Safeguarding Bulletin – Advent 2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to our latest Safeguarding Bulletin. At Lancing, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We know that the most effective support for young people comes when school and home work closely together, and this bulletin is one way we aim to keep you informed, involved, and supported.

In this edition, we are sharing updates and guidance on the below two important areas:

• The Wellbeing Hub – an online resource available to all Lancing College families, offering practical advice and support for children’s mental health and wellbeing
• Artificial Intelligence – identifying and addressing safeguarding risks in relation to AI and how schools and parents can talk to the children about the risks.

• Contextual Safeguarding Update – information on local trends in relation to Alcohol, Vaping and Substance Use in West Sussex

 The Wellbeing Hub

We are pleased to share that Lancing College is signed up to the Wellbeing Hub—an online platform designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people and their families.

The Wellbeing Hub provides a wide range of accessible, evidence-informed resources to help you better understand and support your child’s emotional wellbeing. We appreciate that parenting can sometimes feel challenging, particularly as children navigate friendships, identity, and the online world, and this resource is there to support you every step of the way.

What the Wellbeing Hub offers:

• Short, practical videos and guidance from leading mental health professionals
• Advice on topics such as anxiety, sleep, friendships, behaviour, and resilience
• Support with online safety and managing screen time
• Guidance on how to start meaningful conversations with your child
• Resources to help you recognise when your child may need additional support

The platform is designed to be easy to use, with content that you can dip into at any time, depending on what feels most relevant for your family.

How to access the Wellbeing Hub: click here

Once logged in, you will be able to explore a wide range of resources tailored to different age groups and needs.

We strongly encourage all parents and carers to make use of this valuable resource. It is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our whole school community.

If you have any questions or need support accessing the platform, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 Artificial Intelligence and Safeguarding

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a routine part of young people’s online lives, bringing both opportunities and risks. For the past two years, the school has addressed AI within PSHE lessons and staff safeguarding training, ensuring that pupils and staff understand both the benefits of emerging technologies and the potential harms that can arise from their misuse.

Particular attention has been given to the safeguarding risks associated with AI chatbots, the spread of fake or misleading information, and the creation or manipulation of images without the consent of the people featured. This includes AI-generated images of pupils or staff. Pupils have been reminded that creating, sharing or possessing such material may breach school rules and, in some circumstances, the law.

A key theme of our PSHE programme has been helping pupils think critically about the difference between what may be common or widespread in wider society and what is acceptable within our school community. AI tools are increasingly used online to alter images of celebrities, politicians and other public figures in society. However, pupils have been encouraged to recognise that the fact a behaviour is common does not automatically make it appropriate, respectful or acceptable.

To support this understanding, pupils have discussed how decisions should be guided by three considerations: school expectations, legal responsibilities and common decency. An analogy used in the PSHE lessons is that some behaviours may be socially tolerated in certain environments but would be unacceptable in school. For example, shouting abuse at a footballer from the stands may be viewed by some as part of sporting culture, but similar behaviour would not be tolerated at a school fixture. In the same way, manipulating images of other pupils or staff can breach school rules, potentially break the law and fail basic standards of respect and empathy.

Parents who would like further information about AI and online safety may find guidance from Childnet, who have produced a two-page AI cheat-sheet for parents which can be found here.  Internet Matters (link) and the NSPCC (link) also have helpful resources on AI. We encourage families to continue conversations at home about empathy, consent and respectful use of technology. To reinforce these messages, posters outlining AI risks, school expectations and acceptable use have been on display in houses and around the school over the last two years. The poster can also be viewed here. Our message to pupils is clear: AI should be used responsibly, ethically and with consideration for the dignity, privacy and wellbeing of others.

Contextual Safeguarding Update: Alcohol, Vaping and Substance Use in West Sussex

As part of our commitment to keeping parents informed about emerging safeguarding themes in the local area, we would like to highlight some of the current trends being seen across West Sussex in relation to alcohol, vaping and substance use amongst young people. Research from the West Sussex Local Authority indicates that while most young people in the county do not regularly use alcohol or illegal substances, alcohol remains the substance most commonly encountered by adolescents.

Recent local survey data found that 23% of 11-18-year-olds reported drinking alcohol in the previous year, with most first trying alcohol between the ages of 12 and 15, while only 2% reported using illegal drugs. Local agencies also continue to report concerns around vaping, cannabis use and the impact these can have on young people’s health, decision-making and vulnerability to other risks. The evidence further suggests that young people often overestimate how many of their peers are using substances, when in reality the majority are not. This is an important message, as perceived peer behaviour can strongly influence young people’s own choices and attitudes towards alcohol and drugs.

Substance use should not simply be viewed as a disciplinary issue. Instead, it can sometimes be an indicator of wider vulnerabilities, including mental health difficulties, exploitation, adverse childhood experiences or challenges within the home. Parents remain one of the most important protective factors in a young person’s life, and open, non-judgemental conversations about alcohol, vaping and drugs can help young people make informed and safer choices. West Sussex guidance also highlights the importance of helping young people develop resilience, confidence and refusal skills, while ensuring they know where to seek support if they have concerns for themselves or a friend.

Parents seeking further information may find the resources produced by Talk to Frank (https://talktofrank.com), YoungMinds (www.youngminds.org.uk) and the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation (www.dsmfoundation.org.uk) particularly helpful. These organisations provide evidence-based advice on alcohol, vaping, drugs, peer pressure and supporting conversations at home. West Sussex families can also access local support through Change Grow Live Under 25s Drug & Alcohol Service (link here) and Smokefree West Sussex (link here), which offer specialist advice and support for young people and families affected by substance use.

As with any safeguarding concern, do please reach out to your child’s HMM if you wish to discuss any matters about your child and their wellbeing.

I hope your child has a restful Half Term break.

Yours,

Gary Bird
Assistant Head (Safeguarding) and Designated Safeguarding Lead