Safeguarding in the curriculum
Safeguarding in the Curriculum
Great importance is placed on identifying opportunities in the taught curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding. Our broad curriculum gives pupils opportunities to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that significantly impact on personal development, behaviour and welfare and equips every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding. We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age-appropriate level, or at a small group or 1:1 level where a more urgent need arises.
We plan to constantly challenge children to think deeply about safeguarding matters and their own personal physical and mental well-being. We value pupils’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns. We give them opportunities across the curriculum to explore values, personal rights, responsibilities and equal opportunities that develop moral concepts that impact positively on safeguarding, promoting British values and prevent radicalisation and extremism.
Life to the Full (RSE) , Bounceback and Google Legends programmes are part of our taught curriculum. Puberty is also taught in UKS2 through the Australian Choicez Media which is shared with parents prior to puberty lessons. However, there are many opportunities throughout our learning in school to explore safeguarding issues.
- Practical safeguarding opportunities are planned into the curriculum. For example:
- Road and rail safety (including out-of-school visits, bikeability, work with police officers in the community)
- Poolside and water safety through swimming lessons
- Fire awareness (including visits from the local fire service)
- Visits to school from medical staff
- Visitors from charities
- Safe transition to Secondary school
- Online safety - Google Legends and our digital leaders in school
- What to do if you are separated from your group (in relation to school visits)
- Safe use of technology including password security and privacy settings
We have developed an open and safe learning environment in which pupils express their views, seek help and help others, they make use of our class worry boxes to share concerns with staff. We are developing an online pupil form for the students to share their worries or concerns with the Head and Deputy Head. The promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity, for pupils and staff, helps prevent any form of direct or indirect discriminatory behaviour. Our children learn to not tolerate any prejudiced behaviour. Our behaviour and relationship policy promotes making good choices and exhibiting good learning behaviours.
Talk about time on a Friday, and our Big Assembly are for sharing ideas, addressing concerns and promoting important virtues.
Staff and children are quick to challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language in lessons and around school. Throughout the curriculum there are planned opportunities to promote all forms of equality and foster greater understanding of and respect for people of all faiths (and those with no faith), races, genders, ages, disability and sexual orientations, through their words, actions and in their influence. Opportunities are created in a variety of subjects to address areas of safeguarding, for example, themes are highlighted through novels in English lessons.