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The postings on this page are particularly relevant to those working in education.
For a daily update on general trends and developments in child protection policy, practice and research, please subscribe to our current awareness service, CASPAR.
DfE consultation on Keeping children safe in education guidance.
28 March 2013. The Department for Education is consulting on proposals to reform safeguarding requirements and guidance in schools and FE colleges. This would include removing the regulation requiring one member of a recruitment panel in a school to have undertaken DfE approved safer recruitment training.
Source: Department for Education 28 March 2013
DfE publish new Working together to safeguard children guidance.
21 March 2013. The single 97 page document replaces: Working together to safeguard children (2010), the framework for the assessment of children in need and their families (2000) and statutory guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 (2007). The document sets out the statutory safeguarding responsibilities placed on schools and other key organisations that work with children. The new guidance will come in to effect from April 15 2013.
Source: Department for Education 21 March 2013
Further information: Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (PDF version)
NSPCC current awareness briefing: a summary of Working together to safeguard children.
Government and Ofsted publish their responses to the Education Committee's report on the child protection system in England.
25 February 2013. Government responses highlight their plans to:
Source: Parliament.uk 25 February 2013
Further information: Children first: the child protection system in England: responses from the Government and Ofsted to the Committee's fourth report of session 2012-13. (PDF)
Resources for schools to support Safer Internet Day on 05 January 2013.
01 February 2013. The theme for this year's event is Online Rights and Responsibilities, and this marks the tenth year of Safer Internet Day. The UK Safer Internet Centre has produced resources for Primary and Secondary schools including posters, classroom activities, assemblies and lessons plans in English and Welsh.
Source: UK Safer Internet Centre
Further information: Safer Internet Day School Packs
More from NSPCC : Reading list on internet safety for schools
Statistics on online safety
Government Mid-Term Review highlights progress of education reforms.
11 January 2013. The review provides an update on the progress the coalition government in implementing the Programme for Government. Highlights of what they have achieved so far include:
Source: Cabinet Office Press Release 07 January 2013
Anti-Bullying Week 19-23 November 2012.
16 November 2012. This year's theme, 'We're better without bullying' highlights the effect that bullying has on achievement. The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) will be hosting a range of events during the week and have published resources for schools and FE colleges on their website.
Source: Anti-Bullying Week 19-23 November 2012
Further information: ABA activities for schools
Take a look at the NSPCC anti-bullying resources.
Literature review highlights the role of schools in early identification of child abuse linked to faith or belief.
25 October 2012. The Department for Education has published a review of the literature on child abuse linked to faith or belief, conducted by the Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre (CWRC). Findings highlight that there is still little known about the true scale of faith related abuse. One piece of literature revealed that a significant number of referral have come via teachers who noticed signs of neglect. Schools are therefore an important agency for professionals with safeguarding responsibilities to partner with to identify child abuse linked to faith or belief at an early stage. Recommendations from the report include the need for more support for professionals in identifying and systematically recording instances of abuse.
Source: Department for Education 25 October 2012
Further information: A rapid literature review of evidence on child abuse linked to faith or belief (PDF)
DfE publish report into pilot programmes aimed at improving alternative education for those excluded from, or for other reasons unable to attend school.
25 October 2012. Findings from research into the Back on Track pilots include: the importance of meeting the children's social, emotional and behavioural needs as a basis for improving their educational outcomes; and the identification of enhancements of students' personal, social and emotional development after their involvement in the pilots.
Source: Department for Education 25 October 2012
Further information: The back on track alternative provision pilots: final report (PDF) 25 October 2011
Research findings and resources published around self-generated, sexually explicit online images and videos of young people.
22 October 2012. Childnet and SWGfL have produced new resources to raise awareness of the consequences of young people sharing sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. This comes after a recent study by the Internet Watch Foundation that found that 88% of self-generated, sexually explicit online images and videos of young people analysed had been taken from their original location and uploaded onto other websites. A drama based teaching resource 'Picture this' has been produed around 'sexting' which includes three lesson plans. The resource ' So you got naked online' is aimed at young people who may have found that a sexually explicit image or video of themselves has been shared online, or via email or text.
Source: Internet Watch Foundation 22 October 2012
Further information: Picture this Childnet
So you got naked online SWGfL
Report on best practice in safeguarding and responding to child protection concerns in primary schools published.
25 September 2012 marked a conference to launch the "You have someone to trust" - Outstanding safeguarding practice in primary schools report, which was commissioned by the Children's Commissioner and undertaken by NSPCC and Youthworks. The report identifies good practice collected from a sample of primary schools in England, and is used as the basis for a separate guidance document which includes practical tips for teachers, school leaders and other educational professionals.
Source: Children's Commissioner press release 25 September 2012
Find out more about the launch conference, view presentations from the day and read the report and guidelines: Safeguarding in Education conference 25 September 2012
E-safety a requirement in new Ofsted school inspection guidance.
14 September 2012. From September 2012 schools will be judged on the provision of e-safety. During an inspection, Ofsted will observe how well schools protect and educate staff and pupils in the safe use of technology, and what measures they have in place to intervene and support an issue arise.
Source: Ofsted 05 September 2012
Further information: School inspection handbook from September 2012 (PDF)
The Department for Education publish updated guidance on supervision.
10 September 2012. The DfE has published an updated version of the statutory guidance on supervision, along with the new definition of regulated activity. Leaflets explaining the changes to disclosure and barring in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are available from the Home Office.
Source: Department for Education 10 September 2012
Further information: Home Office: changes to disclosure and barring
Statutory guidance: Regulated Activity (children) - supervision of activity with children which is regulated activity when unsupervised (PDF)
Ofsted announce changes to school inspection arrangements.
03 September 2012. Following the consultation ‘A good education for all’ revised inspection arrangements are being put in place to ensure schools strive for excellence. From 03 September 2012 all schools inspected by Ofsted must, at a minimum, be judged as ‘good'.
Other key changes to inspections include:
Source: Ofsted press release 03 September 2012
Further information: A good education for all - leaflet for schools (PDF)
Schools urged to promote positive images of LGBT people in lessons to tackle homophobic bullying.
29 August 2012. The National Union of teachers, sponsored by the campaign group Schools Out, conducted a survey of 750 teachers in the Greater Manchester area around homophobic bullying. The Greater Manchester Prevalence of Homophobia Report 2012 revealed that 87 per cent of teachers had heard or seen homophobic abuse in their school. 97 per cent of teachers want to see schools clampdown on homophobia, but only 77 per cent said their school was doing so. Schools Out believe that better promotion of LGBT people is needed within the curriculum to combat homophobia.
Source: Children & Young People Now 29 August 2012
Further information: The Greater Manchester Prevalence of Homophobia Report 2012 (PDF)
The Wales Audit Office has published a report on the education of looked after children.
22 August 2012. The report finds that the educational attainment of looked after children and young people in Wales is improving slowly, but there is too much variation in attainment, support is inconsistent, and there are no clear outcomes to assess progress against.
Source: Wales Audit Office press release 22 August 2012
Further information: The educational attainment of looked after children and young people (PDF)
Report on protecting disabled children published by Ofsted.
22 August 2012. The Protecting Disabled Children: thematic inspection report is based on a survey of cases in 12 local authorities. Ofsted looked at 173 cases involving children with disabilities and found that problems were not always recognised or dealt with quickly enough. The report also highlighted that low level risks were managed effectively, but children who were receiving child in need services often had unidentified child protection needs.
Source: Ofsted Press Release 22 August 2012
Further information: Protecting disabled children: thematic inspection (PDF)
Action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief published by government.
14 August 2012. The Department for Education action plan highlights the need for schools to raise children’s understanding about faith, culture and safeguarding. There is also a proposal to create a training pack of stories for schools and to use drama and poetry as a means for victims of faith based abuse to tell their stories.
Source: Department for Education press release 14 August 2012
Further information: National action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief (PDF) 14 August 2012
Report on young people's experience of homophobic bullying in schools.
26 July 2012. The Stonewall report highlights that 55% of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying and that only half of gay pupils said their schools acknowledged that homophobic bullying was wrong. Best practice recommended includes the need for schools to have clear and well promoted policies that homophobic bullying and language is unacceptable, respond quickly when it does occur and teach positive messages about lesbian, gay and bisexual issues.
Source: Stonewall July 2012
Further information: The School Report: The experiences of young gay people in Britain's schools 2012 (PDF)
Statistics on permanent and fixed term exclusions in England for 2010 and 2011 published.
25 July 2012. The report by the Department for Education highlights that the number of exclusions has decreased since 2009/10, but there is a prevalence of exclusion within certain groups including those with SEN and those from Black Caribbean ethnic backgrounds. A rise in exclusions for physical assault of a peer or teacher since 2009/10 is also present, although the most common reason was for persistent disruptive behaviour.
Source: Department for Education
Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) national conference 4 October 2012.
23 July 2012. The Tackling Bullying: Ten Years On conference is a celebration of the work done by the ABA in addressing bullying between children and young people in all its forms. The event will include key note speeches from expert speakers on latest research and trends relating to bullying, and will be chaired by Maggie Atkinson, Children's Commissioner for England. Early bird prices are available until 31st July.
Further information and bookings: Anti-Bullying Alliance
NSPCC anti-bullying resources
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