Safer Schools & Young People Partnership News:

Age of criminal responsibilityChildren’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) and Just for Kids Law have published a briefing on the minimum age of criminal responsibility explaining why they believe that the current age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is too low. The briefing is published ahead of the House of Lords debate on a Private Members Bill which aims to raise the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales to 12 years old - currently it is 10. Source: CRAE Date: 06 September 2017 Further information:Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill: House of Lords second reading briefing (PDF)

World Suicide Prevention Day: Help Save The #ClassOf2018

World Suicide Prevention Day may have passed (Sunday 10th September) but let’s continue by supporting PAPYRUS who have launched a year-long campaign to Save The #ClassOf2018.

Over 200 schoolchildren are lost to suicide every year in the UK.Despite this, there is currently very little guidance for schools and colleges on how to prevent suicide and support those affected by it. While there have been moves to prioritise the mental wellbeing of children in schools, far fewer people are talking about suicide prevention.

This must change if we are to reduce the number of suicides by children. We need to raise awareness of the scale of suicide in schoolchildren and build suicide-safer schools.

PAPYRUS has developed a new suicide prevention guide for teachers and school staff, ‘Building suicide-safer schools and colleges’. It aims to equip teachers and staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to support schoolchildren who may be having suicidal thoughts. It is free to download on the PAPYRUS website

PAPYRUS needs your support!

You can help by:

  • Watching our campaign film on YouTube
  • Downloading our suicide prevention guide for teachers and school staff: Building suicide-safer schools and colleges
  • Showing your support by updating your Facebook or Twitter profile picture with our campaign frame
  • Downloading our campaign materials and sharing them on social media in the run up to and on World Suicide Prevention Day
  • Joining the conversation online and telling us why and how you plan to help Save The #ClassOf2018
  • Helping us to support more children and young people at risk by making a donation to PAPYRUS: text PAPY17 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070

Find out more about the campaign – and how you can get involved – at

You can also read their press release here

Competition time –

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cheshire Constabulary need you!!

They are looking for a Cheshire-based primary school to perform at our annual Emergency Services Carol Concert.The concert will take place at Chester Cathedral on the evening of Tuesday 28 November 2017 and will be free for the public to attend. Our competition is free to enter and the winners will have the opportunity to perform at the concert together with Cheshire Fire Choir and the Cheshire Constabulary Band.

How to enter

Send a 3 minute video with sound or audio clip of your group performing a Christmas-themed tune to together with a short statement as to why your school would like to perform at this event. Closing date for entries is Friday 13 October 2017. Entries will be judged by a panel and the winner will be announced on Friday 20 October 2017.

We look forward to hearing from the young talent of Cheshire!

*The winning entrants will need to be responsible for their own costs and travel arrangements to/from the venue and will develop a set list by early November with the organisers to complement the other performances on the night.

Further training date available for High Schools

Alcohol Education Trust - Free training and Recourses available to High schools Pan Cheshire

As previously advertised we have been working in partnership with the Alcohol Education Trust to offer the free training to all our high schools. The training was delivered in each of the 4 areas and where well attended. The feedback was outstanding which does not surprise me at all. In fact the programme has been short listed for the Children & Now Awards 2017 Early Intervention Award. Once you have attended the training you will be able to access further free online resources which will help continue to support your deliverance of Alcohol and personal safety lessons to your students. This training has only been possible with the support from Crimebeat who recognise the importance of such awareness raising training around the misuse of Alcohol and the consequences relating to Alcohol misuse. They have very kindly offered to support this buy purchasing the resources on our behalf which then allows us to offer this training and resources free of charge to you. Places are being offered to 2 members of staff who will be able to deliver the training within their own school setting.

The resources and training is suitable for our SEN school as well.

For those that did not attend the original training dates will receive a separate email inviting you to the additional training session that will be available to the outstanding schools. Please do not delay in responding to this email which will come via your SCiE officer as places will be limited.

Jnr Safety Officers Scheme

Fantastic response from the East Primary schools – we now have 41 schools on board.To all our Jnr Safety Officers pan Cheshire can I welcome you and remind you all that if you need any help please do get in touch. Our local PCSO`s are ready and raring to meet you all. Good luck and don’t forget to keep your log books up to date as these are all collected at the end of the summer and will be entered into a draw to see who has been the most creative and resourceful in spreading the messages to all.

All the other areas have the majority of schools already signed up . If you are not then it’s not too late to join this fantastic scheme

E-Safety Officers Programme and updates

Very useful for all professionals – Social media guidance

The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) has published guidance for social workers and other health and care professions on using social media. Top tips include: think before you post; think about who can see what you share; maintain appropriate professional boundaries; and not posting information which could identify a service user unless you have their permission. Source: HCPCDate: 04 September 2017 Further information: Guidance on social media (PDF)

Young people’s experiences of social networksThe NSPCC has published the Net Aware Report for 2017, providing a snapshot into young people’s online lives along with reviews of individual sites, apps and games that they use. Findings from a survey of 1,696 11–18 year olds across the UK exploring the opportunities they benefit from alongside the risks they face include: young people are motivated by enjoyment in their exploration of the online space valuing opportunities for fun, communication, self-expression and online autonomy; one in four reviews stated that the platform being reviewed was risky – the primary risks identified were: interaction with strangers; and inappropriate content which was particularly prevalent on sites and aps with live streaming. Recommendations include the setting up of an independent body to ensure social media platforms are transparent and accountable for the safety of children using their services. Source:NSPCCDate: 11 September 2017 Further information:Net Aware report 2017: “Freedom to express myself safely”: exploring how young people navigateopportunities and risks in their online lives (PDF)

E-safety for schools:The NSPCC has updated its website to include online safety advice and resources for schools and colleges. The webpage includes: links to resources to teach children and young people the skills to stay safe online; resources and advice to share with parents and carers; and guides and example documents on how to safeguard against and respond to an online safety incident which can be used to develop policies and procedures. Source:NSPCCDate: 08 September 2017

CyberbullyingYoungMinds and The Children’s Society have released findings from an online survey of children and young people aged 11-25 looking at their views and experiences of using social media and cyberbullying. The survey of 1, 089 children and young people young people found that: 14% of respondents said they had experienced online bullying in the last month; and 83% think that social media companies should do more to tackle cyberbullying on their platforms. Findings from the survey will feed in to a joint inquiry looking at the impact of cyberbullying on young people’s mental health, being led by MP Alex Chalk. Source: Young MindsDate: 05 September 2017 Further information:Inquiry into the impact of cyberbullying on social media on children and young peoples mental health: summary of findings (PDF)

What is Sarahah ? - An App that has been very popular over the summer holidays and has been ranking top at the App store. According to the app’s website – ‘Sarahah helps you in discovering your strengths and areas for improvement by receiving honest feedback from your employees and your friends in a private manner’. Sarahah originally started out as a website intended for employees to give anonymous feedback to their employers. For further information have a look at Wayne Denner blog - Sarahah - click HERE

Good website that looks at On-line safety and is delivered in a way that is easy to understand . Lots of useful tips and links - Alan Mckenzie`s website

How are smartphones affecting teenagers? (Video) (04/09/2017)A generation who have spent their entire adolescence with smartphones are feeling the effects, including negative impacts on their mental health, says author Jean Twenge.

Full story: BBC

E-Safety Officers Training – Still places available

E-Safety Programme TrainingConfirmation for those that have already booked on

Please find below details of dates, times and most importantly, details of how to register on the thinkuknow website which MUST be completed by the professionals prior to attending the course.Registration is open before the event and can I therefore ask that you and your pupils arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the training with the relevant documentation required (details further down in this email), as stated below. If this documentation required for the professionals is not seen by ourselves you will not be able to take part in the CEOP training. As stated previously, drinks will be provided throughout the day, but you will need to ensure that you, and your pupils, bring a packed lunch with you, as due to security restrictions lunch will need to be held in the training room. Can I also ask any schools who have previously taken part in the programme to bring both the memory sticks given to you to the training we will then swop these with sticks containing up-to-date information on them.

Attached is a link to our website with the address and directions to the Headquarters

Primary times: Please supply your own lunches and bring along your tablets / IPad if you like

09:15 Registration
09:30 Start
14:30 Finish

High / Further times:Please bring along your tablets / IPad if you like

09:15 Registration
09:30 Start
12:00 Finish

FOR THOSE THAT STILL WISH TO BOOK A PLACE PLEASE DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS PLACES ARE NOW LIMITEDThe training will take place at Cheshire Constabulary HQ in Winsford, with the option to choose one FREE half-day session from the following dates

18th September – Primary
2 place available
/
  1. Prestbury Primary School
  2. Woodlands Primary School
  3. St Mary's Catholic Primary
  4. The Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Runcorn
  5. Offley Primary Academy
  6. Bridgewater Park Primary
  7. Mickle Trafford Village School
  8. Adlington Primary School
  9. Hermitage Primary School
  10. St John's C of E, Sandbach
  11. PrestburyCofE Primary
  12. Hermitage Primary School
  13. Farnworth CE Primary
  14. Acresfield Primary
  15. Whitby Heath Primary School

20th September – Primary
8 places available
/
  1. Tilston Parochial CE Primary School
  2. Elton Primary School
  3. Lache Primary School
  4. Simms Cross Primary School
  5. Lindow Primary School
  6. Pikemere Primary School
  7. The Dingle Primary School
  8. The King’s School, Mac
  9. Tarporley CE

21st September – Primary
4 places available
/
  1. Stapeley Broad Lane CE Primary School
  2. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
  3. Lower Peover Primary School
  4. Frodsham Weaver Vale Primary
  5. St Werburgh's & St Columba's Primary School
  6. Winwick CE Primary School
  7. Newton Primary School
  8. Wincle CE Primary School
  9. St Clement’s Catholic Primary
  10. Darnhall Primary School
  11. Gorsewood Primary
  12. Byley Primary School
  13. Beechwood primary school

22nd September – am – High
Fully booked /
  1. Malbank School
  2. Ashley High School
  3. Oaklands school
  4. The King's School, Macclesfield
  5. Archers Brook
  6. Sir William Stanier
  7. Hebden Green

26th September – Primary
2 places available
/
  1. Kelsall Primary School
  2. Oakwood Avenue Primary School
  3. Widnes Academy
  4. Sandbach Primary Academy
  5. Willaston Primary School
  6. Wincham Community Primary School
  7. St Bertelines CE Primary School
  8. Widnes Academy
  9. Willow Wood Community Primary School
  10. The Queen's Lower School
  11. Upton Westlea Primary School
  12. Barrow Hall Primary School
  13. Audlem St James Primary
  14. Bexton Primary
  15. Davenham CP School

27th September – am – High Schools
Fully booked /
  1. The Grange School (Runcorn)
  2. The Queen's School
  3. Warrington Collegiate
  4. Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College
  5. Ellesmere Port Catholic High School
  6. The Grange (Hartford)
  7. Cardinal Newman

29th September – Primary
1 place available
/
  1. Egerton Primary
  2. Nantwich Primary Academy
  3. Bollinbrook Primary
  4. Cambridge Road Primary
  5. Elworth CE Primary
  6. J H Godwin Primary School
  7. Ditton Primary
  8. Tattenhall Park Primary
  9. St. Bede's Catholic Junior School
  10. Hill View Primary School
  11. Runcorn All Saints CE Primary School
  12. Excalibur Primary School
  13. Witton Church Walk Primary School
  14. The Arches Community Primary School
  15. St Wilfrids Catholic Primary
  1. Haslington Primary School

Thinkuknow Introduction Course for Professionals

Professionals working with children and young people or in an advisory capacity to schools and other youth settings are eligible to attend the Thinkuknow Introduction course delivered by CEOP Ambassadors.

Prior to Attendance

Each Thinkuknow Introduction course delegate must sign the Registration and Disclaimer form at the event and, if not done previously, register your own account at the training event we will send the completed Registration and Disclaimer form to CEOP who will process the form, adding the training received to the accounts of each delegate. If you have not registered for your own account CEOP will be unable to add this training and you will not have access to CEOP’s Thinkuknow content that has been reserved for those who have received training.

Delegate Eligibility – Course Attendance – You must bring the following with you to the training

Delegate Eligibility Professionals working with children and young people, or in an advisory capacity to schools and other youth settings, are eligible to attend the Thinkuknow Introduction course delivered by CEOP staff and Ambassadors. Due to the nature of the work discussed at the event each delegate must be able to produce the following documentation to the Ambassador (or nominated colleague) in order to attend the Thinkuknow Introduction course:

  • A signed, headed letter from a senior manager at their organisation stating the delegate’s role and length of employment with the organisation they are representing, the relevance of this training to their role and confirmation that the organisation has undertaken necessary risk assessments to ensure that the delegate is suitable to work with children and young people. If you are a headteacher please ask a member of your Board of Governors to sign the letter.
  • Photographic ID i.e. Passport, driving licence, work ID to check the name on the letter from your organisation.

If you have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

O2 NSPCC Community Events

If you would like to register your interest for the O2 NSPCC team to attend a community event in your area, please e-mail

The team can deliver online safety workshops to parents at non school community groups / clubs (approx.1hr) or attend both schools & non school community groups in a different capacity, such as be on hand to show parents how to apply parental controls to their devices.

Please note: registering your interest does not guarantee they will be able to attend – the team will respond within 5 working days to confirm the next steps.If you require a parent workshop to be delivered for a school then NSPCC can deliver these. If any school wishes to register their interest they must email with their Name, Contact number, Email address & Name of the school and NSPCC will reply to them directly.

For more information about the O2 NSPCC partnership, you can visit the O2 website here or NSPCC website here.

In the News

Be 'open-minded' about discussing porn in lessons, teachers are told as they are urged to be 'non-judgmental' (11/09/2017)

Teachers have been urged to be 'open-minded' about discussing porn in lessons, according to new advice given to schools. Guidelines called 'Let's Talk Porn' say teachers must be 'non-judgmental' when talking about controversial sex-education issues.But experts warned last night that teaching youngsters about pornography risked making it appear normal.

Full story: Daily Mail

Teachers lack confidence to support suicidal pupils (08/09/2017)