Resources for safeguarding children
A curated selection of key guidance and resources for safeguarding children including online safety.
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Course workbook
You can review the content of the course in our course workbook (pdf)
Resources linked to in online training for safeguarding children
- Keeping Children Safe in Education pdf
- What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: Advice for practitioners pdf
- Definitions and Signs of Child Abuse pdf
- Summary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child pdf — unicef
- Working Together to Safeguard Children pdf
- Advice to schools and colleges on gangs and youth violence
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Forced Marriage
- Sexual violence and harassment between children in schools and colleges
- Modern Slavery Act 2015 – Statutory Guidance for England and Wales
- Priti Patel accused of ‘shameful’ bid to deport girl at risk of Female Genital Mutilation
- The Victoria Climbié Inquiry
- Analysis of serious case reviews: 2014 to 2017
Additional professional development resources for safeguarding children
- Prevent Awareness, Home Office E-Learning — Home Office
- Prevent Referrals — Home Office
- Channel General Awareness on Prevent — Home Office
- Home Office FGM Course — HM Government
- Forced Marriage Awareness — HM Government
- Understanding Domestic Violence & Abuse Level 1 — Against Violence and Abuse Project
- Complicated Matters: Domestic and Sexual Violence, Problematic Substance Misuse and Mental Ill Health — Against Violence and Abuse Project
- All About Bullying — Anti-Bullying Alliance
- Supporting Child Victims of Sexual Abuse: 12-part short film series — Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse
- The Right to Choose: Government Guidance on Forced Marriage — Home Office
- Warning Signs of Radicalisation — educate.against.hate
- County Lines Toolkit for Professionals — The Children's Society
- DigiSafe "Undressed" Song — LGFL
Teacher Resources for Online Safety
Online Blackmail Education Resource for 15 to 18-year-olds
ThinkuKnow has released an education resource about online blackmail for 15 to 18-year-olds which aims to help young people:
- identify key characteristics of how blackmail operates online
- understand the impact it can have
- know how to access help if they need it
The term ‘online blackmail’ is used to refer to the act of threatening to share information about an individual, including sexual images or videos, to the public, or their friends and family, unless a demand is met.
Education for a Connected World - 2020
Published by the UK Council for Internet Safety, Education for a Connected World is a framework to equip children and young people for digital life. New topics covered include:
- voice-activated searching
- upskirting
- the use of banter
- a more in-depth focus on digital consent, sexting-related technology and protected characteristics.
Additional online safety teacher resources
- Childnet.com resources
- Resources from the UK Safer Internet Centre
- Internet Matters.org: Online Safety resources for teachers
- NSPCC Learning: e-Safety for schools
- Child Exploitation and Online Protection: Safety Centre
- Internet Matters.org: In their own words — The Digital lives of schoolchildren
- Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings
- Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service — South West Grid for Learning
- Sexual Abuse Online — The Marie Collins Foundation
Recommended books
The Lightless Sky, An Afghan Refugee Boy’s Journey of Escape to a New Life in Britain by Gulwali Passarlay (2015)
At the age of 12, and alone, Gulwali spent a year journeying to Britain after his father was shot in a gun battle with the US Army. He endured prison, hunger, violence and a journey across the Mediterranean in a small boat. He spent a desolate month in Calais. On arriving in Britain his age was disputed; he was assumed to be an adult. Eventually, his true age was established, he was fostered and went to school where he studied hard and went to a top university. His story is one of hardship and endurance, the kindness of strangers, and the difference made in a child’s life by teachers who care.
My Name is Why, A Memoir by Lemn Sissay (2019)
Number one Sunday Times bestseller. Now Chancellor of the University of Manchester and acclaimed poet, Lemn Sissay was a looked after child in Wigan, in the North West of England. This is the powerful and inspiring account of his journey from neglect and despair to artistic and cultural recognition. Published by Cannongate.
The Prosecutor by Nazir Afzal (2020)
Nazir Afzal spent 25 years at the forefront of criminal justice in Britain as Chief Prosecutor. He was responsible for landmark victories in cases involving sexual abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking. From the streets of inner-city Birmingham to the highest courts in the land, Nazir has fought for the most vulnerable victims and won. Published by Ebury Press.
Educated by Tara Westover (2018)
Tara Westover and her family grew up in rural Idaho preparing for the End of Days, but according to the government she didn’t exist as she hadn’t been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records, as she’d never been to school, and her father didn’t believe in hospitals. Tara received an MPhil in intellectual history from Trinity College, Cambridge in 2009, and her PhD in 2014. In her book, she tells the story of how she became educated. Published by Windmill Books.