Education settings play a critical role in identifying and supporting young people who may be affected by modern slavery (including trafficking). The consequences of modern slavery on children can be severe and long-lasting, including physical and emotional harm, disrupted education, and limited future opportunities. Therefore, it is essential for schools to be able to identify warning signs and indicators of modern slavery and provide appropriate support to affected children. This support can include providing a safe environment for disclosure, liaising with relevant agencies to ensure that children receive appropriate care and assistance, and providing the necessary emotional support to help children recover from their experiences. The education sector has a unique opportunity to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to recognize and combat modern slavery.
Keeping children safe in education 2022 states:
Modern slavery encompasses human trafficking and slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. Exploitation can take many forms, including: sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, servitude, forced criminality and the removal of organs.
Further information on the signs that someone may be a victim of modern slavery, the support available to victims and how to refer them to the NRM is available in Statutory Guidance. Modern slavery: how to identify and support victims - GOV.UK
Working together to safeguarding children 2018 states:
6. Practitioners should, in particular, be alert to the potential need for early help for a child who...is at risk of modern slavery, trafficking or exploitation (among others).
14. Anyone working with children should see and speak to the child: listen to what they say; take their views seriously; and with them and their families collaboratively when deciding how to support their needs. Special provision should be put in place to support dialogue with children who have communication difficulties, unaccompanied children, refugees and those children who are victims of modern slavery and/or trafficking.
22. If practitioners have concerns that a child may be a potential victim of modern slavery or human trafficking then a referral should be made to the National Referral Mechanism12, as soon as possible.
Further guidance:
Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery - statutory guidance for LAs and professionals who support unaccompanied migrant children, who may be victims, or potential victims, of modern slavery.
Modern Slavery Act statutory guidance - a collection of the Home Office's documents and promotional material related to the government’s work to end modern slavery.