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February Safeguarding Update
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EAL Training Offer
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ChatHealth
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Recruitment update
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Holiday Activity fund 2021
February Safeguarding Update
Dear Headteachers and DSL’s
I hope you are safe and well? A few bits and pieces to update you on this month. If you know anyone who would benefit from receiving regular safeguarding updates directly, please provide me with their email address and I will happily add them to the distribution list.
Safer Internet Day 2021
Safer Internet Day 2021 takes place on Tuesday 9th February. This year, the theme is ‘an internet we trust: exploring reliability in an online world’. This website provides details and ideas for how schools can engage with the day through remote learning.
Sign up for Supervision for DSL’s!
Supervision or ‘Professional Reflection’ is something I am really passionate about and have experienced first-hand the impact it can have upon staff wellbeing. There is also a growing expectation that supervision is offered to all DSLs in schools and it is likely to be included within Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021.
Drawing upon my training in delivering supervision, for those who feel it would be of benefit or don’t already have it in place, I propose establishing termly, small group supervision sessions for any Headteacher’s and DSLs who wish to join. Due to the current restrictions, I hope to complete a pilot group during the summer term, before rolling out the full service from September 2021.
In order to assist me in gaining a clear picture of the demand and to sign up for the sessions in September, please could all schools complete this short questionnaire and expression of interest form
Prevent Training
The Home Office has created three training packages linked to Prevent, which may be useful if your staff team require a refresher or update in this area:
The first, ‘Prevent Awareness Training’, is suitable for all members of staff, which can be found here.
The second, ‘Managing Prevent Concerns and Referrals’ is suitable for senior leaders and DSL’s and can be found here.
Finally, the third package is called ‘Channel Awareness’ and focusses on what happens during a Channel Panel Conference. This training is also suitable for senior leaders and DSL’s and can be found here.
Volunteers
Volunteers can be essential members of a school team. But it is important to remember that every adult working or supporting within a school is in a position of trust and responsibility. It is therefore essential that we ensure that unsuitable adults are both deterred and prevented from having access to our children and young people. It is therefore logical that we consider all prospective volunteers in just the same way as we would prospective employees.
Naturally, I appreciate you also would not want to deter potentially amazing volunteers and the process will be slightly different. Nevertheless, the principles of safer recruitment must still be followed including the use of an application form (including scrutiny of gaps in employment), seeking of references (focusing on the suitability of candidates to work with children), a self-disclosure, an interview / discussion and enhanced DBS (+ other relevant checks).
Please click here to view volunteer application form, which you may wish to use as part of this process.
Digital Parenting
The new version of the Digital Parenting magazine has been released and you can now order up to 500 copies, for free (ready to give out upon the return of children, etc!) Here is the link if you wish to order: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/digital-parenting-order-form/
KCSiE 2020 – January 2021 update
Keeping Children Safe has been updated to reflect the UK leaving the EU. Please make sure you have the latest version saved as part of your safeguarding portfolio. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education–2
Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Training 2021
Due to current restrictions, it is anticipated that all of my courses during the 2020/21 academic year will be delivered remotely, via Microsoft Teams. In order to reserve a place, please email Benjamin.holmes@halton.gov.uk
- DSL Workshop for ALL DSL’s. These are the main DSL updates and workshops. It is best practice for all schools to try and attend these meetings each term. (The agenda will be sent out prior to the meeting)
4 March 2021 – 1pm – 4pm
29 June 2021 – 1pm – 4pm
- Safer Recruitment for Headteachers, Senior Leaders, Business Managers and Governors
23 April 2021 – 9:15am – 4:30pm – Fully Booked
*NEW DATE ADDED* 30 April 2021 – 9:15am – 4:30pm
9 June 2021 – 9:15am – 4:30pm
- Safer Recruitment Refresher for Headteachers, Senior Leaders, Business Managers and Governors. (A certificate from the full course must be seen before a place can be reserved on this course)
26 April 2021 – 9:30am – 12:30pm
- New to the role of DSL (Or infrequent user) This essential course is in addition to ‘Working Together L3 Safeguarding Training’ (which is delivered by the safeguarding partnership) and focusses on the role of DSL within a school setting – including managing referrals, specific areas of safeguarding and recording & reporting concerns.
4 May 2021 – 9:30am – 4pm
- Designated Governor for Safeguarding Training. This course is aimed at any governor who has a specific safeguarding responsibility as part of their role. It will provide them with a clear understanding of suitable processes and procedures to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.
9 February 2021 – 9:30am – 4pm
- Governor Safeguarding Training All Governors should receive safeguarding training in line with all members of staff and volunteers a minimum of once every three years, with regular updates during this time. This can be delivered using the whole school training materials. However, if preferred, Governors can attend this course which looks at safeguarding in schools from a Governor perspective. (They will still need to ensure that they understand the school’s specific processes and procedures)
23 March 2021 – 9:30am – 12:30pm
If any further dates or training needs are identified, then I will do my best to provide these for schools, wherever possible. However, I do not have capacity to deliver training to full governing bodies in school, in the same way I cannot deliver whole staff safeguarding training. For September 2021, I will look to produce an adapted L2 training materials pack for use with full governing bodies, which can then be delivered by the school’s own safeguarding teams.
Places on all courses can be reserved by emailing Benjamin.holmes@halton.gov.uk
COMING SOON!
With next month’s update, will be the second 10 minute CPD resource with a focus on CSE & CCE, which can be shared with all staff to provide them with regular, relevant safeguarding training to complement their Level 2.
If there are any specific areas of safeguarding you would like to see covered within these materials, please let me know – requests happily accepted!
In the meantime, if there is anything I can help with, or if you have a concern you wish to discuss, please do get in touch.
Take care and keep safe.
Benjamin Holmes
Safeguarding Children in Education Officer
EAL Training Offer
Dear Colleagues
Following the presentation on the new EAL commissioned service at the Primary Headteachers Meeting, I have attached the EAL training schedule. Each training programme will be delivered online via teams, in three x one-hour twilight sessions across consecutive weeks.
To book a place on a training programme, louise.yates@halton.gov.uk For any queries about the training, please contact julie.karmy@halton.gov.uk
ChatHealth
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s 0-19 Service (Health Visiting and School Nursing) is introducing a new way for young people, parents and carers to receive confidential information, advice and support via an award winning text messaging service. See attached for more information.
Recruitment update
See attached Recruitment documentation update
Holiday Activity fund 2021
Please see attached Holiday Activity fund for 2021