SEN & pShE
A right to be Safe
Deaf children are three times more likely to be
understanding about growing up, but had misunderstood Staying safe: Examples of lesson ideas and
or misinterpreted information. through Safe, they were support from the NSPCC’s Safe resource
abused, meaning that PSHE is a crucial aspect
able to fill in the gaps and correct inaccuracies.
Furthermore, once children had a better understanding
Further information
of safety issues this often led to disclosures of abuse. to order a Safe pack, costing £90, visit www.nspcc.org.
of their education. The NSPCC’s Yasmin
Being able to talk openly about difficult topics raised in uk/safe or contact 020 7825 7422.
sRe is good for all children. SecEd You can also visit the nsPCC’s stand at the
Kovic offers her advice
education show in Birmingham’s neC from today
• Yasmin Kovic is a senior consultant with the NSPCC (thursday, March 4) to saturday (March 6). the stand
and co-author of the safe DVD and practice guide. number is F88.
ention “sex” and topic areas including bullying, road safety and growing
M
“education” in the same up. the information in the programme is teachable to all
NSPCC advice and guidance for teaching SRE
sentence, and often enough children and can be taught in mixed groups of hearing
• Use ice-breakers to help create a safe and more relaxed learning environment
teachers, nQts and teaching and deaf children at mainstream schools.
• Make it different to their everyday learning. Give them the opportunity to discuss and ask questions,
assistants will admit it is the Deaf children therefore do not need to be pulled
topic they worry most about out of PsHe to be taught separately. the nsPCC is
and to be fully involved in this learning session
teaching. concerned that some deaf children miss out on sRe
• Enjoyment. Give the children the opportunity to have some fun, have a laugh, and get over the initial
this could be because of a lack of training, sheer altogether as they spend their PsHe class time catching embarrassment
embarrassment, or the possibility that some pupils in the up with other school work.
• When addressing the growing-up topic, separate girls and boys into small groups. Ensure the same
class may already be sexually active. Safe is a way of delivering critical information
information about boys and girls is received by both at the same time
Yet, it is vital that all children and young people to groups of children. it empowers them to learn the
have access to sex and relationships education (sRe) difference between safe and unsafe behaviours and
• Be aware of updates on topic areas such as the internet, mobile phones and new technology which
at secondary school. this is particularly significant for allows them to explore the information through a
are fast changing. A lot of sexual bullying occurs through modern technology
deaf children. range of visual materials. this includes young people • Make sure that if children have any concerns during or after the class, they know they can speak to
Research shows that deaf children are three times themselves presenting the programme, role plays,
the school nurse or counsellor
more likely to be abused (sullivan and Knutson, 2000) scenarios, animations, storyboards, and a glossary of
• Don’t rush it – the information needs to be understood, absorbed and reflected upon.
than hearing children. More than eighty per cent of deaf words and terms.
children are taught in mainstream schools. in pilot studies, teachers found that using Safe
• Revisit SRE regularly to reinforce what has been learnt
the nsPCC is concerned that some deaf children removed embarrassment or personal learning gaps
may be missing out on the benefits of sRe. this is regarding sRe. they found it helpful having deaf young
because it is not taught in a way that is accessible to people presenting information on the DVD.
them. sRe can help protect all children from abuse by Having access to a range of visual resources to
At the chalkface
teaching them about healthy relationships and how to support the lesson was also useful. Feedback from the
recognise inappropriate or coercive behaviour. children indicated that they could relate to the young
sRe cannot be taught in isolation. it must also people presenting the material. some really enjoyed the
The Gove and the Blonde
include an understanding of how relationships work opportunity to play around on the interactive elements of
and the social and emotional aspects of development. the DVD, enabling them to think about and absorb what tHe GoVe is seeing the Blonde. contacted Buddha, done a spot of breathing and
opportunities to discuss, learn and understand changes they had learnt. Michael Gove, education sage, is to meet Goldie – eureka! – he now knows why he is being bullied.
to the body during puberty, and the new sexual urges that there are some topic areas within Safe that are Hawn, new Age guru – for bilateral talks. Because the thug felt like it? no. original
occur are essential. specific to the needs of deaf children. However, using it All part of the tories’ Big tent policy. they flit sin? no? Rubbish self-esteem? or his wretched
All children need to understand right and wrong in PsHe classes provides useful information for all, as from the swedish Model to a Blonde one. existence? no. none of the above.
behaviours and what the law says about consent. Perhaps well as raising deaf awareness for the hearing children in their theme? Aggression. Bullying. the prime “the bully,” opines tot, “did not use his pre-
most importantly, they need to know who they can talk to the class. the DVD has sign language with voice-over minister’s? Your demon headteacher’s? frontal cortex to make good decisions.” eh?
if they are worried about any of these issues. and subtitles and it offers inclusive fun activities. no. our pupils’. it’s rampant. How the thug behaved thus “because of his
ninety per cent of parents to deaf children are in pilot studies, we found that hearing children do we stop it? Who kno’ eh? i’ll listen amygdala”. Read that again. From a
hearing. Many have no signing skills and may not be enjoyed communicating with their classmates through to anyone. shadow ministers, cabbies. Kindergarten baby? Articulate little
able to communicate effectively with their deaf child. British sign Language and english. Groups would Hollywood stars. fellow, eh? i would have decked him for
this means it is even more crucial for the child to learn often start with hearing children sitting together. But Goldie may know zilch about being too clever by half.
sRe at school. the teaching has to be structured and towards the end they would integrate and find a common London schools, Ladbroke Grove “Amygdala?” Whassat? Goldie’s brain
delivered in a visual way that is tailor-made to the vastly language to discuss the various topics with the deaf may not be Malibu beach, but she’s science. still, it might even work. i wander
differing needs of deaf children. children. ditzy and orange and botoxed and across the playground. sidney Lunk yet
several years ago, the nsPCC and the national the nsPCC found that children with limited blonde and could well be thinking again has the Red Mist – and Hugo twerp
Deaf Children’s society were among organisations language skills could understand most of the DVD outside the box. in a savage armlock. i advance upon the
that expressed concerns about the increased risk of material. the visual animations and storyboards were nothing else seems to work. dispiriting scene.
abuse facing deaf children. there was an apparent lack particularly helpful for teachers. it aided the children’s sidney Lunk is still raging. the “Desist sidney, you horrid bully!”
of inclusive or accessible materials available for deaf understanding of information and concepts as well as Anger Management has never taken. “**** off, sir!”
children regarding safety and awareness. developing their vocabulary. Lesson plans are set out in Finbar is still barking. He’d beat up his “think of Buddha – empty your mind
At the time, the nsPCC was successfully using a the accompanying practice guide. teachers can also offer own shadow. He’s seen off Ms Limpet – think of nothing!”
basic personal safety skills for deaf children programme the programme on a one-to-one basis if necessary. the Freudian. never a huge mental wrench. He scrunches
in schools. this programme was piloted nationally with Providing good quality sRe can be stressful. And Decibelle still has her demons. his brows. “now, breathe sidney, breathe!”
a view to developing a comprehensive pack of personal However, it is imperative that all children have access Her sessions with Ms Crystal therapy “i fort i was, sir!”
safety materials, now known as Safe. to meaningful and insightful sRe. From pilot studies, have just made things worse. “Chill, oh troubled one! And ponder on the
the Safe personal safety skills programme contains 10 we found that many deaf children already had an so let’s give Goldie ago. she’s invented a harmony of all things.”
technique called MindUP. He does. He drops the blubbing weed.
it’s something to do with Buddha and “Blimey, sir! i’m terribly sorry. it must be the
‘
Research shows that deaf children are three
breathing. You mix them up and harmony reigns. old amygdala playing up again!”
Her system incorporates ‘concepts with brain Marvellous! What insight! All rage assuaged.
times more likely to be abused than hearing
science’ and seems somewhat akin to recent if you believe this, you better get on Goldie’s
“Brain Gym” twilight Workshops, which rather MindUP website – with the Gove.
made my brain hurt. no matter. i surf the Goldie
children. More than eighty per cent of deaf children
website. What’s this? A testimonial from a satisfied • Ian Whitwham is a former teacher. A book of his best
customer, a mother whose kindergarten child has ever columns is out now. For details, email editor@
are taught in mainstream schools
been bullied. sec-ed.co.uk. Ian returns to his normal home on the
’
Using Goldie’s “MindUP” techniques, he has outside back cover next week.
SecEd • March 4 2010 15
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