Safeguarding Briefing - 11th September 2023

FAO: To All

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Safeguarding Briefing - 11th September 2023
 

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New Independent School Inspectorate Framework 2023 - Farrer 

The Independent Schools Inspectorate has published its new inspection framework for 2023. Named Framework 23, the document will take over from that published in 2016. The emphasis of these most recent regulations, is aimed at pupil wellbeing. This includes physical and mental wellbeing, and puts a premium on both harm and neglect as key areas. The importance of pupil's voices extends this theme, of putting more focus on the students themselves. To read the full document and other resources around the publication of Framework 23, please follow the link below: 

https://www.isi.net/framework-2023/

Mild Illness and School Attendance - UK Government 

This year the UK Government is kicking off the school term with a discussion on issues related to mild illness and school attendance. An issue which has been particularly active since the commencement and draw down of the UK Government's response to the COVID-19 period. Many parents are increasingly unsure of how to act when a child reports themselves to be ill. In addition the growing instability of world affairs has translated in increased anxiety among pupils. The UK Government is committing itself to mitigating this rising issue, with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) producing new guidance on medical absences and the Department for Education writing to school leaders on the matter. To read both the letter, and the RCGP guidance, please follow the link below: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-school-leaders-on-mild-illness-and-school-attendance/letter-to-school-leaders-on-mild-illness-and-school-attendance

https://bjgplife.com/the-role-of-the-gp-in-maximising-school-attendance/

Revised Prevent Duty Guidance - Home Office

The PREVENT Duty was first published in 2015 in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act. The legislation has since been a staple of school leader responsibilities. The duty was originally envisaged as a response to the increased level of youth radicalization, that year. The legislation though, is now nearly a decade old. In that time the UK security environment has changed due to growing instability in the global system, the exponential rise in the power of social media and in the past few years, a huge shift in personal technological capacity. The revised PREVENT strategy seeks to address the novel vulnerabilities formed in the wake of these modifications to the UK's threat profile.

To introduce school staff to the revisions to the PREVENT system, the London Grid for Learning are running a free webinar on Thursday at 15:30. You can read more about the session via their website: 

https://lgfl.bookinglive.com/book/add/p/141

To read the new guidance please follow the link below: 

 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance-england-scotland-and-wales-2015/revised-prevent-duty-guidance-for-england-and-wales-2015

Did Someone Forward this Safeguarding Briefing to You?

If you would like to receive your own copy of the Safeguarding Briefing, simply go to: www.safeguardingbriefing.co.uk

Child Vulnerability and VR Technology - NSPCC

The use of VR technology is becoming both more affordable and as a result more widely available. This has itself led to an increase in users. The platforms that utilize this ground breaking technology, are in many respects an unknown to regulators and educators alike. Concepts such as multi-user spaces and phantom touch, in addition to the ability to access restricted portions of the internet, whilst being hooked up to one's physical body opens new avenues of concern. The NSPCC has recently commissioned both a report and study into the vulnerability windows opened by VR technologies. To find out more please follow the link below: 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2023/over-75-of-people-believe-children-are-at-significant-risk-of-sexual-abuse-when-using-vr-technology/

Vaping and Children - Action for Children
 

If you've been out and about this summer enjoying Britain's "wonderful" summer weather, you likely will have seen congregations of school age children accompanied by vape sticks. Within the space of a few years, it has become shockingly common place for those underage to be in the possession of these devices. Many months ago, I mentioned the danger that their use would become endemic among this demographic. Often brightly coloured, often sold at off-licences and often flavoured with sweet tastes which seem almost to be designed for children. I have sadly been proved correct over the past eight weeks or so. It is of vital importance that your pupils are well aware of the potential health implications of this new trend. Action for Children have published a page on the matter, and I believe it's well worth a read. Please follow the link below to find out more:

https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/behaviour/challenging-behaviour/im-worried-about-my-child-vaping/

Forthcoming Courses

 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 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.

Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs Course (Online) Wednesday 13th September 2023 10am - 4pm Book Online

Next Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs Course (Online) Thursday 5th October 2023, 10am - 4pm Book Online

The on-demand course is always available and has been updated for September 2023 Book Online

Whole School Safeguarding CPD Online Session for 2022/2023

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.

"In my excitement, I forgot to add our star rating to the Safeguarding training we have just watched. If we could, we would give it 10 stars! That was the best Safeguarding training we have ever had, thank you so much. Feedback from staff has, so far, been overwhelmingly positive…I can't thank you enough."

"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."

Watch extracts from last year's presentation here: https://www.safeguardinglearning.co.uk/findoutmore

You can book your online session here: www.safeguardinginschools.co.uk/availablecourses

 

Until September, have a lovely break enjoy any adventures you have, travel safely and we'll be back to do it all again next year!

 

Andrew Hall
Specialist Safeguarding Consultant,
Director, Success In Schools Ltd. 

 

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