Safeguarding

Supporting your pupils with medical needs

Many schools work hard to make the best provision they can for young people with medical needs, but it is not always easy. Jackie Wheatley highlights key areas of best practice, considers some of the legal requirements placed on schools, and offers her advice

Supporting previously looked after children

Previously looked after children can present particular challenges and schools are required to have a ‘designated teacher’ in place. Darren Martindale offers us best practice advice

What can schools do to lessen the impact of knife crime on pupils?

The knife crime epidemic is having a huge impact on communities and is leaving our youngest children frightened and anxious. A group of schools is now convening a summit in June to discuss the role of primary schools in reassuring and supporting pupils and their families. Fiona Aubrey-Smith reports

Three pastoral challenges: What would you do?

Inclusion expert Daniel Sobel outlines three common pastoral challenges that he comes across in schools and discusses how he would approach each situation in order to achieve positive outcomes

Three school safeguarding priorities in 2019

Three key safeguarding issues for schools in 2019 are honour-based abuse, bullying and mental health. Dawn Jotham shares her insights into these three areas and provides practical tips that school communities can implement in order to deliver best-practice safeguarding

Supporting looked after children in your school

Specific support for looked after children is essential if they are to thrive. Darren Martindale focuses on three key elements – the designated teacher, the Personal Education Plan, and the virtual school head

Spotting and tackling child sexual exploitation

Spotting potential child sexual exploitation is a key part of safeguarding work. Suzanne O’Connell provides a summary of what CSE refers to, how you and your staff might identify it, and what positive actions a primary school can take

ID verification in schools

ID verification for safer recruitment and to prevent other criminal activities is an essential responsibility in schools. Dave Verma offers some quick advice

LGBT: Common questions

Equality and diversity consultant Adele Bates answers some of the questions she is commonly asked by teaching staff in primary schools

More depth and detail: The new safeguarding guidance

Local Safeguarding Children Boards may be on their way out but schools will still be on the frontline when it comes to child protection. Suzanne O’Connell outlines the major changes and implications for schools of the new Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance

A safeguarding review

Having just led her primary school through a safeguarding audit and review, Helen Frostick discusses her lessons learned and best practice safeguarding approaches

Children missing education: It’s time to track the vulnerable

Schools are expected to follow up every absence, and yet there are thousands of children who have nobody checking up on them at all. The issue of children missing education is difficult to tackle, so what can be done to protect the vulnerable? Suzanne O’Connell reports

Pornography and other online safety issues

The impact that exposure to pornography has on the lives of young people is becoming alarmingly clear – and it is increasingly becoming an issue for primary-age pupils. Stephanie Enson explores the problems and discusses preventative strategies

Prevent: A curriculum issue?

Earlier this year, a report into multi-agency Prevent work suggested that a shift in focus is needed for this agenda in schools. Author Dr David Lundie sets out his findings

Bullying vs banter: Where do we draw the line?

We often hear people say that ‘it was only banter’. But where does playful ‘joshing’ turn into something hurtful and when does that become bullying? As planning begins for Anti-Bullying Week 2018, Martha Evans considers how teachers can tell the difference

Supporting your challenging students

Daniel Sobel reflects on the challenges often presented by our more difficult students, and how as a whole-school team we might be able to overcome these problems before it is too late

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Early Help – getting it right

Early intervention is crucial if we are to give pupils the best chances of success. Ann Marie Christian offers her practical strategies and advice on creating and managing an effective early help programme

Child abuse: The ‘art’ of listening

It takes on average seven years for children to disclose sexual abuse and teachers are on the frontline. Safeguarding expert Sam Preston asks if your staff really know how to ‘listen’ to their pupils

Safeguarding: Are you covering all bases?

Creating and maintaining a culture of safety is a priority for all primary schools. National Leader of Education and headteacher Helen Frostick advises on preparing and embedding effective practices and satisfying Ofsted requirements

Relationships education: What should we expect?

The campaign has been long and difficult, but at last those determined to see the introduction of statutory relationships and sex education have been rewarded. What can primary headteachers expect now as the discussions and consultations set in? Suzanne O’Connell reports

Safeguarding: What are the early signs of abuse or neglect?

Most schools are clear about those signs of abuse and neglect that should lead to a referral. But what about the first warning signs that something needs further investigation? NICE has released draft guidance to help schools and other services know what these are. Suzanne O’Connell takes a look

Safeguarding and the law

From radicalisation to female genital mutilation, are your staff up-to-date on their safeguarding duties and will they know what to do if they suspect abuse? Safeguarding specialist Sam Preston offers her advice

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Headteacher Update is the only magazine delivered directly to every primary school headteacher in the UK. It is published six times a year, at the beginning of each term and half-term, to keep headteachers up-to-date with everything going on in primary education.

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