related offences at the start and end of the school day.

Parents are already aware of my concerns linked to parking in inconsiderately or in parking bays.  Whilst I have no personal power or desire to enforce traffic laws, it would seem that drivers around the school are now under increased scrutiny by those who can.

Dear parents and carers

In light of the government announcement that it is planning to introduce new guidance for schools regarding the teaching of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) I remind you that the full school RSE curriculum is available on our school website.

Conscious as I am that the press, and politicians alike, are often found to make statements designed to ‘polarise views’ and provide ‘sensational headlines’ pre-election, parents are assured that the school RSE curriculum is fully compliant with the current DfE guidance and would continue to be with the ‘reported’ draft guidance.

To view the school RSE curriculum, visit the school homepage and click on ‘Curriculum’, the tab ‘Relationships and Sex Education’.  Likewise, the school RSE policy is available for all to view by clicking ‘Key information’ > ‘Policies and Documents’, > ‘Relationships and Sex Education'.

An honest conversation about your child's phone access and your responsibilities.

 Put your child first, not their phone.

With only the very rarest of exceptions, every disciplinary matter managed in this school is started by, fuelled by or made complicated by the use of messaging and access to mobile phones, be that by parents and carers or children.  This is part of the reason they are not permitted for use on the school site.

I am aghast at how many parents and carers continue to tell me about how their child is upset or impacted negatively by what they read or share on mobile phones but remain unwilling or unable to control access to them.

If you are serious about your child’s well-being (mental, social or physical) and you are worried that you are not in control or suspect you cannot manage access safely:

REMOVE THE PHONE.  It really is that simple.

FACTS

Apps, including WhatsApp, TikTok, Discord, Facebook and Instagram are not designed for, nor permitted under terms and conditions, for your primary-age children.  Children have been seriously harmed and died as a result of what is shared on them.  If your child is accessing devices you allow them to have, you as the parent or carer are responsible for what they read, write or share.  Do not put your child’s mobile phone/device before their safety.

Support

• The school will continue to educate and inform children on the correct and safe use of cyberspace, devices and the internet.
• The school has clear and well-defined policies on access to personal devices, including phones
• The school has a strong on-site filter system to prevent access unauthorised or unfiltered access to the internet on school devices.
• The school has published and will continue to publish materials for parents on how to keep their children safe online, including the use of mobile devices.
•  

Please ensure that you are aware of the school policies regarding Mobile Device use and support materials issued.

Mr Seargent

Mobile device policy update.  Link below.

Click to view policy

Dear parents

Urgent Social Media Notice – Parental moral and legal responsibilities.

Key message: 

It has come to light again that a minority of children at the school are accessing WhatsApp/SnapChat and similar to message each other and creating private chat groups.  Concerns have been raised about the nature of some comments posted, a minority of which are believed to be derogatory, inappropriate or slanderous. 

As the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school, I am uncompromising in my duty of care and application of policy regarding any area of risk; this includes access to social media.

Whilst we seek to educate and support pupils regarding the modern online world, parents have the ultimate responsibility to monitor and control access - school cannot do this in your home or outside of school.  Likewise, parents can legally be held accountable for their child’s actions and a parent’s failure to safeguard is considered an act of neglect.

Moral duty to safeguard: I remind parents, as I often have, of the dangers of social media exchanges and the dangerous impact they can have on others.  We only need to read the cases of those similar to Molly Russel, who tragically took her own life after having unsupervised access to social media posts and communication, to understand the importance of monitoring and controlling social media access.

Legal position:  WhatsApp and similar platforms are not age appropriate for primary school children and if used this is a breach of the terms and conditions; as a parent, you may be deemed as acting neglectfully in law.

THE AGE RESTRICTIONS ARE THERE TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD

I remain perplexed at the sometimes blasé approach a minority of parents have when it comes to uncontrolled and unmonitored access to social media.  A prime platform for this is WhatsApp, closely followed by SnapChat.  

It cannot be emphasised enough that if parents are of the view ‘my child wouldn’t do that’, or ‘it is unfair on them not to use it as their friends do’, then you are wilfully placing your child at risk, and by knowingly allowing access to non-age appropriate online platforms, acting neglectfully in the eyes of the law.

The school has a catalogue of support materials for parents and links to advice and guidance on the school website:  Visit www.ashgate.derby.sch.uk.  Click the Parent Link and Useful Links and Information or:  

www.ashgate.derby.sch.uk/useful-links-and-information/

Dear parents and carers.

Today a link will be forwarded to you to access the Ofsted report from the two-day inspection on 6^th and 7^thJune 2023.

I am delighted to inform you that the school was graded as follows:

The quality of education                    GOOD

Behaviour and attitudes                     GOOD

Personal development                       GOOD

Leadership and management            GOOD

Early years provision                          GOOD

The inspection was detailed and rigorous, covering every aspect of school life.

We are particularly pleased that special mention is made to the provision for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, which is referenced as ‘expert’.  Likewise, the judgements relating to safeguarding at the school were described as stringent and effective; with staff providing ‘a front-line service’ for the community.  This is pleasing to hear as protecting children from harm is at the heart of much of our work.   Behaviour was seen as a strength with bullying rare and children having confidence and trust in their teachers to support their wellbeing.

Clearly, academic provision was key to the inspection, and rightly so.  It was recognised that the curriculum is well constructed and sequenced and that academic ambition is high for all.

I would like to thank all the children, staff and governors who contributed to the inspection.

The inspection report is available in full on the school website and can also be viewed via the link below.  Ofsted will be updating its online system with the revised report before the end of the term.

Click to view Ofsted report

Dear parents and carers.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all parents who made contributions to the Ofsted process over the last two days.  It was pleasing to hear from the Lead Inspector that the responses to the Parent View link were very positive.  Furthermore, many children were given the opportunity to present their views and experiences with the inspecting team (selected by the inspecting team I might add).  Their contributions were key to the process.

May I take this opportunity to thank my hard working and dedicated staff who all worked tirelessly to ensure that the evidence required to support the inspection was made available, whilst at the same time ensuring that the day-to-day educational running of the school was maintained.

Outcomes:

Until the Ofsted findings are formally approved and quality assured, I am unable to publicly publish the outcomes.  However, what I can say at this time is that we are very pleased with the grades awarded in all areas.  Details will follow in due course.

Once again thank you to all who made a contribution.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men, but the inverse does occur.

Help is available!  Do not suffer alone.

Refuge – including the national free 24 hour domestic abuse helpline 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to access live chat. Has BSL interpreter service.

VISIT OUR SAFEGUARDING PAGES FOR SUPPORT ADVICE FROM SCHOOL

Safegurading pages

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse [2].
• Physical or sexual abuse.
• Financial or economic abuse (controlling your access to money)
• Harassment and stalking.
• Online or digital abuse

SDAT (Stopping Domestic Abuse Together)

SDAT is an initiative led by Derbyshire Police in conjunction with Social Services, Health Services, schools and other agencies, who work together to safeguard children and adults.

Domestic Abuse can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse:

• Psychological
• Physical
• Sexual
• Financial
• Emotional

Children and young people witnessing domestic abuse

Witnessing domestic abuse is really distressing and scary and it causes serious harm to children. 

Children who witness domestic abuse can experience a wide range effects. They may:

• Become anxious and depressed
• Have difficulty sleeping or have nightmares
• Be easily startled, flinch or react disproportionately to loud noises
• Complain of physical symptoms such as tummy ache
• Start wetting the bed
• Have temper tantrums and display challenging behaviour at school
• Behave younger than they are
• Not want to go to school 
• Become aggressive towards others
• Have poor self-worth
• Self-harm
• Have difficulty forming positive relationships

They may feel:

• Guilty - because they think they have done something wrong
• Powerless - because they can't stop the violence
• Confused - because it doesn't make sense
• Angry - because it shouldn't be happening
• Sad - because it's a loss
• Afraid - because they may be hurt, they may lose someone they love, others may find out
• Alone - because they think it is only happening to them

What is SDAT?

SDAT is an early notification system to schools to quickly notify them of any incidents of domestic abuse where the Police have attended a household where children live.

This enables schools to understand changes in a child's behaviour, attitude or general presentation and to support children if needed.

Useful links (Click on the links below)

 • Refuge – including the national free 24 hour domestic abuse helpline 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to access live chat. Has BSL interpreter service

 • Men’s Advice Line - confidential help and support for men Helpline 0808 801 0327

 • Safe Lives - UK wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse

 • Domestic Abuse Act: Factsheet

 • NSPCC – protecting children from domestic abuse

 • Galop – LGBT+ anti-violence charity. Includes National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans+ Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 999 5428

 • Gov.uk – how to get help for domestic abuse