Adapting Safeguarding Policies for Children’s Eyes
You may have a wonderful safeguarding programme and policy but do the children in your school or your organisation even know about it? Yes, they may have had training once but how else do they know? One way is through the best practice known as “child-friendly” policies. In a nutshell, this means that your commitment and procedures regarding safeguarding is communicated in creative, accessible, differentiated ways for all children. This may look like a short, easy to read policy with symbols and pictures, a friendly informative poster, or a bookmark. Some schools have produced safeguarding videos on their school website for their students and others have even painted safeguarding commitment phrases down their hallway! Of course, continuing to educate and train children on safeguarding is imperative, but if a school has easily understandable, friendly safeguarding communications delivered in a variety of way, this will serve as a daily reminder to the students that the school cares for their safety and wellbeing.
Joel came to an international school. He was quite nervous as English was his second language. The first week during orientation training, Joel felt so overwhelmed that he couldn't remember a thing! He vaguely remembered one of the sessions was on safeguarding, but he had been so tired that day that he could not recall what had been discussed. A few weeks into the new school term, Joel really wished he could remember the training as he was not feeling safe and hated school. He was being regularly harassed by a group of students who were forcing him to look at disgusting things on their phones and making fun of him. But thankfully there were these safeguarding posters all over the school; in the bathrooms, in the hallways and in the classrooms. The poster stated that the school cared and wanted all students to feel safe and what to do if they didn't feel safe. He had also been given a bookmark with his rights and responsibilities on it. It said he had the right to feel safe, to ask for help and receive support. Glancing at the poster once more and clutching the bookmark Joel decided to go and see his math teacher who had been particularly kind to him, seemed to be a calm person, and could remember his name... (Based on a true story)
A child-friendly policy can often be written and designed by students which can bring buy-in from your student body. The adapted, summarised policy for your students can also form the basis for your safeguarding education throughout the school year. Below are some examples from UK state schools:
Primary School Child-Friendly-Safeguarding-Policy-2023.pdf
Secondary School Child Friendly Safeguarding Policy
Silvia Carillo, (also TeachBeyond’s Spanish speaking Latin America Safeguarding Representative), is the founder and director of ENLACE, an English language school in Mindo, Ecuador. Silvia designed some safeguarding posters in Spanish and English which are accessible for students, parents and visitors in her school. These posters serve as a colourful, simple reminder of ENLACE’s safeguarding policy. Silvia Carillo at ENLACE, Ecuador
Black Forest Academy also puts up posters around their school stating that they want their students to, “Thrive and feel safe!”. The posters also explain what to do if students don't feel safe with the names of the Safeguarding Team and school counsellors. In a recent safeguarding assessment conducted, students stated that the posters served as a daily reminder that the school really cares about their safety and wellbeing.
Recently at the Canada/USA TeachBeyond orientation bookmarks were given out to the children who attended. We are grateful to Dalat International School for allowing us to copy their excellent idea. The symbols help younger children remember that TeachBeyond cares for their safety and wellbeing, that they can speak out, and that they will be heard. Additional safeguarding training helps reinforce these concepts, including scenario-based discussions and games. Bookmarks such as these have been known to really help a child in a situation when they are in crisis mode and don’t know what to do. It also reminds them of their need to care for and respect others.
If you have any more creative ideas for communicating safeguarding principles and information to children we’d love to hear. Ultimately, we all are responsible for safeguarding children, we never want to cause fear but instead build wisdom, awareness and empowerment within trustworthy communities. We want to do all we can to ensure every child knows what to do if they don’t feel safe...
Joel felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His math teacher had listened to him so carefully and didn't interrupt him at all, even when he felt at a loss for words. That teacher then assured him that he had done the right thing speaking out and even prayed for him. After that his math teacher had taken him to the safeguarding lead and a whole response process followed. Joel felt cared for and supported throughout. Joel loves school now!