Safeguarding Children

Every Child Matters

Secondary

Continuing a personal account of child abuse from the age of 11

The second 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 from 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 - After 11

See teachers give full-time education to excluded KS3/KS4 pupils

This whole-school video on safeguarding KS3/KS4 children shows Alternative Education Service (AES) staff promoting inclusion in full-time education for pupils excluded from South Tyneside's mainstream secondary schools. Some of Britain's most economically and socially disadvantaged families live in South Tyneside. The AES has the challenge of providing full-time education for the area's excluded young people, as shown in this video addressing behaviour and other issues under Every Child Matters. Teachers at the Secondary Pupil Referral Unit are not only trying to improve pupils' behaviour so they can be re-integrated back into school, but they're also acting as an important support for vulnerable children. One of their key aims is to help pupils develop the emotional and social skills necessary to cope with growing up in an area of great poverty. Although education has a clear and prominent place in South Tyneside Council's priorities, this video shows staff doing remarkable work with pupils in conditions which are often quite unsuitable for boisterous, lively adolescents. The staff aim to provide these young people with a safe place to learn.

A Safe Alternative

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 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

A deputy head assembles a support group for a problem child

Jade's story reveals the problems caused when a difficult pupil constantly changes schools and how a support group can help address these issues. Fourteen-year-old Jade has been moved from one school to another because of her difficult behaviour. The deputy head of Jade's most recent school finds it hard to learn more about Jade's case, until she speaks to the Safe Schools officer from her previous school. The Safe Schools officer understands what makes Jade tick and is therefore able to help the deputy head as she assembles a vital support group for Jade and her father.

Every Child Matters - Jade's Story

Find out how a Common Assessment Framework can benefit a child

Lucy is a Year 9 pupil at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School who has a history of truanting and disruptive behaviour. After a series of incidents, she has been sent by her school to the local pupil referral unit. Lucy and her mum Keren signed up to the Common Assessment Framework, one of the key tools used to allow multi-agencies to share information about a child. Lucy's lead professional, Janette Goss and her deputy head Margaret Wilson discuss how creating a team around Lucy has meant that she hasn't been lost to education.

Every Child Matters - Lucy's Team

A look at the importance of working together to protect children

Two Stories uses actors and children's services professionals to illustrate two real case histories, revealing the importance of sharing information and working together to protect children. In the first story, Fatima is being bullied by her ex-friends for choosing to wear the hejab. She's not attending college regularly and her work is suffering. An integrated approach sees staff from all sectors sharing knowledge of racist bullying, leading to a successful outcome. Joe's story explores the aftermath of parental separation. Joe's mother and father have separated and Joe misses his Dad so much that he is self-harming and becoming anti-social.

Every Child Matters - Two Stories

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.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

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