This week in Living and Learning, we’ve been learning about how to stay safe and who to talk to if we have worries. The lesson focused on 2 key messages:
- every child has the right to be safe
- if something is wrong, it is never the child’s fault
What is harm?
We learnt about different types of harm and how to seek help. We explored the five ways a child can be hurt:
- Bullying, such as being left out or called names repeatedly
- Hitting, which can leave marks like bruises
- Hurting feelings, which may not be visible but can be very upsetting
- Not being looked after properly, such as not having enough food or care
- Privates not being private, when something makes a child feel uncomfortable or unsure
Bullying
When we’re talking about bullying, don’t forget what STOP means in our school:
- the definition: Several Times On Purpose
- the solution: Start Telling Other People
Trusted Adults
We listened to a story about a character called Sam who felt worried and unhappy but was able to feel better after speaking to a trusted adult. This helped reinforce the important message that speaking out can lead to support and positive change.
We then focused on identifying our safe adults. The children thought carefully about who they trust and who they could go to for help both in school and at home. They discussed people who listen, help them feel safe and take their worries seriously. We learnt that children can keep speaking out until they are heard and supported, and that there are always people who want to help them.
Key Messages
To finish the session, we revisited the key messages in a fun and engaging way through a game and class discussion. The children confidently shared their understanding that:
- All children have the right to be kept safe
- It is never their fault if they are hurt by someone else
- They should speak to a trusted adult if they are worried
- Help is always available, including from Childline
Help at Home
- Talk to your child about who their safe adults are and encourage them to name a few people they trust
- Remind them that they can speak to you about anything, even if it feels small or confusing
- Reinforce that if something feels wrong, they should keep telling someone until they get help
- Reassure your child that they will always be listened to and supported
These conversations at home help to strengthen the important messages from school and support children in feeling safe, confident and ready to speak out.