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Safeguarding Briefing - 15th November 2021
Dear ,
Amanda Spielman speaking at the 2021 Schools & Academies Show
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills, Amanda Spielman, last week spoke at the 2021 Schools & Academies Show.
Referring to Ofsted's report into sexual abuse in schools, the HMCI said she was shocked by the findings. She said, 'the sheer number of children and young people – especially girls – who said that they put up with harassment and abuse day in, day out, is startling. This is entirely unacceptable behaviour'. However, 'schools we visited were often underestimating the scale of the problem – either they didn’t see it as a big issue, or sometimes were simply unaware it was happening.'
Amanda Spielman told the audience, 'We’ve asked schools to accept that harassment and abuse are endemic – and to assume that they’re almost certainly happening beneath the surface, even if they aren’t immediately obvious.'
'It’s a cultural issue – about attitudes and behaviours becoming normalised. And as I’ve said many times before, schools can’t solve that by themselves. There’s a clear role here for government. And, of course, parents are vital too.'
The chief inspector concluded her speech saying 'we always hope to see a culture where sexual harassment and abuse aren’t tolerated, where issues are spotted and intervention happens earlier.'
You can read the full speech here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/amanda-spielman-at-the-2021-schools-academies-show
Play Safe, a new national safeguarding campaign (Football Association)
Over the weekend, the Football Association and the NSPCC launched ‘Play Safe’, a national campaign to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding in football. At the heart of the campaign are three short films to emphasise the importance of safeguarding for key groups of people, crucially children themselves.
One aspect of the campaign is prompting parents to ask questions:
• Do you know your child’s club Welfare Officer?
• If so, do you have their tel no. in your ‘phone, as well as that of the NSPCC?
• Are you up to speed with your child’s club’s safeguarding policies and procedures?
• Do you regularly check-in with your child to see what they are enjoying/not enjoying and why?
More information can be found here: https://www.thefa.com/PlaySafe
Share the safeguarding briefing with a colleague
Just ask them add their name and email address here: http://safeguardingbriefing.co.uk
"Toxic Trio" Help or Hinderance
The phrase Toxic Trio has been around now for a number of years. Intended to describe the risk factors for child protection has it now outlived its usefulness? What is the research behind the phrase and does it live up to scrutiny? In this online seminar, specialist safeguarding consultant, Andrew Hall, takes a look at a research paper and explores this important theme.
You can find this online seminar, along with many others, in Safeguarding.Pro here: https://www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/products/safeguarding-pro-resources/categories/2148421256/posts/2150852533
Not a member of Safeguarding.Pro yet? Simply go to: joinsafeguarding.pro
Free Online Event: Exploring Media Literacy (SWGfL) Weds. 8th December 2022 1 - 3pm
SWGfL has joined forces with TikTok along with guest speakers from Ofcom and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport for a free online event, exclusively for professionals working with children and young people, to better understand media literacy.
Media literacy refers to 'the ability to use, understand and create media and communications in a variety of contexts'. (Ofcom). With more time than ever being spent online, improving media literacy among professionals working with children is a key priority of the Government’s Online Media Literacy Strategy.
The event will explore what media literacy means in 2021. SWGfL and TikTok will share the latest insights, as well as useful tools and resources for teachers.
To find out more and to book, go to: https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/swgfl-exploring-media-literacy-powered-by-tiktok-tickets-208556737817
Professional's Online Safety Helpline (SWGfL)
The Professionals Online Safety Helpline (POSH) was set up in 2011 to help all members of the community working with or for children in the UK, with any online safety issues they, or children and young people in their care, may face.
Over the last few weeks there have a number of media reports about teachers being negatively targeted by pupils. Advice about how to deal with these videos and other similar content can be obtained by contacting POSH.
One of the SWGfL team, Carmel, has recorded a video to share advice on how to report any videos. The video and more support can be found here: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/tiktok-videos-targeting-teachers-support-from-professionals-online-safety-helpline/
The Professional's Online Safety Helpline can be contacted Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, on 0344 381 4772.
They can also be emailed here: helpline@saferinternet.org.uk
Education staff wellbeing charter (DfE)
The mental health and wellbeing of staff in education settings has always been important, but it is now more important than ever in the context of the pandemic and moving towards recovery.
This charter sets out commitments from this department, from Ofsted and employers working in education on actions to protect and promote the wellbeing of education staff.
Read more about the charter here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-staff-wellbeing-charter
Terrorism and Extremism: Threat level raised to 'severe'
After the last week's explosion outside a Liverpool hospital, the government has raised the terror threat level to 'severe' meaning that 'an attack is highly likely'. There is only one further threat level - critical - which means 'an attack is highly likely in the near future'.
It is worth revisiting the ACT website for information and resources designed to help people 'Act Early'.
ACT's website can be found here: https://actearly.uk/
Child left on the bus
A special school pupil this week caused a safeguarding incident after going missing. The driver believed he had left all the children at the school and returned empty to the depot. The missing child was found later that morning hiding under a seat.
Although it's not clear from the press report exactly how this happened, it is an important reminder to ensure that the systems schools and transport providers use are effective and fit for purpose.
Forthcoming Events
Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs
LIVE ONLINE Tuesday 16th November 2021 BOOK NOW
LIVE ONLINE Thursday 20th January 2022 BOOK NOW
...and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience BOOK NOW
Whole School Safeguarding CPD Online Session
In this two and half hour online presentation aimed at staff in all roles, specialist safeguarding consultant, Andrew Hall, explores important aspects of safeguarding in schools including child protection, learning from case studies and the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education.
You book your online session here: https://cpd.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/product/whole-school-safeguarding-course-online/
Until next time, keep safe and thank you for all the work you're doing,
Andrew Hall,
Specialist Safeguarding Consultant,
Success In Schools Ltd.
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