Best Practice

Safeguarding and mental health: Reintegrating your pupils

As school leaders welcome more pupils back into school, safeguarding will be at the forefront of planning. Bethany Eadie looks at what to cover in your staff safeguarding update so that your team feels prepared and confident to support pupils as they reintegrate

Staff may need additional support to help them with their own reintegration and personal circumstances as well as the likely emotional strain from increased safeguarding concerns and disclosures.

Acknowledge that safeguarding is a difficult topic and some of the content may be upsetting to hear, especially at the moment.

You should explain that anyone can take time out at any time, or talk to you after the session if they need to. Let staff know that they can access free, confidential support from trained counsellors by calling the Education Support helpline (see further information).

There is a spectrum of issues that children will be dealing with when returning to school. Some will have had a difficult time at home and see school as a safe place to come back to. Others will feel the opposite: they may have felt safe at home, and feel anxious about being back at school. While most children will adapt and settle back into school, others will need more support.

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