|
Safeguarding Briefing - 6th April 2020
Dear Colleague,
I just want to say: YOU are AMAZING! Thank you for all you are doing. But equally, please look after yourself too.
Slow response to emails
Last week was a busy week in my email box, so I must apologise for the rubbish response times. Many questions were similar, so I've put a FAQs on my website which you can find here: https://www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/coronavirus-faqs/
Quick replies
I was also a bit less wordy in my replies too! There were a bit shorter than usual. Sorry.
Keeping Children Safe in Education Consultation Suspended
The DfE has suspended the KCSIE (2020) consultation for the time-being.
FREE FOR NOW 'Whisper' Anonymous Reporting (SWGfL)
SWGfL have made their reporting app, Whisper, available for free for the time-being. This will help anyone in your school community who wants to securely raise a concern or a worry. Whisper is an anonymous reporting service that your school community can access via a reporting form or SMS.
Go to: https://swgfl.org.uk/services/whisper/
Whisper has a multitude of encrypted features including Live Chat via Website and two-way anonymous SMS text messaging, so that you can keep in touch with the person.
Make sure anyone using Whisper knows how it is being frequently it is being reviewed. If a young person expects an immediate reply and doesn't get one, a situation may not be responded to in a timely way and might worsen. It may also make it less likely it used again in the future. Remember to be clear about response times and availability.
Find out more by going to https://swgfl.org.uk/services/whisper/
Live Meetings with Zoom
One of my favourite programmes was Spooks. Seemingly capable of logging into anything, it was done speedily and without much thought. Hacking Zoom is the new reality. But it doesn’t involve hacking. It just involves knowing slightly more than someone else. Like the cabinet office press releasing screenshots of a Zoom call clearly showing the meeting ID.
Zoombombing
Schools Week reports that an online conference of headteachers was 'zoombombed' last week and that shocking pornography was unleashed on the viewing leaders. This has been happening a lot.
I think that when we hastily set stuff up, we don't always think about the potential negative consequences. This is especially true of anything internet-related. If you have never live-streamed, there is a lot to think about. It's not like Spooks, or picking up a telephone.
Zoom is the market leader and like any market leader will attract more 'bad actors' than other products. In March, Zoom added 2.22 million users worldwide; in the whole of 2019, it grew by 2 million. In other words, more people joined over the last month than in the whole of 2019. I suspect many of those had never used a remote platform before.
Safer use of Zoom
From today (5th April 2020), Zoom are forcing users to password protect their meeting room. This is an important first step. Other things to do to protect your Zoom space are:
- Use a new meeting room each time (ie. don't use the personal meeting ID)
- Don't allow attendees to join before host
- Mute attendees on joining
- Turn screen sharing off
- Set up a 'waiting room'
- Lock your meeting room after you have started
- Don't publicise your meeting's link on social media
- Don't share the screenshot of everyone, especially when it show the meeting ID
- Try to have someone who's job it is to 'manage the room' and focus just on doing that.
- Tell people what the Plan B is (ie. if you do have to abort the meeting where will the meeting move to and how can people rejoin)
Additionally,
- Avoid sharing personal information
- Turn off your video and microphone, unless it's needed.
Take time to learn about new tech
I'm quite tech-savvy, but it has taken a while for me to get to know the online tech tools, so I can do more work online. It takes trial and error, and rehearsal to get it right. It's not Spooks!
Above all, remember just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be.
Where to find out more about using Zoom and other online technologies
My favourite online tech guy, Steve Dotto from dottotech, has some great videos about setting up and using Zoom.
In this video, Steve works with his wife, a teacher, to look at the main features of Zoom: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BqPtCcSyHvQsbl2rumM4w
Do you already have tried and tested tech tools?
Head of Learning Technologies at Concero, Alan Foster, got in touch last week to remind me that many schools already have access to the technology they need.
Alan says, 'Teams and hangouts Chat are a great way for teachers to communicate with each other they can chat, share files, editable at the same time, do video conferencing or audio calls and all for free with Office 365 Education.
Welcome to Microsoft Teams
https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/video-welcome-to-microsoft-teams-b98d533f-118e-4bae-bf44-3df2470c2b12
Learn about the new Hangouts Chat (GSuite)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvFZaljVpjc
There are lots of videos and articles on the web that can give you more information, above is just a very quick insight into Teams and Hangouts Chat. I hope this helps. If you require any further information let me know
The Concero Website is here: https://www.concerouk.com/
Twenty Safeguarding Considerations for Remote Teaching and Learning (LGfL)
Six Top Tips to Keep Primary Kids Safe Online (LGfL)
LGfL have two really great posters for keeping safe online. You can find them here: https://coronavirus.lgfl.net/safeguarding
Click here to forward this email to a colleague
Special pricing for Guild (a private messaging app)
In the last edition of the Safeguarding Briefing, I talked about a private messaging app, similar to WhatsApp without the challenges. The app is free to use for up to 15 people, but after that it costs £950 per year. This was too high for many schools, so Guild have offered a school pricing tier.
The school price for Guild is:
1 - 15 Free
16 - 50 £7 per person (Purchase a specific number)
Any number up to 50 £350 per year (Purchase up to 50 straightway)
For further information or to purchase, contact Vaby at Guild, her email is vaby@guild.co (yes, it's just dot co - nothing else!)
You can download the app here (iOS and Android): https://guild.co/download
I have set up a demonstration personal group that you can join the try out Guild. To join here: safeguarding.info/testguild
You can watch a video a made about the app here: https://vimeo.com/401892088
Staff Remote Working (Own Devices) Self-Checklist Pack (Secure Schools)
Secure Schools has produced a pack of free resources focused on reducing the risks associated with schools remote working. Many schools are now allowing staff to use personal devices which may have no firewall, antivirus, encryption and use weak passwords.
Previously a chargeable product, Secure Schools has made their remote working governance pack available free for schools. It an be found here: https://secure.school/toolkit/remote-working-pack-byod
Bereavement Policy
In re-reading the last Safeguarding Briefing I realise I should have made it more explicit that at the end of the checklist, I had added the 'ensure you have a bereavement policy' myself; it is not a government requirement.
Although, it hasn’t been mentioned anywhere else, if the forecast about the numbers of people that could be affected are correct, many people (including children) will be touched by loss, directly or indirectly. For that reason, I think it is important that senior leaders in schools (not other staff or pupils), should have an idea about what they will do if the worst happens.
I view this as a support for SLT for when the worst happens. I wouldn’t share too widely at this stage. It is just to make sure that this has been thought about.
Child Bereavement UK has some great advice about this on their website:
Developing a bereavement policy or charter (Child Bereavement UK)
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/developing-a-bereavement-policy
Media Interest in critical incidents
Just a thought. Headteachers, do you have 24 hour contact details for media support from your local authority or MAT?
Setting up a virtual safeguarding team
It is important to have one point of access to your safeguarding processes. This might be a e-reporting system, like CPOMS or MyConcern. One office to go to. One extension number. With times as we are that not work out as well as usual.
You might want to have a duty DSL system, but how to do that without buying a load of PAYG mobiles (even if you could). You could use a telephone redirection service. You publish one number as the Safeguarding Line and then you set it up to redirect to a number of relevant people. The calls are redirected to everyone in the group (and anyone can answer) or you can set up redirects by day and time, so that the 'duty' person can answer.
We use Tamar Communications to do this in my company. We've actually used them for many years, but when I was a headteacher I used them for our duty staff. There is a cost, but from £4.99/month, I would say it's cheaper for the school than buying other phones. It also helps staff well-being, as they know they can relax a bit when they are not 'on-call'.
Tamar Communications are here: https://www.tamartelecommunications.co.uk/
Leading Safeguarding in MATs
A couple of years ago, I ran a conference for Safeguarding Leads in MATs. It was a great day and lots of people came. I had hoped we could take that work on, but personally I didn't have the capacity to develop it.
Victoria Raynor from the Archway Trust has kindly stepped up and has volunteered to take this forward.
Victoria says, 'I am hoping to pick this up over the next couple of weeks and suggest a Teams meeting as a support for MAT leads across the country. I have a few people interested but would like to be able to have as many people engaged as possible! I think now would be a good time!'
I you would like to find out more or get involved, please email Victoria directly here: Vraynor@archwaytrust.co.uk
Well-being Guide (Letovo School)
Diane Riley, Head of Boarding at the Letovo School has shared a Wellness Guide their counsellor has written for their students (and staff could benefit from too). You can download it here:
https://6282.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Wellness+Guide+Letovo+School.pdf
Online Learning (Katy Potts, London Borough of Islington)
Katy Potts, is the Computing, Digital and Online Lead for Schools in Islington, and has a really useful blog.
A couple of interesting things came out from Katy's blog this week: 'Home access is a key issue, some schools reporting 50% without keyboard devices, mobile only (inc pay as you go), many homes no working printers, one keyboard shared amongst working family.'
The other great link in Katy's blog is to Professor Stephen Heppell's website. Professor Heppell is a world expert on learning spaces and his research will help you 'optimise the physical space to be your very best'. I've put in in my 'interesting stuff that I never knew' folder.
The guidance is here: http://heppell.net/home/
Katy's last two blogs are here:
Strategies for Home Learning during a Primary School Closure
https://islington-gov.j2bloggy.com/Islington-Computing-Online-Safety/home-learning/
Week One Feedback School Closures Home Learning
https://islington-gov.j2bloggy.com/Islington-Computing-Online-Safety/week-one-feedback-home-learning/
Coronavirus: what your Board needs to do now (The Key)
Helpful (free) article here from The Key on how Governors can supports schools at this difficult time:
https://schoolgovernors.thekeysupport.com/curriculum-and-pupils/pastoral-care/health-and-medical-needs/coronavirus-what-your-board-needs-be-doing-now/
No Safeguarding Briefing next week
Unless there is something that I think would be really useful for you be aware of, the next Safeguarding Briefing will be on Monday 20th April 2020.
Forthcoming Courses
Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs Online
My Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs Course is now online. A number of people have finished it and have found it really useful.
Liz, an Essex headteacher said, 'Many thanks for a great day! Really good use of time under the circumstances and has given the staff lots of professional reading to do while they're working from home. It's good having Andrew there too! Better than video I think.'
There are two ways to access the course. A scheduled course where I'm online too; and an 'on-demand' course which you can complete at anytime. The content is the same, but on a scheduled course you can interact with me and other people attending at the same time.
You can find out more here: dslonline.info
The next scheduled courses are:
ONLINE Tuesday 7th April 2020 Book Now
ONLINE Thursday 9th April 2020 Book Now
ONLINE Tuesday 21st April 2020 Book Now
Or you can complete the course at any time Book Now
Until next time, keep as safe as you can. Thank you for all you are doing. Stay safe.
Best wishes
|
