This is a quick document for you to consider what you can do to support learners to respond and resonate with exercising their political voices in a safe and constructive manner. We have devised this in response to the potential planned school and university strikes.
Contents:
- Vulnerable children- Targeted support
- Setting Wide interventions - RSHE/PSHE and policy/practice
- Further guidance
Vulnerable children– targeted support.
If you have identified children and young people who have resonated with the protest/strike, it may be worth offering them 1-1 support.
- Remind children who they can speak to in the school.
- Consider building up vulnerable children's resilience by providing them with the emotional language they need to express their views and feelings.
- Have safe spaces/platforms where they can talk about worries for friends, families or peer groups. (for example Whisper® - Anonymous Reporting Tool for your School Community | SWGfL).
Setting wide interventions:
RSHE/PSHE:
- Talk about concerns explicitly and provide young people a safe outlet to express their concerns in the classrooms.
- Consider reflecting on topics more widely about building up resilience to:
- Peer pressure, caring friendships, respectful relationships, online relationships.
- Exploitation, being safe, including keeping Safe online.
- Preventing radicalisation – Educate Against Hate - Prevent Radicalisation & Extremism
Work with staff to explore safe ways young people can express their political beliefs on the curriculum (projects/assignments). Welcome to your UK Parliament - Parliament UK Education is a great resource for primary, secondary and post 16. Resources Archive - Parliament UK Education
Process and Policy:
Please do consider reminding staff colleagues to share and record concerns particularly if they are worried about political exploitation and extremism as a safeguarding consideration.
- Consideration for reviewing attendance and communicating with parents/carers if there are concerns that a child absconds from school or does not attend school on the day of the strike.
- Develop the staff awareness of use of online platforms that young people are using to communicate.
Further guidance:
If you need further advice and guidance feel free to speak to your School Safeguarding Advisor - https://www.bristolsafeguardingineducation.org/local-safeguarding-services/safeguarding-in-education-team/
