News and Events : Cumbria County Council

The UK Safer Internet Centre has announced that the theme for Safer Internet Day on 8 February 2022 is 'All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online'. The day aims to celebrate young people's role in creating a safer internet, whether that is whilst gaming and creating content, or interacting with their friends and peers. Read the news story: UK theme for Safer Internet Day 2022 announced

Childline posters

NSPCC Learning has updated its series of Childline posters encouraging primary and secondary school children to contact Childline if they need to talk. The series includes posters for the Childline #NobodyIsNormal campaign, to help children cope with feeling different; #ToughToTalk campaign, encouraging boys with suicidal feelings to reach out for help; and #ListenToYourSelfie campaign, highlighting the signs of sexual exploitation.

Download the posters: Childline posters

Parent in Sport Week

The NSPCC Child Protection Unit (CPSU) Parents in Sport Week 2021 takes place on 4 - 10 October 2021. The campaign focuses on giving parents the information and tools they need to help keep their child safe in sport including: an e-learning course for parents on how to keep children safe; an animation for parents on what abuse might look like in sport and how to get help; and an updated parents' hub on the CPSU website.

Visit the CPSU website: Parents in Sport Week 2021

Child protection in sport: podcast series

The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) has released a series of podcasts on body image, weight management and disordered eating in sport. The podcasts discuss the importance of creating a positive culture around food, nutrition, weight and shape and an environment where young people feel safe, heard and their needs are met..

Read the news story: New podcast - body image, weight management and disordered eating in sport

Listen to the podcasts: Body image, weight management and disordered eating in sport

Child Wellbeing

The Children's Society has published its annual Good Childhood report, looking at the wellbeing of children in the UK in 2021. Findings from a survey of around 2,000 10- to 17-year-olds between April and June 2021 include: 7% of 10- to 15-year-olds in the UK are not happy with their lives; the areas causing the greatest dissatisfaction are school, friendship and how they feel about their appearance; and 85% of children who rated how well they had coped during the pandemic gave themselves a score of above five out of ten.

Read the summary: The good childhood report

Download the report: The good childhood report 2021

Child Mental Health

The NHS Confederation has published a report looking at the impact of the pandemic on children's mental health and the services that support them. Findings include: there are significant increases in demand for mental health support for children and young people across all services, and in particular for support for eating disorders. Recommendations include: further funding is needed to address the increase in demand, a greater focus is needed on early intervention and addressing the social factors associated with mental ill health, and staffing shortages need to be addressed by investing in specialists and the training and education of the wider workforce.

Read the summary: Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health

Download the report: Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health (PDF)

See also on NSPCC Learning > Child mental health

Keeping children safe in education

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated Keeping children safe in education 2021 statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. This guidance comes into force on 1 September 2021 and replaces Keeping children safe in education 2020 (updated January 2021). Substantive changes, outlined in Annexe G, cover areas including: child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment; safeguarding information for all staff; the management of safeguarding; safer recruitment; and allegations made against or concerns raised in relation to teachers. Separately, the DfE has published a summary of the responses to its consultation on proposed changes to the statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. A CASPAR briefing summarising key changes will be published on NSPCC Learning next week.

Read the guidance: Keeping children safe in education

Keeping children safe in education 2021 Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (PDF)

Read the consultation responses: Keeping children safe in education: proposed revisions 2021

Cumbria Holiday Activity Programme

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021: resources

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week from 10-16 May 2021. Mentally Healthy Schools has made available a toolkit of resources for primary and secondary schools. The theme for the week is 'nature' and the toolkit includes some resources about nature and mental health.

Download the toolkit: Mental Health Awareness Week 2021: toolkit of resources

See also on NSPCC Learning > Child mental health

Online hate

Childnet has launched 'Talk it over', a research-led resource designed to support educators in facilitating empathetic, honest, and evidence-based conversations on online hate and how to tackle it with secondary aged pupils.

Read the news story: Talk it over - new resource to support discussions around online hate

See also on NSPCC Learning > Online safety training

Modern slavery: how to identify and support victims

The Home Office has updated the statutory guidance on identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery for use on or after 1 April 2021. The guidance includes a section on child victims.

Read the guidance: Modern slavery: how to identify and support victims

See also on NSPCC Learning > Protecting children from trafficking and modern slavery

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued guidance protecting children's rights in the digital environment. The guidance note, called General Comment 25, makes clear that children's rights as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) apply in the digital world. The general comment follows a survey of over 700 children and young people in 27 countries on digital technology, their rights and how they want to be protected. The 5Rights Foundation has published a report on the survey and resources for children and young people on General Comment 25.

Read the press release: UN Committee issues recommendations to protect children's rights in digital environment

View the General Comment and resources: UNCRC General Comment on children's rights in relation to the digital environment

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspections

Ofsted has published guidance to accompany the restart of area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspections in England. From April 2021, Ofsted will revisit local areas that required a written statement of action (WSOA). From a tentative date of June 2021, Ofsted will carry out full inspections of local areas that have not been inspected under the current area SEND inspection framework. The guidance includes information on: the phased return to inspections; safeguarding; timeframes; and inspection quality assurance.

Read the news story: Area SEND inspections to restart

Read the guidance: Guidance for carrying out re-visits to local areas required to produce a written statement of action

Child exploitation

Barnardo's has released a toolkit, called Nightwatch, for businesses working in the night-time economy to help keep children and young people at risk of exploitation safe. The toolkit includes checklists for anyone working in the night-time economy, hotel staff, licensed venues and taxi drivers to help them identify possible exploitation and respond appropriately. The toolkit is aimed at London businesses but elements of best practice should be helpful for night-time businesses across the UK.

Read the news story: Nightwatch

Access the toolkit: Nightwatch toolkit for London businesses (PDF)

See also on NSPCC Learning > Protecting children from sexual exploitation

World Autism Awareness Day 2021

To celebrate World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General has published a message on recognising and celebrating the rights of people with autism. The NSPCC Library has compiled a reading list highlighting a selection on books on children and families with autism. The NSPCC and O2's Net Aware site has also partnered with Ambitious about Autism to create a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) online safety hub with online safety tips, advice and activities for parents and carers of children with SEND.

Read the UN message: Secretary-General's Message 2021

View the reading list: World Autism Awareness Week 2021

Visit Net Aware: SEND online safety hub

See also on NSPCC Learning > NSPCC information service

Coronavirus: remote education

The Department for Education (DfE) has updated guidance on remote education in England to include a new section on safeguarding and online safety.

Read the guidance: Remote education good practice

See also on NSPCC Learning > Undertaking remote teaching safely

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the updated statutory framework that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five in England. Section 3 of the guidance covers safeguarding and welfare requirements including child protection; suitable people; disqualification; managing children's behaviour and special educational needs. The guidance will apply from September 2021, until then the current framework applies.

Read the guidance: Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

Domestic abuse: service for professionals

Women's Aid has launched a dedicated service for professionals working with survivors of domestic abuse, seeking refuge accommodation and support. Professionals can contact the Women's Aid direct services team who can search their database of violence against women and girls (VAWG) services across the UK providing up-to-date information on vacancies in refuges and availability of other VAWG services, such as outreach, drop-ins, counselling services and advocacy projects.

Read the news story: Women's Aid launches a dedicated service for professionals

See also on NSPCC Learning > Protecting children from domestic abuse

Children and young people's mental health: videos

NSPCC Learning has launched three videos on children and young people's mental health looking at: how mental health can become a safeguarding concern; the impact of abuse and neglect; and ways professionals can support children and young people who are experiencing issues with their mental health. The three videos can be found on the Who is at risk?, Responding, and Understanding sections of the child mental health page.

View the videos: Child mental health

Child sexual abuse online

Thinkuknow, the national online safety education programme from the National Crime Agency (NCA), has published a news story on what to do if you come across child sexual abuse material online. The content also includes information on where children and young people can find advice.

Read the news story: What to do if you come across child sexual abuse material

Child sexual abuse strategy

The Home Office has published the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy setting out the government's vision for preventing, tackling and responding to child sexual abuse whether it is committed in person or online, in families or communities, in the UK or overseas. The strategy is based on three objectives: tackling all forms of child sexual abuse and bringing offenders to justice; preventing offending and re-offending; and protecting and safeguarding children and young people, and supporting all victims and survivors.

Read the news story: Priti Patel publishes new strategy to protect children from sexual abuse

Read the strategy: Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy

See also on NSPCC Learning > Protecting children from sexual abuse

Keeping children safe in education

The Department for Education (DfE) has updated Keeping children safe in education, the statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment, and the Staffing and employment guidance for schools in England to reflect legal changes following exit from the EU, including guidance on checking the past conduct of individuals who have lived or worked overseas.

Read the guidance: Keeping children safe in education

Staffing and employment: advice for schools

Safer Internet Day 2021

The UK Safer Internet Centre has published resources for schools and other settings to help celebrate Safer Internet Day on 9 February remotely.

Access the resources: Safer Internet Day 2021: ways for schools and other settings to celebrate remotely

See also on NSPCC Learning > NSPCC Learning: Online safety resources for schools and organisations

Technology-assisted child sexual abuse

NSPCC Learning has published an evaluation of InCtrl, a service designed to help keep children aged 9- to 13-years-old safe online to prevent technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA). Findings from an evaluation of a pilot of the service between January 2019 and February 2020 include: InCtrl was well-received by the young people attending and practitioners facilitating the groups; and there was evidence of increased digital resilience, emotional resilience, and wellbeing for children who completed the pilot service.

Read the report: Increasing safety and the resilience of children at risk of technology-assisted child sexual abuse

Racist and faith targeted bullying

The Anti-Bullying Alliance and the National Children's Bureau has published a literature review examining literature on peer-on-peer racist and faith targeted bullying among children and young people in the UK. Findings from 21 studies include: Black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups and religious minorities in the research as a whole appear no more likely to be bullied than others; groups more likely to be bullied were Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, asylum seeker/refugee and mixed-race children and young people; and the type of racist and faith targeted bullying most often reported was name calling.

Read the news story: Racist and faith targeted bullying - prevalence

See also on NSPCC Learning > NSPCC Learning: Anti-bullying resources

Online safety: sharing videos and images

Net Aware, produced by the NSPCC and O2, has released content to help parents and carers who may be worried about their child sharing videos and images online. The content discusses why children use apps like TikTok and Snapchat, and provides guidance for parents and carers to help keep their children safe including: setting their account to private; reminding them not to post locations in real time or share personal information; and talking to them about sexting and sharing nudes.

News and Events

Safer Internet Day 2022

Childline posters

Parent in Sport Week

Child protection in sport: podcast series

Child Wellbeing

Child Mental Health

Keeping children safe in education

Cumbria Holiday Activity Programme

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021: resources

Online hate

Modern slavery: how to identify and support victims

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspections

Child exploitation

World Autism Awareness Day 2021

Coronavirus: remote education

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

Domestic abuse: service for professionals

Children and young people's mental health: videos

Child sexual abuse online

Child sexual abuse strategy

Keeping children safe in education

Safer Internet Day 2021

Technology-assisted child sexual abuse

Racist and faith targeted bullying

Online safety: sharing videos and images

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