Types of Abuse

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

Abuse, neglect and exploitation can take many forms and may occur within a family, community, institution or online. Children may experience more than one form of harm at the same time.

It is important to remember that safeguarding concerns are not always obvious. Changes in a child's behaviour, emotional wellbeing, attendance, appearance or relationships may indicate that a child needs help or protection.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is deliberately causing physical harm to a child.

This may include hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm.

Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child that can have a serious and lasting effect on their emotional development.

This can include:

• making a child feel worthless, unloved or inadequate;
• deliberately silencing, humiliating or frightening a child;
• placing inappropriate expectations on a child;
• preventing a child from taking part in normal social interaction;
• serious bullying, including online bullying; and
• exploiting or corrupting a child.

Some level of emotional abuse can be involved in all types of maltreatment, although it can also occur on its own.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child understands what is happening.

Sexual abuse can involve physical contact or non-contact activities. It can also take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate abuse that takes place offline.

Sexual abuse can be perpetrated by adults or by other children.

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs and is likely to result in serious impairment of their health or development.

This may include failing to:

• provide adequate food, clothing or shelter;
• protect a child from physical or emotional harm or danger;
• provide adequate supervision;
• ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment; or
• respond appropriately to a child's emotional needs.

Exploitation

Children can be exploited by adults or other children.

Exploitation can include child sexual exploitation (CSE) and child criminal exploitation (CCE).

Children may be manipulated, coerced, controlled or deceived into taking part in activities which benefit another person.

Exploitation can occur in person or online and may involve threats, violence, intimidation, gifts, money, status, affection or a sense of belonging.

Children who are being exploited may not always recognise themselves as victims.

Child-on-Child Abuse

Children can abuse other children.

Child-on-child abuse can include:

• bullying, including online bullying;
• physical abuse;
• sexual violence and sexual harassment;
• harmful sexual behaviour;
• abuse within intimate personal relationships;
• sharing nude or semi-nude images without consent;
• initiation or hazing-type behaviour; and
• prejudice-based or discriminatory abuse.

At Fishburn Primary School, harmful behaviour between children is taken seriously and is not dismissed as “banter” or an inevitable part of growing up.

Online Harm

Technology can facilitate many forms of abuse and exploitation.

Children may experience harmful content, inappropriate or abusive contact, online bullying, grooming, exploitation, coercion, sexual harassment or pressure to share images.

Please see our Safeguarding Children Online page for further information.

Other Safeguarding Concerns

There are many other circumstances which can place children at risk of harm, including:

• domestic abuse;
• child criminal exploitation and county lines;
• child sexual exploitation;
• serious violence;
• radicalisation and extremism;
• female genital mutilation (FGM);
• forced marriage;
• honour-based abuse;
• modern slavery and trafficking;
• fabricated or induced illness;
• homelessness;
• children missing education or persistent absence; and
• abuse or exploitation facilitated through technology.

Staff receive safeguarding training to help them recognise and respond appropriately to different forms of harm.

Worried About a Child?

You do not need to be certain that abuse has taken place before sharing a concern.

If something does not feel right, please speak to us.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mr Richard Parkin – Head of School

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs Charlotte Sinclair – Assistant Headteacher / Early Years Lead

School telephone: 01740 620162
Email: fishburnadmin@edenacademytrust.co.uk

You can also contact:

Durham Children's Social Care – First Contact
03000 267 979

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Safeguarding concerns should be shared with professionals. Parents and carers should not attempt to investigate concerns themselves.