Where to Get Help
At The Rowans AP Academy, the safety, wellbeing and welfare of our pupils is our highest priority.
There may be times when children, young people and their families need additional help or support. If something is worrying you, you do not have to deal with it alone. There are people in school, within Medway and nationally who can listen, offer advice and help you access the right support.
If you are worried about yourself, your child or another young person, please speak up. It is always better to share a concern.
Is a Child in Immediate Danger?
If you believe a child or young person is in immediate danger or at immediate risk of serious harm, call 999.
If you have an urgent safeguarding concern about a child or young person in Medway, contact:
Medway Children's Services
Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm:
📞 01634 334466
Out of hours:
📞 03000 419191
Safeguarding concerns can also be reported directly to Medway Children's Services using their online safeguarding referral service.
Are You Worried About a Pupil at The Rowans?
If you have concerns about the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a pupil, please contact The Rowans Safeguarding Team.
📞 01634 338803
✉️ help@therowansap.co.uk
You do not need to be certain that abuse, neglect or exploitation is taking place before sharing a concern.
Our safeguarding team will listen to your concerns, consider what action may be required and, where appropriate, work with other agencies to ensure the child or young person receives the right help and protection.
Help for Children and Young People
Something worrying you?
If something is making you feel worried, frightened, uncomfortable, unsafe or unhappy, tell someone.
You can talk to any trusted adult at The Rowans, including:
- a member of the Safeguarding Team
- your teacher or form tutor
- a member of the pastoral team
- a support worker
- any other member of staff you trust.
It doesn't matter whether you think your problem is big or small. We will listen to you and take your concerns seriously.
You can also get support outside school.
Childline
📞 0800 1111
Childline provides free and confidential support to children and young people. You can contact them about anything that is worrying you, including problems at home, bullying, relationships, abuse, mental health, online concerns or feeling unsafe.
Kooth
Kooth provides free online mental health and emotional wellbeing support for young people.
Young people can access wellbeing resources and confidential support from trained professionals.
YoungMinds
YoungMinds provides information, advice and resources to support children and young people's mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Help for Parents and Carers
You know your child best. If you notice changes in their behaviour, mood, friendships, attendance, online activity or emotional wellbeing, or you are concerned that something may be happening to them, we encourage you to contact us.
You do not have to wait until a problem becomes a crisis before asking for help.
The Rowans can work with you to identify appropriate support, which may include:
- Safeguarding and pastoral support
- SEND support
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing support
- Early Help and Family Solutions
- Health services
- Children's Social Care
- Parenting and family support
- Specialist local or national services.
Working together and seeking support early can make a significant difference to children, young people and their families.
Early Help and Family Support
Sometimes families experience difficulties that would benefit from additional support before they become more serious.
Medway Early Help and Family Solutions can provide support to children, young people and families experiencing a range of challenges.
Where appropriate, The Rowans can work alongside families and other professionals to identify needs, coordinate support and help families access the right services.
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Children and young people can experience difficulties with their emotional wellbeing for many different reasons.
Signs that a young person may need additional support can include changes in:
- Mood or behaviour
- Sleep or eating
- Friendships and relationships
- Attendance or engagement with school
- Motivation or interests
- Levels of anxiety, anger or distress
- Confidence or self-esteem.
We encourage pupils to speak to a trusted adult as early as possible.
Parents and carers who are concerned about their child's mental health or emotional wellbeing are also encouraged to contact the school so that we can discuss what support may be available.
If there is an immediate risk to life, call 999.
Visit our Mental Health & Wellbeing Support Directory for further local and national services.
Online Safety
Children and young people can experience harm online as well as in the physical world.
Concerns may include:
- Cyberbullying
- Online grooming
- Inappropriate or harmful content
- Exploitation
- Sexual harassment
- Sharing of nude or semi-nude images
- Coercion or blackmail
- Harmful contact from others
- Social media concerns
- AI-generated or manipulated images.
If something happens online that makes you or your child feel uncomfortable, frightened or unsafe, save the evidence where it is safe to do so, block or report the account where appropriate, and tell a trusted adult.
Visit our Online Safety page for further advice and support.
The NSPCC provides advice and support to adults who are worried about the safety or welfare of a child.
You can contact the NSPCC even if you are unsure whether what you have seen or heard is abuse or neglect.
📞 0808 800 5000
Remember – Speak Up
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
You don't have to have all the answers before asking for help.
If something doesn't feel right, tell someone.
If you are worried about yourself, a friend, your child or another young person, share your concern with someone who can help.
At The Rowans, we want every pupil to know:
We see you, We hear you, We are with you
Other useful information: