Vulnerable pupils
Supporting vulnerable children who are ill
0Vulnerable children may be absent from school because of emotional difficulties, because of their mental health or for physical reasons. With stretched services and numbers increasing, how can schools support those who are ill? Star author, David Harvey, provides his advice. Summary Some children are struggling to return to school due to anxiety.There is guidance surrounding applications for medical evidence and there may be other, preferable ways of gathering medical advice. Local authorities have a range of responsibilities in relation to students with medical needs. School attendance is the top priority. Teachers, school leaders, local authorities, multi-academy trusts and Secretary of…
Ten ways to ensure safeguarding in attendance monitoring
0The attendance lead has a key role in spotting safeguarding issues.Tracy McLennan identifies ten methods of making sure that signs of abuseor neglect are identified as quickly as possible and are acted upon. Summary A strong attendance monitoring process can reveal safeguarding concerns.Regular checks and monitoring of flagged children is an important part of the attendance lead role.All staff have a responsibility for keeping accurate registers and monitoring the attendance of their students. The role of attendance monitoring in safeguarding cannot be underestimated. Keeping children safe in education 2021 guidance highlights children who are ‘persistently absent from education, including persistent…
Supporting parents when their children are self-harming
0School staff have reported that self-harm amongst students is on the increase. It’s a safeguarding concern that can be particularly difficult to understand and deal with. Samantha Garner considers not only what schools can do but what the impact can be on parents too. Summary Students should be consulted before parents are contacted.Parents should be approached carefully and information shared with consideration of its impact.Planning support should be done as a group with the involvement of the student. When students self-harm, it can trigger a wide range of emotions for us as education staff. We will want to ensure that…