We have been made aware that there have been several posts circulating on social media from the Great British National Protest calling for people to take part in “opt out days.” These are also being shared by the Bristol Patriots account on social media.
We recognise the heightened levels of concern around protests and other planned activities which have an impact on the communities throughout Bristol. We want to reassure you that Bristol remains a City of Sanctuary, committed to welcoming and supporting people, particularly children, fleeing war and persecution. As a council we reaffirmed this commitment earlier this year, and our Sanctuary Strategy 2025 - 2030 will guide our work over the next five years.
Peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy. However, we understand that these events may cause concern for you, your friends, your staff, and your families. If you have any concerns about any young people not attending your setting on the proposed opt out dates, please follow your setting’s usual attendance procedures and where appropriate follow your safeguarding procedures.
For Headteachers, Principals, DSL teams:
- Consideration should be made 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.
- Ensure that your staff Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Policy (online safety) are robust and are communicated to all staff as part of your ongoing safeguarding training.
- Ensure you have a Prevent risk assessment in place.
- Ensure you have a Critical Incident/emergency response plan in place.
- Report any immediate concerns to the Police by calling 999 if it is an emergency.
- Report any intelligence to Crimestoppers or use the Police non-emergency number 101.
- If you have non –urgent concerns about your local community to share with the Bristol City Council community team, please use this link Community Safety - Share information (Tactical). This may include reporting items such as graffiti/ stickers.
- Report any online concerns through this link Report online material promoting terrorism or extremism - GOV.UK
- For further advice and information to support you please visit our webpages Preventing Radicalisation in Education Settings
Vulnerable children– targeted support.
- Please do consider reminding colleagues to share and record concerns particularly if they are worried about political exploitation and extremism as a safeguarding consideration following the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance.
- Develop the staff awareness of use of online platforms that children and young people are using.
- If you have identified children and young people who have shown interest in the proposed ‘opt out days,’ consider offering them 1-1 support.
- Remind children who they can speak to in your setting.
- Consider building up a 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).
Operation Bond:
Operation Bond is part of a contextual safeguarding approach which aims to ensure robust information sharing information between Bristol area schools, the local authority and Avon and Somerset Police to respond to incidents of conflict in the community proactively and appropriately.
- As per terms of reference, we are utilising extra-ordinary Operation Bond briefings with settings given the emerging situation and increasing the frequency of briefings in the interim until concerns are reduced.
- Please ensure at least one member from your setting has signed up and attends. See here for more information and to sign up: Bristol's Operation Bond
Further guidance:
If you are confronted with a hate crime:
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.
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/
