When should you call the police?

‘Teachers call POLICE on enterprising primary schoolboy, nine, selling air fresheners to boost his pocket money The mother of a nine-year-old boy who sold air fresheners to boost his pocket money has revealed his teachers called the police on him. Alicia McHale, from Gorton, east Manchester, said she was shocked when two officers were sent round …

Learning from Arthur and Star

In the weeks running up to the end of 2021, the stories of two children who died because of child abuse hit the headlines. Many members of the children’s workforce, including many of those I support through training and supervision, were upset, and concerned, and have closely examined their own knowledge and practice as a …

Questions you ask about bullying

‘Ask if someone’s OK. Say you’re sorry. Just say hey. In a world that can sometimes feel like it’s filled with negativity, one kind word can provide a moment of hope. It can be a turning point. It can change someone’s perspective. It can change their day. It can change the course of a conversation …

Going to Court

What to do if you have to go to court I say in my safeguarding training that it is rare that a frontline member of the children’s workforce should be called on to attend court to safeguard a child. On the other hand, it is possible, and when it happens it is vital that individuals …

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Welcome to September 2021, which for many settings is the start of the next academic year, and a time of new beginnings. As a safeguarding trainer who supports the professional development of designated safeguarding leads (DSLs), I am aware of the sense of overwhelm that many of them experience. And the publishing of new key …

Peer on Peer

‘Around 9 in 10 of the girls we spoke to said that sexist name calling and being sent unwanted explicit pictures or videos happened ‘a lot’ or ‘sometimes.  Inspectors were also told that boys talk about whose ‘nudes’ they have and share them among themselves like a ‘collection game’, typically on platforms like WhatsApp or …

Do you need Safeguarding Supervision?

‘The DSLs interviewed invariably described the programme as ’excellent’, ’great’ …‘very useful’ and ‘valuable’. In one instance the programme was perceived as a ‘life-saver’ as that DSL had been ‘almost on my knees’ due to an increasing workload as a result of her DSL duties. …DSLs felt they now made fewer inappropriate contacts to children’s …

What Safeguarding training do you need?

It’s that time when I finalise my safeguarding training offer for the next academic year. The new MPT brochure for 2021 – 2022 is now ready for your perusal. Included are my main offerings, Safeguarding Awareness, and Advanced Safeguarding for Designated Safeguarding Leads. These are the courses I am asked by settings to deliver to …

Are you ACE aware?

What Adverse Childhood Experiences can tell us about trauma and the importance of safeguarding.  “… being raised with a parent, a mother and a father that I had, was the reason I had mental health [difficulties], because my mum and dad were always beating the crap out of each other and taking drugs and drink. …

‘Are QAnon Right Wing Extremist?’

It’s Safer Internet Day on 9 February 2021, and this usually merits a piece from me on one aspect of the ever-changing landscape of online safeguarding. What an immense challenge safeguarding children from online risks is for the children’s workforce. And what an even bigger challenge it presents for us right now – at a …

Covid-19 and Mental Health

‘Self-isolating and social distancing was a bad habit I worked really hard to get out of. Now I’m being made to do it and being told it’s the right thing to do. It’s very confusing and I’m scared of falling back in to that cycle.’Survey Respondent, Coronavirus: Impact on Young People with Mental Health Needs, …

Are you safeguarding for LGBTQ+?

‘I felt like whatever I was doing was worthless. Even if I did well in school, it wouldn’t matter to people because all they would care about is me being gay.’ ZOE, 12, SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPIL, ENGLAND* It’s February, LGBTQ+ history month, and a good time to think about the safeguarding of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender …

Are you safeguarding for LGBTQ+?

What on earth are County Lines?

‘ I can see them out the flat window, see the officers walking around, thinking alright, these lot are looking for something, but they don’t know who I am, cos I’m not from around here. I’m walking around the corner to where the flat is. Outside that flat, there’s two TSG vans, two cars, sniffer …

What on earth are County Lines?

Ten facts about CSE

I have recently been commissioned to provide a Safeguarding refresher session which includes a section on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) – an important and disturbing topic which has made the headlines over the past few years. I think I have been drawn to the subject because of the number of disturbing cases which have been …

Ten facts about CSE

What would children vote for?

You may have missed it, but recently amongst all the political mayhem, and ahead of what seems like an imminent General Election, the Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield launched her ‘Children’s Manifesto’, setting out what young people want. What is the role of the Children’s Commissioner? The role of Children’s Commissioner is to promote and protect …

One of the most important safeguarding documents you’ll ever read…

*STOP PRESS!*  There is a new edition of non-statutory document ‘Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children in education settings’ (2019), endorsed and recommended by the Safer Recruitment Consortium.  The original guidance was developed by a DfES network in 2005, revised in 2009 and 2015. It is essential reading for everyone who works with children …

Do you NEED to know about Breast Ironing?

“I took the stone, I warmed it, and then I started massaging [my daughter’s chest],” she said. “And the stone was a little bit hot. When I started massaging, she said: ‘Mummy, it’s hot!’” CAME Women’s and Girl’s Development Organisation Website As a safeguarding consultant I see it as my job to encourage professional curiosity …

Do you NEED to know about Breast Ironing?

Peer Abuse Update: Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Between Children

  ‘Children can abuse other children. This is generally referred to as peer on peer abuse and can take many forms. This can include (but is not limited to) bullying (including cyberbullying); sexual violence and sexual harassment; physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm; sexting and initiating/hazing …

Peer Abuse Update: Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Between Children

The Mistakes We Make About Neglect

A few weeks ago I attended a very useful briefing on neglect and a new assessment tool in Bristol available to practitioners that will help them assess the risk of neglect. The session developed my knowledge of the subject and offered a practical method to understand and evaluate the harm that neglect imposes on children …

The Mistakes We Make About Neglect

New Safeguarding Laws, Guidance and Policies That Every Setting Needs To Be Up To Speed With…

What a start to the new academic year we have had! In the first 10 days, Mandy Parry Training Associates delivered 14 sessions of training, visited ten different settings, trained over six hundred participants – and fielded dozens of requests for places on our new Open Courses or our inhouse training. It’s been challenging, but …

New Safeguarding Laws, Guidance and Policies That Every Setting Needs To Be Up To Speed With…

New Keeping Children Safe in Education

The government has published the ‘for information’ copy of the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018 that will come into force on 3rd September 2018 for schools and other registered settings and childminders (until then, use Keeping Children Safe in Education (2016)). The headlines for the new statutory guidance include: Emphasis on supporting the needs of children with …

New Keeping Children Safe in Education

Thresholds – What Every Single Member of the Children’s Workforce Needs to Know

I start off every Safeguarding: Basic Awareness session with a practical exercise on thresholds and then a clear diagrammatic explanation of what exactly they mean in theory and then practice. I do this because it gives participants an overview of the safeguarding children services, and some idea of how they as professionals fit into this …

Thresholds – What Every Single Member of the Children’s Workforce Needs to Know

Why Early Intervention is Key to Safeguarding

Years ago I worked as the Bristol City Council Lead Trainer for the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). I, together with a large team of co-trainers, were tasked with delivering training in CAF and a range of other brand new safeguarding initiatives to thousands of professionals across Bristol. CAFs were designed help families get the support they needed at …

Why Early Intervention is Key to Safeguarding

Taking a Practical Approach to Prevent

As I enter a school I see a really lovely colourful display entitled ‘Fundamental British Values’. There are the headings – Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty and Mutual Respect and Tolerance for different faiths and beliefs – and posters and quotes from children about what these ideas mean to them in real life. Interestingly, …

Taking a Practical Approach to Prevent

Changes to Guidance: Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

On 14 December 2017, the Department for Education released two safeguarding guidance documents. One was the consultation for the new revised version of the statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ for September 2018, the other is non statutory guidance entitled ‘Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment between children in schools and colleges’ (or what can …

Changes to Guidance: Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

Has at Least One Member of Your Setting Who Sits on Recruitment Panels Been Trained in Safer Recruitment?

I often repeat the phrase during training that ‘People who seek to sexually abuse children will seek work which means they have increased access to children.’ Part of creating a culture of vigilance means ensuring that all the pre-employment and ongoing checks we carry out on staff and volunteers are carried out as a matter …

Has at Least One Member of Your Setting Who Sits on Recruitment Panels Been Trained in Safer Recruitment?

What Do We Mean by Child-Centred Safeguarding?

In 2000 in London, an eight-year-old girl from the Ivory Coast, Victoria Climbié, was tortured and murdered by her guardians. During the abuse, Climbié was burnt with cigarettes and scalded with boiling water, tied up for days, and hit with bike chains, hammers and wires. Up to her death, the police, the Social Services Department of four local authorities, the NHS, …

What Do We Mean by Child-Centred Safeguarding?

What Is the Role of the Designated Teacher?

It is Foster Care Fortnight to help raise awareness of fostering and of children in foster care. I frequently deliver Safeguarding: Basic Awareness training for foster carers and have immense respect for their wisdom, humour and resilience. Children in Care are extremely vulnerable as most have faced abuse, trauma and/or neglect and the support they …

What Is the Role of the Designated Teacher?

What Do You Need to Know About Fabricated and Induced Illness Syndrome?

My Safeguarding: Basic Awareness training is an opportunity to learn about and discuss a range different types of abuse with the aim of ensuring participants are better prepared to spot potential risks to children. One of the most challenging types of abuse in terms of understanding and awareness is Fabricated and Induced Illness Syndrome. Fabricated and …

What Do You Need to Know About Fabricated and Induced Illness Syndrome?

New Safeguarding Guidance in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2017

Some early years settings have recently made me aware of the new Early Years Foundation Stage 2017 – including some changes affecting safeguarding guidance. The EYFS sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All Ofsted-registered early years providers in England must follow the EYFS, including: schools, …

New Safeguarding Guidance in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2017

Why Professionals Working with Vulnerable Children Need to Know About Attachment and Trauma

Latest figures from research, recently published by Queen’s University Belfast, and focused on effectiveness of nurture groups, found that about 60% of all children experience some form of loss, neglect, abuse or separation. Many of these children will not relate to the world in typical ways and they spend their day trying to ‘survive’, rather …

Why Professionals Working with Vulnerable Children Need to Know About Attachment and Trauma

What Has ‘Supervision’ Got to Do with Safeguarding?

I recently attended a conference entitled: ‘Reshaping Services for Children and Families’ in Bristol. Much of the conference focused on how to best support professionals who were themselves engaged with supporting the most troubled families in our society. The key note speakers talked about ways to promote resilience in staff teams, workforce development and service …

What Has ‘Supervision’ Got to Do with Safeguarding?

What Is Sexting?

‘Sexting’ is the exchange of self-generated sexually explicit images, through mobile picture messages or webcams over the internet. Young people may also call it: cybersex sending a nudie, picture or selfie trading nudes dirtie pic for pic. There are many reasons why a young person may want to send a naked or semi-naked picture, video …

What Is Sexting?

New Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016

The Department for Education has published an updated version of the statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (2016), which revises and replaces the 2015 guidance. The guidance is currently in draft form but it will come into force on 5 September 2016. It sets out what registered nurseries, schools and colleges in England must …

New Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016

What Are Fundamental British Values?

Last week I delivered Prevent awareness training and facilitated an interesting discussion on fundamental British values. Since 2015 all schools and registered childcare providers must have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. The Prevent Duty Guidance (2015) says that they should also: ‘build resilience by promoting fundamental British …

What Are Fundamental British Values?

Supporting Establishments to Comply with Radicalisation and Extremism Responsibilities

From 1 July 2015 all schools, registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers are subject to a Duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. Since then, the children’s workforce has been racing …

Supporting Establishments to Comply with Radicalisation and Extremism Responsibilities