Safeguarding Children

Every Child Matters

Primary

A first-hand account of a child abused from a young age

The first part of a true story charting the life of a child who was consistently abused by her parent from a young age. The child, now a young woman, recounts her moving story up to the age of 11. For reasons of confidentiality, her story is recounted by an actor. The story is interspersed with interviews, conducted by the young woman herself. Remaining anonymous throughout, she interviews child protection professionals who explain how they intervene in cases of child abuse; something that did not happen in this case.

A Child Abused - Up to 11

Three governors' insights: what to do if a child is injured

A panel of school governors discuss their legal responsibilities in relation to a series of events in a hypothetical school. After watching a series of reconstructions, their job is to debate just where the duties of the school governors lie. Keeping a close eye on the discussion is governor expert Paul McGann, an education officer with 15 years experience in training governors and troubleshooting in schools. He provides advice and guidance on dealing with the issues along the way. The panel debate their duties in the areas of health and safety after a child is injured in the playground by a catapult. The discussion moves on to focus on school security when it becomes apparent that other dangerous items are being discovered within the school grounds. Finally, the panel discuss complaints from the caretaker that he is becoming overworked because of having to deal with the risks presented by the local community. Key points: When does responsibility for children's safety at school start - as soon as the gates open? If an accident occurs, the governors need to show parents they've considered a wide range of courses of action Monitoring and checking the implementation of your health and safety policy should be a high priority

An Injury in the Playground

The role of governors in child protection

This episode explores the issues behind a serious accusation, such as when a teaching assistant is accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a pupil. Questions about child protection are raised and advice given to governors who are keen to understand more about schools and their role. Expert, Paul McGann, monitors a panel of governors engaged in a hypothetical discussion about the issue. They watch a series of reconstructions and debate the procedures involved and where their duties lie. The main considerations are: <ul> <li>Where to go for advice on child protection</li> <li>A governor's role in setting policy</li> <li>How to handle the consequences of such an event</li> <li>How a governor can protect both staff and pupils in similar circumstances</li> </ul>

Child Protection

A country school looks towards ways of improving road safety

Barley First School which is located in the Hertfordshire countryside, has taken innovative steps to improve its road safety. In rural areas, a car journey may be the only option for the school run but pupils still have to learn how to develop good pedestrian skills. Barley First School does this through a Bikeability project, risk assessment, and guided walks. As well as improving pupils' road awareness, the school also hopes to encourage their pupil's physical health and road sense at the same time.

Country Roads

A debate on the use of appropriate restraint to stop violence

In this programme, a panel of school governors discuss their legal responsibilities in relation to a series of events in a hypothetical school. After watching a series of reconstructions, their job is to debate just where the duties of the school governors lie. Keeping a close eye on the discussion is governance expert, Paul McGann, who provides advice and guidance on dealing with the issues along the way. The programme will be of value to school governors keen on understanding more about their role and how to act in the best interests of their school. This week: <ul> <li>The debate covers suitable control and restraint of pupils, after a child is injured when a teacher steps in to stop a fight</li> <li>The debate develops when the parents of the child complains to the school and our panel attempt to address their concerns</li> <li>Finally the debate raises the issue of how school governors can influence the culture of a school in order to avoid such problems arising in the first place</li> </ul>

Discipline

How can you deal with the problems posed by pupils having sex?

This week, how do teachers deal with the problems posed by pupils having sex? How does the division of responsibility between the school and parents work in practice? The late Ted Wragg conducts an imaginary case study with the help of eight panellists. His story involves 15-year-old Juliet and her boyfriend Romeo. The dilemmas arise out of Romeo and Juliet's sexual activity leading to STDs, pregnancy and an abortion. What happens when they are due to go on a school trip? How much are the parents told? Key points: <ul> <li>Lively debate where not even the experienced professionals can agree on 'right' course of action</li> <li>Is it fair to prevent just the male partner from going on school trip to avoid difficult circumstances?</li> <li>Do you break a child's confidence by telling parents, if they have threatened suicide?</li> </ul> Visit our resources and support materials page for links relevant to the topic covered in this debate.

Duty of Care

Helping a refugee to adjust to the classroom and outside

Muhammad's story highlights how schools and other agencies can help address the challenges faced by a newly arrived refugee. In this programme, Muhammad has arrived into Year 6 as a refugee and is having difficulty in adjusting to the classroom and outside. Outside of school, his relatives are facing their own problems of finding housing. With the help of a pastoral care manager, a variety of professionals from different agencies work together to ensure that Muhammad's problems are addressed before he makes the transition to secondary school at the end of the year.

Every Child Matters - Muhammad's Story

Three governors learn about their legal responsibilities

In this programme, we follow three new governors as they complete challenges designed to help them get to grips with their legal responsibilities. Governance expert Judy Burgess explains how important it is for governors to familiarise themselves with the legal responsibilities of a school governor, as our governors learn how to cope with a number of key tasks. In addition to their many other responsibilities, our governors discover how they are also responsible for health and safety, special needs and finance.

Know your Responsibilities

Strategies for helping primary pupils feel safe at school

Aimed at primary governors and school leaders, this video shows how one school's approach to safeguarding not only keeps their pupils safe, but helps them feel safe too. Strategies set up by St Paul's JMI, in Chipperfield include a playground patrol where Year 6 pupils keep a look out for any pupils that may not be enjoying playtime, and peer mediators who help solve disagreements. The school has also introduced 'bubble time', a mechanism allowing pupils to request time to talk with their teacher privately about anything that might be on their mind. It's these mechanisms that headteacher Norah Tattersall hope will make the pupils feel safe and protected while at school.

Making Pupils Feel Safe

Assessing schools, pupils and the criminal justice system

More and more children are being criminalised, but what can schools do to try and prevent children from getting involved in crime and entering the criminal justice system? Rod Morgan, former chair of the Youth Justice Board, believes schools need to reconsider excluding children, because if they're not in school, it can increase their likelihood of being involved in criminal behaviour. Brislington Enterprise College in Bristol are trying to reduce the number of exclusions with a restorative justice approach, in which victims and offenders are brought together, with the conference counting towards local police crime targets. See how the school works closely with its own policeman trained in the use of Restorative Justice, and discover how staff feel about violent pupils sometimes being allowed to stay in school.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

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