News and Events : Cumbria County Council

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.

Read the news story: Should I be worried about my child sharing videos and images online?

Peer-on-peer sexual abuse

NSPCC Learning has put together some principles outlining best practice to help with recognising and responding to peer-on-peer sexual abuse. The content includes information on: what peer-on-peer sexual abuse looks like; how to respond appropriately and proportionately to concerns or instances of peer-on-peer sexual abuse; how to help prevent peer-on-peer sexual abuse occurring; and an overview of the legislation and guidance to help practitioners recognise and respond to peer-on-peer sexual abuse across the UK.

Read the news story: Protecting children from peer-on-peer sexual abuse

See also on NSPCC Learning > Protecting children from harmful sexual behaviour

Child trafficking

Childline has published a webpage with information for children and young people about child trafficking and exploitation. The page discusses what child trafficking and exploitation is, where children and young people can get support and what to do if they are worried about someone else.

Visit the webpage: Child trafficking and exploitation â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹ â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹

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

Coronavirus: children and young peopleâ??s wellbeing

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a report collating evidence from a range of government, academic, voluntary, and private sector organisations on the wellbeing in children and young people aged 5 to 24 in England over the period of March to August 2020. Indicators covered in the report include: personal wellbeing; relationships; health; education and skills; personal finance; and activities.

Read the press release: Effect of pandemic on children's wellbeing revealed in new report

Read the report: State of the nation 2020: children and young people's wellbeing â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹

See also on NSPCC Learning > Promoting mental health and wellbeing

Wellbeing

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published analysis of UK children's perspectives on their well-being and what makes a happy life. Ten focus groups with 48 children and young people aged between 10 and 15 carried out between September 2019 and February 2020 (before lockdown) found that the principal themes identified in relation to what children need for a happy life include: positive relationships; safe spaces and things to do; health and well-being; skills and schools; and a happy future.

Read the news story: What matters most to children's well-being? Their views on what makes a happy life

Read the report: Children's views on well-being and what makes a happy life, UK: 2020

Coronavirus: impact on children and young people

The Children's Commissioner for England has published a report examining the impact of the coronavirus crisis on children and young people in areas including education, social care, health, youth justice, housing, and family life. The report includes specific recommendations in each area to help children recover from their experiences, and calls for: a comprehensive recovery package for children and young people; children to be put at the heart of planning for further lockdowns; and children's rights and protections to be upheld. Separate blogs highlight the impact of the pandemic on children in care and care leavers who contacted the Children's Commissioner's Help at Hand helpline and how lockdown affected children's stress and anxiety.

Read the news story: A comprehensive recovery package is needed to tackle rising tide of childhood vulnerability caused by the Covid crisis

Read the report: Childhood in the time of Covid (PDF)

Read the blog: Help at Hand spotlight: championing the rights of children in care under Covid-19 / How lockdown affected children's stress and anxiety

Coronavirus: physical abuse

NSPCC Learning has published a briefing using insight from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC helpline contacts to highlight the impact of physical abuse on children and young people during the coronavirus pandemic. Key findings include: a 22% increase in the number of counselling sessions provided by Childline about physical abuse, from an average of 420 sessions per month before pandemic restrictions were imposed to 514 sessions per month since lockdown; a 53% increase in contacts to the NSPCC helpline from people with concerns about children experiencing physical abuse, from an average of 696 per month before lockdown to an average of 1,066 since lockdown.

Read the briefing: The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on child welfare: physical abuse

See also on NSPCC Learning : Protecting children from physical abuse

Coronavirus: guidance collections

The Department for Education (DfE) has published webpages bringing together guidance for schools, early year and childcare providers and local authority children's services in England outlining what they need to do during the coronavirus outbreak.

Read the guidance: Guidance for schools: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Early years and childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Local authority children's services: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus: information for parents and carers

The Department for Education (DfE) has published information for parents and carers about the opening of early years providers, schools and colleges, safety in schools, attendance, transport, school meals and exams.

Read the guidance: What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Coronavirus: children returning to school in England

The Department for Education (DfE) has issued a press statement encouraging headteachers of schools in England to invite back more primary pupils before the summer, where they have capacity to do so. The DfE has also published guidance to help schools in England identify and address gaps in pupils' understanding due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Read the press release: Primary schools to be given flexibility to bring back more pupils

Read the guidance: Identifying and addressing gaps in pupils' understanding

Coronavirus: pastoral care in schools

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance on how schools in England can provide additional emotional and pastoral support for pupils when they return to school following the coronavirus outbreak.

Read the guidance: Pastoral care in the curriculum

Coronavirus: schools FAQs

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing around frequently asked questions (FAQs) about coronavirus and schools in the UK. The briefing looks at school closures and re-openings; school attendance rates; and survey evidence about differences in home learning.

Read the news story and download the briefing: Coronavirus and schools: FAQs

Coronavirus: loneliness

Research in Practice (RiP) has published a blog along with access to resources looking at key messages concerning loneliness and how they can be applied in social care practice.

Read the blog: Social connection, loneliness and lockdown

Coronavirus: children and young peopleâ??s mental health

The Centre for Mental Health has published a report looking at the impact of the coronavirus crisis on mental health including children's mental health. The report calls on the Government to take urgent action on mental health inequalities in its planning for recovery from the pandemic.

Read the news story: Covid-19 could widen mental health inequalities for a generation

Read the report: Covid-19: understanding inequalities in mental health during the pandemic (PDF)

My Time CYP Primary Mental Health Service details updated

The details of how to get in touch with the My Time CYP Primary Mental Health Service have been updated.

To contact the service in the first instance (as the office is temporarily closed) please email the My Time in-box at: mytimecumbria@barnardos.org.uk

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION - Name of school and contact details; whether you are requesting advice or making a referral; a time when you can be contacted by telephone; contact telephone number. The admin team monitor emails daily (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) and will allocate your query to a practitioner who will then contact you.

Coronavirus : children's concerns

Childline has updated its website to include information to support children and young people concerned about coronavirus, The Independent has also published an article on advice from experts about how parents can respond to their children's concerns about coronavirus, and includes a comment from the NSPCC.

Visit Childline: Worries about the world: coronavirus

Read the news article: 'I went through my 10-year-old's search history and there was coronavirus':what should parents do about virus fear?

Safeguarding children at risk from criminal exploitation

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a review into adolescent deaths or serious harm where criminal exploitation was a factor. The review examines the lives of 21 teenagers from 17 areas across England who died or experienced serious harm where criminal exploitation was a factor, and aims to identify what might be done differently by practitioners to improve approaches to protecting adolescents who find themselves threatened with violence and serious harm by criminal gangs. Findings include: boys from black and minority ethnic backgrounds appear to be more vulnerable to harm from criminal exploitation; exclusion from mainstream school is seen as a trigger point for risk of serious harm; parental engagement is nearly always a protective factor; and more priority should be given to disrupting perpetrator activity. A CASPAR briefing summarising findings from this report will be published on the NSPCC Learning website later this week.

Read the news story: Safeguarding children at risk from criminal exploitation

Read the report: It was hard to escape Safeguarding children at risk from criminal exploitation (PDF)

Online safety

The BBC reports that TikTok, a social video app that allows users to share short videos, is introducing a family safety mode designed to give parents tighter control over how their children use the app. The safety feature will allow parents and carers to link their account to their child's and have direct control over the safety settings.

News and Events

Online hate