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Sexual harassment of girls ‘widespread’ in schools

A group of MPs has called for a government-led strategy to engage boys in relationship and sex education, improve safeguarding and tackle sexual harassment of girls.

MPs call for strategy to engage boys in rshe education and tackle sexual harassment and violence against girls and young womenThe Women and Equalities Committee have published a report in which they describe sexual harassment of girls as “a scourge” in England’s schools and claim that it is a “widespread” issue.

They want training for all teachers to empower them to have conversations with boys and young men about issues such as sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

The Committee has also called for relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) to be compulsory up to the age of 18 in sixth forms and colleges. They say that without inclusion of the subject on the curriculum to this stage, young people enter the adult world “undersupported and less equipped to navigate potentially harmful and dangerous situations.”

Schools must acknowledge sexual harassment of girls

Report shows sexual harassment against girls remains a huge issue in schoolsIn September 2020, the provision of relationships education in primary schools and RSHE in secondary schools was made compulsory, but this latest report says that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to delays in implementation and that delivery of the subjects was patchy across the education sector.

MPs warn that some schools are failing to promote gender equality or to even acknowledge the issue of violence against women and girls. Many schools also lacked the time and funding to deliver RSHE effectively.

The RSHE curriculum is currently being reviewed, and the Women and Equalities Committee want this work to include developing a strategy for engaging with boys and young men in a way that challenges prevailing gender norms and traditional ideas of masculinity as well as harmful attitudes towards their female peers.

They said the current RSHE curriculum is “less applicable and engaging for boys.”

Sexual violence in schools was highlighted as a major problem three years ago when the website Everyone’s Invited was established and attracted tens of thousands of testimonies from girls and young women recounting incidents of sexual violence, harassment and peer-on-peer abuse in schools.

Education a ‘powerful tool’ against sexual harassment

In their report, MPs said sexual harassment and sexual violence “continue to be a scourge on our schools” and that many girls and women were left feeling “powerless.”

They continued:

“The issues are longstanding and warnings have been frequent. It is saddening that it took the public testimonies of thousands of school-aged children for Ofsted and the schools they inspect to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem.”

Sexual harassment leads to many girls and women feeling powerless, and many are silencedResponding to reports that universities in England ask victims of sexual harassment to sign non-disclosure agreements, the report said these institutions “need to improve their whistleblowing policies to end the culture of silence regarding sexual abuse and violence in higher education institutions.”

Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Committee, commented:

“For far too long too many people in positions of authority have failed to notice the problem of sexual harassment in schools, of girls and female staff. It has taken the testimonies of students to prompt an official response.

“It is incumbent on school leaders, inspectors and the government not to let them down. Whilst there have been some positive steps since the Everyone’s Invited movement exposed how widespread the problem is, there is clearly more to do to improve safeguarding and education.

“Education is a powerful tool in combatting harmful attitudes towards women and girls and preventing violence. It is crucial that mandatory RSHE continues past secondary school. We also need a specific focus on engaging boys and young men in RHSE and we expect the government to consider this in its ongoing RSHE review.”

In response, a spokesperson for the government said:

“All women and girls deserve a safe environment, and we expect schools, colleges and universities to take immediate action against sexual misconduct or harassment.

“We are developing further guidance for schools to support educators in teaching about this issue and engage boys and young men about misogyny and sexual violence in education.”

Safeguarding training a vital part of keeping girls safe

Education is key to preventing violence against women and girlsFirst Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years, schools and childcare providers, as well as colleges, youth groups and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says:

“Sexual harassment, abuse and violence can devastate the lives of young women and girls when they are just starting out. It’s vital that this issue is tackled within education and wider society and that girls are afforded the protection they deserve.

“It’s vital that anyone who works with children and young people is aware of their responsibility for safeguarding children and that they can recognise the signs that indicate a child may be experiencing abuse, and know the correct action to take in response.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

9 in 10 teachers report rise in safeguarding concerns

New data from the NSPCC reveals that more than 9 in 10 (93%) teachers have observed an increase in child safeguarding concerns within their schools.

Teachers report increase in child safeguarding referralsThe national children’s charity worked with teaching union NASUWT to survey 8,329 teachers and senior leaders across the UK. They found that 93% of respondents had seen an increase in the number of safeguarding referrals made within their school.

Other key findings from the survey include the fact that 87% of teachers had seen an increase in referrals for neglect, while 84% of those surveyed had seen an increase in emotional abuse referrals.

Over two thirds of teachers (67%) had also seen an increase in physical abuse referrals, and half reported an increase in referrals for sexual abuse.

Teachers play ‘vital role’ in safeguarding

Teachers play a vital role in safeguarding children from abuseThe NSPCC says the data, collected between 20th March and 3rd April this year, reveals “the worrying scale of abuse and neglect faced by children.” It also highlights the “vital role” that teachers and other school staff play in helping to protect them and shine a light on abuse.

Their findings are supported by government data which shows that, between 2020-21 and 2021-22, schools in England saw a 59% increase in the number of safeguarding referrals and re-referrals made to children’s services.

In response, the charity is putting schools at the centre of its annual Childhood Day, coming up on Friday 9th June. Childhood Day is designed to bring everyone in the UK together to have fun while helping to protect children from abuse and neglect.

The NSPCC regularly works with primary schools to deliver its Speak Out, Stay Safe assemblies and workshops to help children to identify abuse.

Schools, as well as friends, family, work colleagues or other groups are now being encouraged to sign up for £5 to complete the Childhood Day Mile and raise vital funds to help protect children from harm. The mile can be walked, run, cycled, swam, wheeled, climbed or completed in any other way you can imagine.

Everyone can play their part in safeguarding

Half a million children experience abuse every yearHalf a million children experience abuse every year. This is equivalent to 7 children in every classroom in the UK experiencing abuse before they turn 18.

The NSPCC says that, while teachers are clearly in a “prime position” to spot potential abuse, we can all work together to protect children. Schools, the police and community health providers must work together to identify problems before they escalate, effectively share information and put in place holistic support.

But the charity’s key message is that everyone can play their part in keeping children safe.

Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, commented:

“The vital role that teachers play in keeping children and young people safe cannot be underestimated.

“They are in a prime position to spot concerns, and, in many cases, they are the trusted adults that children turn to when something worrying, or upsetting, has happened to them.

“We know that the pandemic left many children at an increased risk of abuse and neglect and since children returned to school, teachers have been key in raising their hand and reporting concerns to ensure they can get the support they need.

“While we recognise that teachers are an essential part of the jigsaw in protecting children, at the NSPCC, we believe everyone can play their part.

“Strong communities are vital in helping to keep children safe, and that’s why we are encouraging people to do their bit in their community and get behind Childhood Day 2023 by taking on the Childhood Day Mile.

“Everyone can get involved from schools, work colleagues and families, and by taking part, you’ll be helping the NSPCC ensure child protection is a top priority.”

Training and development to keep children safe

Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibilityFirst Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years, schools and childcare providers, as well as colleges, youth groups and children’s services.

Their courses include Safeguarding Children, Autism Awareness, Learning Disability Awareness, Understanding Challenging Behaviour, and many more.

A trainer from FRT says:

“Safeguarding children from abuse and neglect is everyone’s responsibility.

“Of course, those who work directly with children are probably in the best position to identify signs of abuse and have a particular responsibility – which they should ensure they are meeting effectively and fully through appropriate training – but everyone who comes into contact could potentially spot abuse and must speak up when they do so.

“The NSPCC’s annual Childhood Day and this year’s Childhood Day Mile provide a good opportunity to focus on safeguarding and ensure you understand the correct steps to take if you suspect that a child may be at risk.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Child safeguarding needs major overhaul after failings

A safeguarding review panel has made nine recommendations designed to overhaul child safeguarding practices following an inquiry into abuse across three services.

A child abuse enquiry has made recommendations to overhaul child safeguarding practicesThe Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel have called for Councils to take on a bigger role in monitoring residential settings in their areas to tackle failings in safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs.

The Panel wants services for these children to be jointly commissioned by local authorities and NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). They have also recommended more investment in the workforce, better access to advocacy and joint inspections by Ofsted and the CQC to better protect children in residential care settings.

Child safeguarding ‘roadmap’

Panel's child safeguarding recommendations act as roadmap to better protectionThis “roadmap to more humane treatment” was set out in the panel’s second report into the abuse of children at three residential special schools.

The schools, registered as children’s homes, were operated by the Hesley Group in Doncaster and the report related to abuse which occurred between 2018 and 2021 as a result of failings in care, safeguarding, regulation and oversight.

Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, said the report’s central message was “the necessity of keeping the voices of children and families at the heart of their support, and of providing safe, suitable care where required.”

The nine recommendations made by the panel are:

  1. Disabled children and those with complex health needs should have access to independently commissioned, non-instructed advocacy from advocates with specialist training in safeguarding and responding to their communication needs.
  2. When a residential placement of 38 weeks or longer per year us being considered, children and their parents should be given access to advice and support, including the allocation of a ‘navigator’, where necessary.
  3. The Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England should require councils and integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission safe, sufficient and appropriate provision for disabled children and those with complex health needs.
  4. The DfE, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England should co-ordinate support for councils and ICB commissioners to improve forecasting, procurement and market shaping.
  5. The government should prioritise action to improve community-based provision for disabled children in pathfinders programmes for its children’s social care and SEND reforms.
  6. The government should commission a workforce strategy for children’s residential services, covering leadership development, workforce standards and training.
  7. National leadership and investment from providers should be used to boost the recruitment, retention and development of the children’s residential workforce.
  8. Host local authorities and ICBs should have a strengthened role in overseeing residential settings in their areas.
  9. The DfE and DHSC should revise and reduce the complexity of current arrangements for monitoring residential settings and take immediate steps to arrange joint inspections by Ofsted and CQC of those for children with disabilities and complex health needs.

Child safeguarding failures must not be repeated

Child safeguarding failures outlined in the report have been identified previouslyChristine Lenehan, lead reviewer of the case and Director of the Council for Disabled Children, has highlighted that the new report echoes findings laid out in previous safeguarding enquiries and warned that, this time, it’s conclusions needed to be listened to and acted on.

She said:

“Earlier reports have catalogued how disabled children with a complex mix of autism and health needs can be locked away behind closed doors, often in placements far from their families, with little concern for their quality of life or futures.

“These recommendations set out a roadmap to more humane treatment of these children. But without the wholehearted commitment to implement these measures fully, these failings will come back to haunt us when the next group of disabled children fall foul of services that cost the taxpayer dearly but rob vulnerable children of their basic humanity.”

An official response from the government is expected within 6 months, but Children’s Minister Claire Coutinho has provided a written statement to Parliament in which she said that reforms made by the DfE to children’s social care and special educational needs and disability have already “[laid] the foundation for improving outcomes for this group of vulnerable children.”

She added:

“There is more that can be done to support and protect these children and we intend to focus our existing reform programme to ensure that they consistently receive the care and support that they need and deserve, enabling them to thrive and fulfil their potential.”

Children must be seen and heard to better protect them from failures in care and safeguardingMeanwhile, the President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, John Pearce, said the Panel’s report served as a “stark reminder” that current child safeguarding practices “are not working” for the most complex and vulnerable children in society and that there was a lot of work needed to correct this.

He also warned that many of the Panel’s recommendations needed “a significant multi-agency resource requirement to implement effectively and take time to achieve,” and that services “face longstanding challenges around placement quality, sufficiency and cost.”

Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner, also commented:

“I am particularly pleased that this report recognises that children with disabilities have specific needs and risks which should be set out in statutory guidance.

“However, ultimately, children will only be kept safe if they are consistently seen and heard, through positive contact with their families, face-to-face visits from social workers, independent reviewing officers and health commissioners, and a greater level of professional curiosity from all those responsible for their care.”

Training and development for those working with children

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years, schools and childcare providers, as well as colleges, youth groups and children’s services.

Their courses include Safeguarding Children, Autism Awareness, Learning Disability Awareness, Understanding Challenging Behaviour, and many more.

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com

NSPCC calls for equal protection for children

The NSPCC is calling on the government to give children in England equal protection from assault by removing the defense of ‘reasonable chastisement.’

The NSPCC is calling for equal protection from assault for children in EnglandThe national children’s charity said that Wales, Scotland and more than 60 other countries across the world have brought in equal protection from assault for children and that a “solid and significant majority” of the public want similar measures to be introduced in England.

Scrapping the defense of ‘reasonable chastisement’, as Wales did last year, would mean that any type of physical punishment for children, including smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking, would become illegal.

It comes as the NSPCC’s confidential helpline delivered almost 900 counselling sessions in the last year to children who were concerned about physical punishments.

Physical punishment is ‘ineffective and harmful’

Many people believe that physically punishing children is unacceptableIt also reflects a growing body of evidence that physical punishment can have a detrimental effect on children.

Researchers from the University College of London (UCL) and an international team of experts reviewed 20 years of research into corporal punishment for children and concluded, in 2021, that it was ineffective and could in fact increase behavioural problems.

The study’s lead author, Dr Anja Heilmann (UCL Department of Epidemiology and Public Health), said:

“Physical punishment is ineffective and harmful and has no benefits for children and their families. This could not be clearer from the evidence we present.”

The NSPCC have recently conducted a YouGov survey of almost 3,500 adults in England and found:

  • Two thirds of people (67%) believe that physically disciplining a child is unacceptable
  • Of those who gave their opinion, 63% agreed that a change of law to remove the defense of ‘reasonable chastisement’ should be passed in England.
  • Around 60% thought it was already illegal to physically punish a child
  • The majority of respondents (61%) said they thought the use of physical punishment weakens the relationship between parent and child
  • Almost 7 in 10 respondents (67%) believe that physical punishment has a negative impact on a child’s mental health
  • Of those who expressed an opinion, almost half (46%) said they believed physical punishment worsens a child’s behaviour, compared to 39% who said it improves it

Most people agree that physically punishing children has a detrimental effectThe analysis conducted by UCL suggests that physical punishment did not improve a child’s behaviour and that, instead, it could intensify behavioural issues.

Dr Heilmann explained: “We see a definitive link between physical punishment and behavioural problems such as aggression and antisocial behaviour. Physical punishment consistently predicts increases in these types of behavioural difficulties.

“Even more worrying are findings that children who are the recipients of physical punishment are at increased risk of being subjected to more severe levels of violence.”

Zero tolerance for violence against children

The NSPCC says they believe in positive alternatives to physical punishment and want to ensure that England is a country which does not tolerate physical violence against children, in the same way it doesn’t for adults.

Their CEO, Sir Peter Wanless, said:

“[…] There is now a solid and significant majority of the public who believe we need a change of law in England to ensure children have the same protection from assault as adults.

“It cannot be right that, in this country, it is illegal to hit an adult, but equal protection is not given to a child. We need to put the wellbeing of children first and bring an end to this legal anomaly.”

The NSPCC’s call to change the law so that parents and carers can no longer use the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’ after striking a child is supported by other charities and organisations, such as Barnardo’s.

Their CEO, Lynn Perry MBE, explained:

“Physical punishment of children is totally unacceptable. At Barnardo’s we know that eliminating physical punishment brings significant benefits to families, and our frontline workers tell us it helps to create a safe and nurturing environment for children. The NSPCC’s new polling confirms that a majority of the public recognise this too.

“For all these reasons we support the call to make physical punishment of children illegal across the UK to ensure children in England and Northern Ireland have the same protection as those in Scotland and Wales.”

Safeguarding children

The NSPCC says violence against children should not be toleratedFirst Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years, schools and childcare providers, as well as colleges, youth groups and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

NSPCC: Online child abuse crimes have risen by almost 80%

The NSPCC is calling for the upcoming Online Safety Bill to be strengthened to “prioritise children” after figures show that online abuse crimes have surged by 78% over the last 4 years.

The national children’s charity says that an analysis of police reports reveals that the number of children being sexually abused online has risen by over three quarters in recent years and that this “dramatic and hugely troubling growth” demonstrates the urgent need to better protect children online.

Data obtained via Freedom of Information Requests from police forces across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands shows:

  • 9,742 online child sexual offences were recorded by 41 police forces last year
  • Recorded crimes have increased from 5,458 during 2016-17 to 9,736 in 2020-21, according to data from 39 forces who were able to provide figures for both time periods
  • The data includes offences such as sexual assault, rape or sexual communication with a child where any element of the offence was committed online

Online Safety Bill contains ‘substantive weaknesses’

Now, the NSPCC has assessed the draft Online Safety Bill published by the government and has found “substantive weaknesses” in its plans to protect children from preventable abuse online.

They are encouraging supporters to write to the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and urge him to prioritise children and strengthen the Bill.

The NSPCC have defined six tests for the Online Safety Bill, along with a series of indicators for whether the new regulations are likely to be effective in protecting children from illegal harm online.

They say that the latest draft Bill meets just 9 of their 27 indicators and that a further 10 remain largely or completely unmet.

They are calling for the draft legislation to be strengthened in a number of key ways before being passed into law. These are:

  • It must tackle cross-platform risks. This includes implementing measures to stop grooming and abuse spreading between different apps and services, with companies working together to proactively share information.
  • It must prevent abuse at the earliest possible stage. This means treating behaviour that directly facilitates child abuse with the same severity as the illegal material it causes and tackling the ‘digital breadcrumbs’ that abusers leave on online platforms to signpost to child abuse images.
  • It must close gaps in the child safety duty. The Bill currently only covers platforms which have a ‘significant’ number of child users. This could mean that high-risk sites such as Telegram and OnlyFans could be excluded from the duty and may mean that harmful content is simply displaced to smaller sites, rather than being prevented.
  • It must hold senior managers accountable. The NSPCC suggests that a Named Persons Scheme should introduce personal liability for individuals at tech companies when they fail to uphold their duty of care. This could include criminal sanctions, fines, censure and disbarment.
  • It must introduce a dedicated user advocate for children. This could be funded by the industry levy and would reflect standard legislation in other sectors.

‘Once-in-a-generation’ chance to protect children online

The Chief Executive of the NSPCC, Sir Peter Wanless, says that children have a right to “explore the online world safely,” but that a lack of regulation has led to “a dramatic and hugely troubling growth in the scale of online abuse.”

He explained:

“The Government has a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver a robust but proportionate regulatory regime that can truly protect children from horrendous online harms.

“But, as it stands, there are substantive weaknesses in its plans, which cannot be overlooked. The draft Bill fails to prevent inherently avoidable abuse or reflect the magnitude and complexity of online risks to children.

“The Bill is at a crucial point in pre-legislative scrutiny, and now is the time for the Government to be ambitious to protect children and families from preventable abuse.”

The NSPCC provides online safety advice and guidance on its website.

Safeguarding children

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years, schools and childcare providers, as well as with the top colleges like collegejaguar.com and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says:

“Safeguarding children means protecting them off and online. It’s so important that we are mindful of the harms they could be exposed to online and that there are mechanisms in place to protect them, and to offer them help and support when they need it most.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Social media firms introduce global measures to protect children

Leading social media platforms have implemented new global measures to protect children after the UK introduced new regulations aimed at ensuring child safety online.

On Thursday 2nd September 2021, the UK introduced a new set of regulations to protect children when they are online, which include the possibility of multi-million-dollar fines for any companies that breach its new “age-appropriate design code.”

A meaningful impact on global online safety

Now, social media giants Twitter, TikTok and Facebook, which also owns Instagram, have implemented the required changes globally.

Worldwide measures include TikTok turning off notifications for children past bedtime, Instagram disabling targeted adverts for under-18s altogether, and YouTube switching off its autoplay function for teenage users.

Beeban Kidron, a crossbench peer who lobbied for the code, says that the measures prove that countries like the UK can have a meaningful impact on global internet safety.

She commented:

“If one code can create societal change, then actually, what it means is they’re not exempt. This tech exceptionalism that has defined the last decade – ‘we are different’ – just disappears in a puff of smoke.”

The age appropriate design code

Kidron introduced the one-line amendment requiring the Information Commissioner to establish an age-appropriate design code (AADC) to the Data Protection Act 2018.

The AADC contains 15 standards that online services, including social media platforms, apps, games, content streaming services, search engines and news and educational services, must follow to protect children online.

It applies to all UK-based companies and any non-UK companies who process the personal data of UK children.

Now, unless tech companies can prove that their service is not likely to be used at all by children, they must make their entire platform compatible with the code or identify younger users and ensure they are treated with care.

The code ensures that companies cannot employ ‘nudge’ techniques to encourage children to give up more of their privacy than they would otherwise choose to and minimises the amount of data that they can collect about children. Younger users must also be offered privacy options which default to the maximum-security settings and companies must switch off geolocation services that track where in the world child users are.

Will the law bring positive change?

Many of the world’s largest tech companies began making significant changes to their services in the weeks before the code officially came into law.

Elle Todd, a partner at law firm Reed Smith, believes that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will take its responsibility – and ability to levy fines – seriously now that the code has taken legal effect.

She commented:

“We wholly expect that the ICO will be following up with tech companies and others to see what changes have actually been made now or are made over the coming months.

“However, one of the most interesting questions around engagement and the AADC concerns not the regulators, but children and teens themselves. Teens are tech savvy and reluctant to be treated differently, so it remains to be seen how much of an impact filters and nudges towards positive behaviour can make.”

Draft Online Safety Bill ‘falls short’

Many campaigners, including Kidron, are now focused on the upcoming Online Safety Bill, which is seen as the government’s true flagship internet regulation.

It comes as the NSPCC reveals that online abuse crimes have risen by 78% over the last 4 years and that online grooming crimes specifically have jumped by around 70% over the last 3 years. They say that the draft bill currently falls short of sufficiently protecting children from becoming part of these statistics.

Kidron explained that her work with children in the UK and internationally has shown her that “they all agree about what digital world they want.”

She said: “It’s less important that they’re in Rwanda or Kenya or Virginia, US, or Berlin, or London, because they’re all using the same services designed the same way and having the same experience.

“How this technology is designed is curating the experience of childhood. And I don’t think people have understood that.”

Safeguarding children

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says: “Safeguarding children means protecting them off and online. It’s so important that we are mindful of the harms they could be exposed to online and that there are mechanisms in place to protect them, and to offer them help and support when they need it most.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Childline counsels 90,000 children during pandemic

The NSPCC’s confidential helpline, Childline, delivered nearly 90,000 counselling sessions for young people worried about mental health or abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The national children’s charity said they had grown increasingly concerned about the “huge toll” the pandemic has had on young people.

Data from Childline for the period 1st April 2020 until 31st March 2021 reveals:

  • The service has conducted over 73,000 counselling sessions about mental or emotional health
  • 5,646 of those counselling sessions were held with children aged 11 or under, which represents an increase of almost a third (29%) from the previous year
  • The service also delivered 16,610 counselling sessions about abuse
  • Counselling sessions about emotional abuse increased by almost a fifth (18%) compared to the previous year

The charity also revealed that more children and young people have been accessing their Childline resources, information and tools online, showing they have been taking proactive steps to support their own emotional and mental wellbeing during this challenging time.

The NSPCC is now calling for the government to invest in a plan for children which is not limited to ensuring that they catch up on school work, and instead extends to providing mental health support in the classroom and the community.

They are also hosting ‘Childhood Day’ on 11th June where they’re encouraging people to celebrate childhood by organising a play event to raise money and help keep children safe.

Dame Esther Rantzen, the founder of Childline, said: “Throughout this pandemic, children and young people have had to deal with so many difficult new challenges, many knowing that their families were struggling with health worries and financial issues, some locked down in unsafe homes, deprived of their schools which may have been their only refuge. Many have told Childline that they have struggled to cope and their mental health has suffered as a result.

“Childline’s counsellors have been tremendously impressed by the resilience of so many young people during the pandemic, supporting themselves and each other. Nevertheless, we are all only too aware that not only education has suffered, but so has the opportunity to play. My grandchildren have told me how much they have missed their friends during lockdown. Play is such an important part of childhood, building confidence and creating relationships. After the year we’ve had, I am really looking forward to joining my own family on Childhood Day. I do hope as many families as possible will be able to do the same, to enjoy each other’s company and have fun and play together.

“I want to remind children everywhere that Childline is always there for them, no matter how big or small their problem, offering comfort and support which is free, confidential, on the phone or online.”

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says: “Children and young people have missed out on so much during the past year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, while many vulnerable children have been in unsafe situations with little support or anyone able to notice and help.

“The pandemic has clearly taken a serious toll on youth mental health and it’s important that support for them is prioritised in our communities.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Survey reveals impact of coronavirus on UK children

A new survey capturing the experiences of children and young people during the pandemic has revealed many have faced mental health challenges over the past year.

Conducted by Survation for Newsround, the survey asked over 2,000 6–16-year-olds from all across the UK about their experiences during 2020-21, questioning them about a range of issues, from remote learning to what is most important to them and who their role models are.

Newsround found that almost half of children surveyed felt “worse than usual” during lockdown.

When asked how they have felt over the last 12 months, 24% of children said they felt better, while 25% said they felt the same as usual. But for 49% the experience was less positive.

This rose to more than half when focusing on girls (51%) or older children (53%) specifically.

Almost 6 in 10 (57%) of the young people surveyed also said they felt they had done less exercise than normal during the pandemic and resulting local and national lockdowns in the UK.

Newsround says these findings reflect the concerns of many parents, charities and politicians who have said that missing school and not being able to see their friends has taken a significant toll on the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Family comes first

The vast majority (98%) of young people said that seeing family and friends was important to them, with 7 in 10 girls classing it as “very important”.

More than 9 in 10 (93%) also said that health was important to them, while two thirds said that money was important with three-quarters of 13–16-year-olds confirming this.

When asked to rank the top three issues that were of most importance to them, the answers most likely to feature in childrens’ top three were:

  • Family health (64%)
  • Coronavirus (59%)
  • Exams / school work (57%)
  • Having enough money (45%)

Family also topped the list of figures that young people most looked up to.

Newsround revealed that nearly 3 in 5 respondents (57%) named their own family members as their number one role model. And, when presented with a list of potential role models to choose from, children were most likely to select the following in their top 3:

  • Family members (85%)
  • Doctors (50%)
  • Celebrities (37%)
  • Nurses (31%)

Missed time with loved ones

When it came to identifying what they had found hardest during the pandemic, more than 9 in 10 young people said they had struggled with missing out on time with friends and extended family members.

Around 1 in 4 children did say they had seen their friends more or the same amount as usual, but 82% said they’d seen their friends less than usual as a result of lockdowns, travel restrictions and a lack of school and activity clubs.

While children were unable to get out and see others, they often also found that home was a more strained place to be. Just under half (46%) said their family had been more stressed than usual during the past year.

Remote learning struggles

Around 13% of children said they had spent some time in school but the vast majority (87%) had been learning remotely during lockdown.

Almost 1 in 4 children (23%) were happy about this, and almost a third (30%) didn’t mind either way, but 45% admitted that they were not happy about being away from school.

The survey also showed that children had very different experiences of remote learning. A third said it had been better than usual, while 16% judged it to be about the same. But half said that home schooling was worse than being in school, with girls (52%) and younger children (53%) most likely to be disappointed by their learning experience this year.

There were variances across the country, too, with 38% of London school pupils saying that remote learning was better than being in school in person, compared to 27% of pupils in Scotland.

Some children struggled due to a lack of technical equipment. More than a quarter of children responding to the survey (28%) said they did not have a device to themselves. Some children did not have a device at all (1%) while others had to share it with one or more people (27%).

Despite government schemes in all four nations of the UK to bridge the ‘digital divide’ and provide laptops and tablets to families who needed them, the survey results show that some people still struggled.

In fact, the Learning Foundation education charity has estimated that one million children and young people did not have sufficient access to devices or internet at home.

Catching up on lost time

This may have left some children trailing behind. While more than half (51%) said they felt they were where they should be in their studies, around a quarter (28%) of children said they felt they were behind.

The government are exploring options to help pupils catch up on their school work.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wants to provide children with the “opportunities they deserve to learn and fulfil their potential,” though exact plans are still unclear.

He has also pledged £79 million to improve mental health support for children and young people, both in schools and within the community.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised money for additional teachers and school staff and says she wants to ensure that “the impact of lockdown on our young peopled doesn’t turn into a long-term impact they are saddled with for the rest of their lives.”

Her devolved government has announced an extra £139 million to support mental health in both children and adults following the pandemic.

Extra funding has been announced for schools in Northern Ireland, including for activities this summer, while in Wales the government has pledged that its recovery plans will aim to “meet the needs of learners who have been most affected by this period.”

Children need our support

Many school leaders have warned that there is a long way to go to ensure that the most disadvantaged children receive the support they need, while experts also caution that it is important not to overwhelm students.

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, commented:

“It’s really important that we now listen to what children have to say about their experiences over the last year.”

She pledged to make sure the government is “doing everything it can to help children feel happier and positive about the future.”

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children, Understanding Mental Health and Anxiety Awareness.

They can also provide accredited trainers to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid training, certificated by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England.

A trainer from FRT says: “There are many hidden victims of the pandemic, and it is saddening that measures introduced to keep the nation safe and healthy may have contributed to children experiencing a more difficult time.

“It’s so important that children receive the help and support they need.

“Anyone who works with children and young people should complete appropriate mental health training so that they can spot the early warning signs of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems as we begin to find our way out of this pandemic and out of lockdowns.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Concerns about parental substance misuse rise 66%

The NSPCC has reported a 66% rise in the number of people contacting them with concerns about parental substance misuse.

The national children’s charity says that long-term drug and alcohol misuse among parents has become a growing concern for members of the public, who are contacting their helpline with fears for children being put at risk. If you’re interested in learning more about addiction and its impact, I encourage you to check his explanation on the subject.

In fact, such concerns have risen by 66% since April 2020, during the first national coronavirus lockdown in England.

From January to March 2020, the NSPCC says they were receiving around 700 contacts a month from adults worried about the welfare of a child whose parents were misusing drugs or alcohol, but, since then, this has risen to an average of 1,178 contacts each month.

The charity warns that lockdown has resulted in children becoming much more involved in problems at home.

The closure of schools and restrictions on socialising with their friends means that there is no escape for children who are living with parental substance misuse.

The NSPCC says that the majority of parents who use alcohol or drugs do so in moderation and do not pose a risk to their children. Long-term substance misuse, however, is different and can mean that parents develop mental, psychological and physical illnesses.

While this does not necessarily mean that they will abuse their child, it can make it more difficult for them to provide safe and loving care. This can therefore mean that children do experience abuse or neglect, and it can have a serous impact on a family’s emotional wellbeing.

Access to appropriate mental health support and rehabilitation services is crucial in addressing the concerning issue of parental substance misuse and its impact on children’s well-being. Programs like Florida substance abuse detox can play a significant role in helping individuals overcome addiction, address underlying mental health challenges, and rebuild healthy relationships within families. By prioritizing comprehensive care and providing a safe environment for recovery, these programs contribute to the overall well-being and stability of both parents and children, fostering a path toward healing and a brighter future.

Signs that a family may be struggling with substance misuse issues include:

  • Mental and psychological illness
  • An increasingly chaotic and unpredictable lifestyle
  • Domestic abuse
  • Children taking responsibility for the care of their parents or siblings
  • Parents struggling to recognise and meet their children’s needs

The NSPCC wants the government to ensure that local substance misuse services remain available throughout the pandemic to support families affected by it.

They are also calling for ministers to develop a plan to invest in services to help children and families to recover from the distress and disruption caused by the coronavirus crisis.

The Head of the NSPCC Helpline, Kam Thandi, says: “At the NSPCC helpline we’ve not only seen a rise in contacts and referrals but we’re also seeing families who weren’t previously known to children’s services requiring help and support for substance misuse.

“The pressures on families at the moment are unprecedented and it is no surprise that our helpline is hearing that parents and carers are struggling with substance misuse. To keep our children safe it’s vital that those who are relying on drugs and alcohol, to the extent that the care of their children is being compromised, must seek help.

“The government must also invest more in local services. Our frontline practitioners have told us that many parents and carers are struggling to access specialist support services which will help them recover from the impact of the pandemic.”

Adfam, a charity which provides support to families affected by drug, alcohol or gambling addiction, is backing the NSPCC in their concerns.

The charity’s Chief Executive, Vivienne Evans OBE, explained: “A staggering 88% of the families that we surveyed in our ‘Families in Lockdown’ survey told us that the first lockdown negatively impacted on their family member’s alcohol, drug or gambling problem. A third of families experienced an increase in verbal abuse from their family member and 13% feel more concerned than usual for their safety.

“We know that with the right kind of support, children and young people can navigate this challenging time. We urge families not to wait until breaking point.”

Anyone worried about their own substance misuse can contact the NSPCC helpline or ask their local GP for support. The NHS website also features a database of treatment services and Alcohol Change UK provide online advice about managing drinking during lockdown.

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children, Understanding Mental Health and Anxiety Awareness.

They can also provide accredited trainers to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid training, certificated by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. They also have a Substance Misuse Awareness training course.

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Vulnerable children must be put ‘centre stage’ post-Covid

The Children’s Commissioner for England has called on the government to put vulnerable children “centre stage” in forthcoming plans to “build back better” after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In her final speech after six years in the role, Anne Longfield said that plans to “level up” the nation must start with its most vulnerable children and young people.

She said it was a “terrible thing” that the lives of the most vulnerable children would have only gotten worse during the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK.

Her words follow warnings that children may be “losing all hope for their future” and as recent surveys suggest that the mental health of young people across the nation is declining.

A government spokesperson said that protecting vulnerable children was central to their response, explaining: “That’s why we have enabled the most vulnerable children to continue attending school in person, while providing laptops, devices and data packages to those learning at home and ensuring the most disadvantaged children are fed and warm.”

In her departing address, Ms. Longfield welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s commitment to putting schools at the heart of reopening society when the latest lockdown eases.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said:

“There have been points during the year where I was dismayed when schools stayed shut and shops and pubs opened but the prime minister’s come behind what we were pushing for which was for the schools to be the last to close and the first to open.”

However, she estimated that around £10 billion would be needed for children’s mental health support and help for school pupils to catch up on learning.

She also questioned whether there were sufficient “structures in government around him” to enable the Prime Minister to “build back better” for children.

Responding to Ms. Longfield’s speech on Twitter, one Tory MP said the Covid-19 pandemic had “laid bare the damning truth about our educational divide.”

Robert Halfon, the Chairman of the Education Select Committee, urged ministers to focus on the “complex challenges that exist in some children’s lives,” adding that enforced school closures during the pandemic could reverse any progress that has been achieved since 2011.

Warning that an entire generation of young people risks being defined by the coronavirus crisis and that some children may “never catch up,” Ms. Longfield said she was laying down a “challenge to government and all political parties.”

She said the pandemic did present “an opportunity to reflect and rebuild.”

A research group has estimated that children may be facing up to £350 billion in lost earnings as a result of school closures, but the Treasury has so far committed just £1.5 billion to a pupil catch-up fund for England.

Ms. Longfield pointed to this as a sign of the “institutional bias against children.”

She said promises to “level up” the country would remain “just a slogan” unless children are placed at the heart of the effort and called for a new “Covid Covenant” of education and wellbeing support in every community. She also said that school holidays should be used to catch children up with lost lessons.

Ms. Longfield also spoke of how a fifth of children in England leave school or college without basic qualifications, branding it a “national scandal”, and touched upon children who are exploited by gangs and failed by adults who “simply don’t see them.”

A spokesperson for the government said they had long-term catch-up plans that would combine with an investment of more than £1 billion to “ensure we make up for lost time in education over the course of this Parliament.”

They added:

“Anne Longfield has been a tireless advocate for children, and we’re grateful for her dedication and her challenge on areas where we can continue raising the bar for the most vulnerable.”

Ms. Longfield will be succeeded in as Children’s Commissioner in March by Dame Rachel de Souza, a former Chief Executive of a multi-academy trust.

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children, Understanding Mental Health and Anxiety Awareness.

They can also provide accredited trainers to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid training, certificated by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England.

A trainer from FRT says: “There are many indirect victims of the pandemic, and it is saddening that measures introduced to keep the nation safe and healthy may have contributed to vulnerable children experiencing a decline in mental health, as well as increasing levels of deprivation and other dangers and challenges.

“It’s so important that this issue is being discussed and that all children receive the help and support they need when this is all over to catch up on lost learning and return to a state of wellbeing.

“Anyone who works with children and young people should complete appropriate mental health training so that they can spot the early warning signs of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

‘Shocking’ rise in child abuse during lockdown

The Children’s Society has described the 27% increase in reported incidents of children dying or being seriously harmed following suspected child abuse or neglect as ‘shocking.’

It has been revealed that the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel received 285 serious incident notifications from April to September 2020, following England’s first national lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

This represents an increase of more than a quarter (27%) from the same period in 2019.

It comes after England’s Chief Inspector of Schools, Amanda Spielman, warned of the “invisibility of vulnerable children” during the pandemic last year.

Previously, serious incident notifications had been falling, with 274 incidents reported in 2018-19, which then fell to 225 incidents in 2019-20 before increasing again in 2020-21 after lockdown was imposed.

The data does also include children who were in care and died, regardless of whether abuse or neglect was suspected.

Local authorities across England are required to report all incidents of death or serious harm involving children in their areas to the Department for Education as part of the serious incident notification system.

According to the data published by the Department, child deaths increased from 89 in the same period in 2019 to 119 last year and the number of children being seriously harmed rose from 132 to 153.

Perhaps most shockingly, the number of serious incidents involving children under the age of one rose by almost a third (30%).

The data shows that harm suffered by those aged 16 or over also rose by 30%.

More than half (54%) of the 285 incidents related to boys and almost two thirds related to white children. Two thirds of cases also occurred while children were living at home.

Iryna Pona, Policy Manager at the Children’s Society said that the rise in serious incidents occurred when the Covid-19 pandemic was having a “huge impact on the wellbeing of children and families and disrupted help available to those who needed it most.”

She added: “During the first lockdown many vulnerable children were stuck at home in difficult, sometimes dangerous situations, often isolated from friends and support networks.

“Sadly, children also continued to be targeted and groomed by people outside their families for sexual and criminal exploitation like county lines drug dealing operations, which can lead to serious violence or death.

“At the same time, they were often hidden from view of professionals like social workers and teachers who are best placed to spot the signs if they may be in danger.”

The first national lockdown in England began in mid-March 2020 and ended in July. A second short national lockdown took place from early November until early December and a third lockdown is currently ongoing and is expected to last until at least mid-February.

Ms Pona said that during this third lockdown it was “vital” that social care and schools work together closely to ensure all vulnerable children, including those in care, have regular contact with a trusted professional.

A government spokesperson commented: “Every single incident of this nature is a tragedy and we are working to understand the impact the pandemic may be having.

“Throughout the past months, we have prioritised the most vulnerable children and their families and put in place support to protect babies.

“We’ve maintained vital frontline services because we know it has been a challenge for many, especially for new parents, and we’ve invested thousands of pounds in charities working with vulnerable children and their families.

“Today we have launched a wholescale review of children’s social care to reform the system and think afresh about how we support the most vulnerable. This data will provide important information to the care review to help address major challenges.”

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says: “There are many hidden victims of the pandemic, and it is saddening that measures introduced to keep the nation safe and healthy may have contributed to children being placed at greater risk of harm.

“It’s so important that this issue is being discussed and that action is being taken to ensure that these children do not continue to fall through the cracks.

“It’s vital that anyone who works with children and young people completes Safeguarding training so that they are aware of the signs of abuse and neglect and know the correct action to take if they suspect a child is at risk.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Ofsted warns of ‘invisibility of vulnerable children’ in lockdown

Ofsted have warned that vulnerable children at risk of harm have “slipped out of sight” during the national coronavirus lockdown.

England’s Chief Inspector of Schools, Amanda Spielman, has warned that, when schools were closed during the first national lockdown, children may have missed out on the help they needed due to teachers being unable to spot the early warning signs of abuse or neglect.

As she launched her annual report, Ms Spielman said the “invisibility of vulnerable children” during the Covid-19 crisis should be a “matter of national concern.”

The first lockdown saw schools remain open only for the children of key workers and vulnerable children, but many eligible families did not send their children to school. The Ofsted chief says that this, coupled with a lack of access for health visitors, had a “dramatic impact”, with a reduction in concerns over neglect or abuse being referred to local authorities.

In fact, the Local Government Association has revealed that referrals to children’s social care teams fell by around a fifth, to 41,000 cases between April and June. This resulted in around 1,600 children being looked after, which is a third below previous years.

Ms Spielman said that identifying those vulnerable children who were overlooked during the pandemic was now a priority, and called for “urgent” coordinated action.

Published today (1st December 2020), her report also raises wider concerns about the mental health and wellbeing of pupils who have faced isolation, anxiety, loneliness or bereavement during the pandemic.

It also highlights the pressures placed on families of children with special educational needs, many of whom are reportedly “struggling to cope.” These “hidden victims” of the pandemic missed out on support services and specialist activities, while those who were shielding also missed out on time in school.

Ms Spielman said:

“Covid-19 has exposed an already crumbling infrastructure that fails to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children all too often.”

Although Ofsted suspended its regular inspections during the pandemic, the report notes that the disruption to lessons has resulted in many pupils slipping back and warns that the attainment gap between rich and poor children will widen.

The education watchdog said that the quality of online learning for pupils during the lockdown was “variable,” as some lacked access to technology and others lacked the motivation to learn at home.

Apprenticeships were found to be the “least effective” education providers during this challenging time, and two thirds of apprentices had either been furloughed, made redundant or had their off-the-job training suspended.

Paul Whiteman from the National Association of Head Teachers said that school leaders shared Ofsted’s concerns about vulnerable children during the pandemic but that budgets for child support services had been “slashed” in recent years.

He said schools were under great pressure and asked Ofsted not to resume their regular school inspection regime in the New Year.

Meanwhile, the head of the Association of School and College Leavers (ASCL), Geoff Barton, said the report highlighted “an important issue” and added: “Schools worked very hard to reach out to families with vulnerable children and bring these pupils into the emergency provision in schools during the first national lockdown.

“Schools have been highly focused on addressing any problems with the wellbeing of students since full reopening in September, and they are very relieved to have vulnerable pupils back in school where they can make sure they have the support they need.”

A spokesperson from the Department for Education commented: “The safety and well-being of the most vulnerable children has always been our focus, which is why we kept nurseries, schools and colleges open for those children throughout the pandemic.

“It remains a national priority to keep full-time education open for all.”

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says: “There are many hidden victims of the pandemic, and it is saddening that measures introduced to keep the nation safe and healthy may have contributed to children being placed at greater risk of harm.

“It’s so important that this issue is being discussed and that action is being taken to ensure that these children do not continue to fall through the cracks.

“It’s vital that anyone who works with children and young people completes Safeguarding training so that they are aware of the signs of abuse and neglect and know the correct action to take if they suspect a child is at risk.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Life in lockdown: NSPCC sees 50% rise in domestic abuse concerns

The NSPCC has revealed that calls to its helpline about children living with domestic abuse have risen by nearly 50% since lockdown was introduced.

Domestic abuse has risen in lockdownFigures from 1st April to 31st August 2020 show that there were more than 4,500 calls made to Childline by members of the public concerned about children living in homes affected by domestic abuse.

This equates to an average of 903 calls per month, a 49% increase on the previous monthly average of 607 calls, recorded from 6th January to 22nd March – the period immediately prior to national lockdown measures being introduced.

In August alone, the national children’s charity received 818 contacts about the issue.

The increase reflected by these figures has also been felt by frontline staff who work with mothers and children facing domestic abuse at home.

The NSPCC and other charities successfully campaigned for the government to amend the Domestic Abuse Bill in order to acknowledge the devastating impact that domestic abuse can have on children.

The charity works to support women and children who experience domestic abuse through their Domestic Abuse Recovering Together (DART) service. The service has helped more than 2,000 women and children across the UK over the last decade.

Access to such a service can help to increase the self-esteem of women who have experienced domestic abuse, increasing their confidence in parenting and their affection towards their children. It can also help to reduce the emotional and behavioural difficulties experienced by children as a result of living with domestic abuse, and can help practitioners, mothers and children to work together.

But the NSPCC warns that there is still no legal requirement to provide specialist support services.

They say that such services are vital in helping children to recover from their experiences of domestic abuse and be able to more forward with their lives.

In light of this, they are now calling for:

  • The establishment of local authority recovery services for children living with domestic abuse;
  • Such services to be made a legal requirement, and to receive funding;
  • Agencies to sign up to deliver their community-based recovery service.

The NSPCC continue to work through the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that children are protected from harm.

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services.

Their courses include Safeguarding Children, Autism Awareness, and Understanding Domestic Abuse.

A trainer from FRT says:

“The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting national – and then local – lockdowns has had a profound impact on people in all walks of life, throughout the UK. For many people, home is sadly not a safe place and they have therefore been at greater risk over the last few months.

“It’s really important that anyone living with domestic abuse receives help and support, and that any children involved in these situations are protected and helped to move forward from their experiences.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.