Eternal Light Secondary School recognises the importance of creating an ethos within school that will help children feel safe and confident that they will be listened to.

We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence are likely to have low self-esteem and may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. Our school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in their lives.

All staff at Eternal Light Secondary School are responsible for being aware of and possibly identifying forms of abuse such as neglect, possible physical marking and the much more difficult to spot emotional issues in pupils.

Eternal Light Secondary School will endeavour to support all pupils through:

• Ensuring the content of the curriculum includes social and emotional aspects of learning. See PSCHE policy.
• Ensuring that child protection is included in the curriculum to help children recognise when they don’t feel safe and to identify who they should tell. (See PSCHE policy, Anti bullying policy, Guidelines for the safe use of the Inter net)
• Promoting a positive, supportive and secure environment where pupils can develop a sense of being valued. (See PSCHE policy, Anti bullying policy)
• The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school. The school will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but that they are valued and not blamed for any abuse which has occurred.