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Safeguarding Briefing - 27th June 2022
Dear ,
TikTok
A few days ago I spent a rather disturbing half-an-hour on TikTok. I had heard of professionals using TikTok to help raise awareness of various topics, like psychologist Dr Julie Smith who quickly became a TikTok star posting her mental health tips.
I wondered whether they would be any value in using the platform to help schools share safeguarding tips for parents. This found me exploring my new TikTok account at 08.30am.
Wow! Clicking in to TikTok Live was worse than I had thought it would be. Some videos showed the windscreen view of traffic whilst drivers livestreamed their commute. Loads of videos showed women and girls putting on their make up. So far, so boring (at least to me).
Then there were a number of video streams that I think should concern us from a safeguarding perspective. Livestreams from the school bus, school playgrounds and even from tutor time in classrooms. There was even a group of primary aged boys trying to out swear each other while they waited for the bell. Although some of our online harm messages had got through to the youngsters, as their phone pointed downwards, to show four pairs of shoes.
Needless to say, it won't be a platform I'll be using any time soon.
Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok (Commonsense Media)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-tiktok
TikTok app safety – What parents need to know (Internet Matters)
https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/esafety-news/tik-tok-app-safety-what-parents-need-to-know/
Destruction of records
At this time of year, I start to get questions about when or whether records should be retained or destroyed. It is for the school to develop their own procedures which will be identified in their policy. Please take a look at the information sources below, to help you create your policy.
(In a related note, as far as I am aware, there has been no change from the historical inquiry into child sexual abuse, and so records related to this should continue to be retained.)
Useful documents
https://irms.org.uk/page/SchoolsToolkit (see page 65)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-protection-toolkit-for-schools
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guidance-index/freedom-of-information-and-environmental-information-regulations/retention-and-destruction-of-information/
Donor Conceived Children
Following on from last week's information about adopted children, it's worth bearing in mind the support that children who have been conceived by donor may need. This can be a tricky one and staff may need guidance about what to say, for example, when children are asked to make Fathers' day cards.
Parents and families may worry about donor-conceived children going to school, perhaps being bullied, whether staff will know what to say.
The Donor Conception network has lots of resources, including for primary teachers and children: https://www.dcnetwork.org/
Online Searches
Partner at legal firm Browne Jacobson, Dai Durbridge, advises schools on safeguarding matters and writes very informative blogs for his company's website. You may also have heard him speaking at or chairing conferences.
Dai has written a really useful article to help us understand the new requirement in KCSIE to carry out online searches for shortlisted candidates.
You can read the article here:
https://www.brownejacobson.com/education/training-and-resources/legal-updates/2022/06/keeping-children-safe-in-education-2022-online-searches-for-shortlisted-candidates
Resources for September 2022
It's that busy time of year again, when we try to finish off one year, and yet get ready for the start of the next. Over the next month or so, I will be updating and creating the Safeguarding Handbook and the many resources and videos on Safeguarding.Pro.
I aim to have all the resources available by Tuesday 23rd August. Some will be ready earlier, I usually put them online as soon as each one is ready. The link is here: http://safeguarding.pro/sept2022
If you are not already a member of Safeguarding.Pro, you can join us here: http://joinsafeguarding.pro
Quiz questions - Help build a database for us all to share
Each year lots of people email asking if I have any quiz questions to test staff understanding of Keeping Children Safe in Education. This year I thought that I would ask you to help colleagues by building a database of questions we can all share. Even if each person reading this briefing submitted just one question we could create a brilliant resource.
The questions should relate to Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022, especially Part One and Annex B
Please contribute a question (and the answer) here: http://safeguarding.link/cpdquestion
Change to NARIC
The UK European Network Information Centre (UK ENIC, and formerly UK NARIC) provides expert advice on behalf of the UK Government on the comparability of international qualifications, including those from Ukraine to UK qualifications.
Website: https://www.ecctis.com/
Awarding QTS to overseas teachers
The Department for Education (DfE) is changing the way it awards qualified teacher status (QTS) to teachers from overseas.
A new professional recognition service, called apply for qualified teacher status in England, will set consistent standards so the qualifications and experience of overseas teachers can be fairly assessed. It will apply to qualified teachers from all countries outside the UK, and will be introduced in early 2023.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualified-teacher-status-to-overseas-teachers/a-fairer-approach-to-awarding-qts-to-overseas-teachers
Water Safety
The recent hot weather has encouraged young people to cool off in water. Unsuitable rivers and quarries hide dangers below, not taking into accounts the hazards of freezing cold water and currents.
Teenagers especially are drawn in by peers and a keenness for risky behaviours. Just last Friday, a 16-year old boy drowned in a river in Buckinghamshire. (See here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/25/body-boy-16-pulled-from-jubilee-river-taplow-buckinghamshire)
Some of the resources below might be helpful for assemblies or tutor sessions.
Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)
https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/drowning-prevention-week-campaign
Canal and River Trust - Summer water safety
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways/summer-water-safety
Water Safety at the beach
https://www.rlss.org.uk/water-safety-at-the-beach
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue
http://www.derbys-fire.gov.uk/keeping-safe/keeping-safe-outdoors/water-safety-code/
RNLI – Float to Live
https://rnli.org/pages/ppc/beach-safety/beach-safe-float
RNLI – Activity sheets and posters
https://rnli.org/youth-education/education-resources/activity-sheets-and-posters
Colin the Coastguard
https://colinthecoastguard.com/
National Water Safety Signs – do you know what these mean?
http://www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/Assets/watersafety_signs.pdf
Reservoir safety (United Utilities)
Particularly good package for use with teenagers
https://www.unitedutilities.com/help-and-support/about-us/recreation-sites/reservoir-safety/
Open Water Education Network
https://owen7.org.uk/water-safety-tips
Sun Safety
The Teenage Cancer Trust found that nearly two-thirds (61%) of young people aged 13-24 have avoided using sunscreen in order to get a better tan. As the weather gets hotter in the UK, we need to be more knowledgeable about keeping safe in the sun than ever before.
The damage done to young skin can lead to skin cancer developing in later life, so it’s vital to help young people protect themselves in the sun.
Teenage Cancer Trust Resources
https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/support-us/spread-word/shunburn-stay-safe-sun
Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun (CBeebies)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/sun-safety-for-kids
Sun safety in schools (Skcin)
http://www.skcin.org/sunSafetyAndPrevention/sunSafetyInSchools.htm
School sun exposure policy (NICE)
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has an article about creating a school sun exposure policy, in conjunction with Alderley Edge School for Girls, in Cheshire.
https://www.nice.org.uk/sharedlearning/a-primary-school-sunlight-exposure-policy
Forthcoming Events
Implementing the role of the Senior Mental Health Lead (DfE Course Code SMHL105)
This is our DfE Quality Assured course for Senior Mental Health Leads. The course is self-paced learning using the resources in our SMHL.Pro Hub. The course cost £397+VAT, some schools are eligible for a grant to cover this cost.
For more details, go to: https://www.smhl.pro/course
Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs
This is a four-session course for DSLs over a full-day. The course is offered live and as a recorded replay. When the course is live, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute with observations, questions or answers. As a recording, the interactions from other people are included and feedback notes that this makes it feel like you are not on your own.
"I came to a session in Birmingham back in 2019 (the day after the GE I think) and it was superb. Today [online] was just as good, if not better. The use of video mixed with live speaking was excellent and goes way beyond what other safeguarding courses provide. You've been there and done it, and your openness with your own story is inspirational."
LIVE ONLINE Tuesday 13th September 2022 BOOK NOW
...and available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience BOOK NOW
LIVE ON LOCATION remember that you can book Andrew to visit your school, cluster or MAT to share his DSL course. Please contact us for details and bookings.
Whole School Safeguarding CPD Online Session for September 2022
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.
"I would like to extend my thanks to Andrew for his fantastic online training. It was filmed so well - almost as if he were here with us! We were kept engaged throughout and felt so well informed - a huge thank you. It was a real success, and we look forward to booking you again in the future - with the staff team saying it was the best safeguarding training they have ever had. We really appreciated Andrew's real-life storytelling and the way such sensitive information was shared - it was excellent training."
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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