As you may be aware a thematic Child Safeguarding Practice Review (CSPR) into serious youth violence in Bristol was commissioned in response to the tragic deaths of Max, Mason and Darrian, and the serious harm suffered by a fourth young person, which occurred within three weeks of each other in early 2024.
This review recognises that the harm caused by serious youth violence extends far beyond those immediately affected, impacting whole communities and generations whose perceptions of safety and well-being are deeply altered.
We want to ensure that all education communities feel informed, prepared, and supported. We recognise that some settings might need to consider a more targeted approach to responding to the publication of the CSPR and the potential associated media coverage. We hope that the pointers and resources below will be helpful in supporting you through this process.
If you were unable to attend the briefing meeting held on the 4 September or would like to remind yourself of the content of the meeting, please access the slides here. Please note these slides are for professional use and not intended to be shared publicly.
Supporting Children and Staff
- Consider whether you would like to discuss this with the children in your setting. If you do, you may wish to utilise supportive discussions in smaller environments such as tutor groups or targeted groups. There is Bereavement and Loss Guidance from the Educational Psychology team which may be useful bereavement-guidance-for-schools-and-settings-003.pdf
- Consider checking in with individual children and staff who had close links to any of the children involved or impacted.
- Consider setting up or prioritising specific, quiet places for individuals who may require reflection and connection. You may wish to consider how you are timetabling key pastoral support staff during this time.
- Remind children how they can access support through your teams and for staff, remind them of your employee assistance programmes.
- Consider a trauma informed approach to behaviour you may witness, grief can be challenging to manage for children and the discussions around the CSPR may be triggering for them.
- Brief staff as appropriate to their roles so that there is an agreed common response to enquiries including from parents/carers and media. Ensure you include office staff who may be handling enquiries.
Parents and Carers
- We know different members of the community will require different levels of support. You will need to be responsive to presenting need.
- Remind families how they can contact you to alert you to any worries they may have and how they can access support.
- As part of a wider community approach to the themes raised within the CSPR, you may wish to consider communicating with parents and carers about the good work you have already done, for example the work with Unique Voice.
Key messages for families to include communications should you decide to send them out
- On Thursday 11 September, the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership (KBSP) will publish a thematic review into serious youth violence.
- The review reflects on the tragic deaths of Max, Mason and Darrian, and one other child who suffered serious harm, in early 2024 and makes recommendations for improving safeguarding and partnership working across Bristol.
- The focus of the report is on learning from these events to better understand and respond to harm experienced outside the home.
- Please be reassured that keeping our children and young people safe from harm is always our top priority.
- We know the death of any child or young person is a profound tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families and communities affected by these events [please amend this line to suit your own school community].
- An action plan created from the recommendations made in the CSPR is in place, shaped by the voices of families, and includes a new Harm Outside the Home Strategy supported by a dedicated multi-agency team.
- We welcome the recommendations in the report and will continue to work closely with our partners to support young people in education and to share best practice in preventing serious youth violence.
- By strengthening how professionals such as teachers, social workers, health practitioners and police officers work together, we can better protect our children, young people and families.
- If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information about this please do contact us.
Signposting to Support
Education Safeguarding Contacts Bristol 2025-26
- Reach out to the Safeguarding in Education Team by contacting your advisor.
- Consider contacting the Safer Connections team for more bespoke support around contextual safeguarding.
- Avoiding speculation - Be explicit about the need to avoid speculation to protect the dignity of those directly and more widely affected.
- Contact the Bristol City Council Public Relations team if you need support with media enquiries via email: public.relations@bristol.gov.uk or the out of hours contact number is 07467 335790.
Reporting current concerns that may come to light through discussion around the CSPR
- If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.
- If you have any intelligence and are or aware of any risk of serious youth violence/exploitation – please do share with the police via 101.
Other Resources
- Y-Stop - A stop and search project by young people for young people - website - including resources and lessons plans
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like further information.
