Understanding Harmful Sexual Behaviour - Safeguarding Masterclass

About this session

It is important to recognise that abuse isn’t always perpetrated by adults; children can abuse other children and it can happen both inside and outside of educational settings and online. This is referred to as ‘child-on-child abuse’ All staff should be able to recognise the indicators and signs of child-on-child abuse and know how to identify it and respond to reports in line with their child protection policy. Even if there are no reports of child-on-child abuse, it should be recognised by schools and settings that this does not mean it is not happening, it may be the case that it is just not being reported.

Staff in schools and settings should understand the importance of challenging inappropriate behaviours between children that are actually abusive in nature. Downplaying certain behaviours, for example dismissing sexual harassment as “banter”, “just having a laugh”, “part of growing up” or “boys being boys” can lead to a culture of unacceptable behaviours, an unsafe environment for children and in worst case scenarios, a culture that normalises abuse leading to children accepting it as normal and not coming forward to report it.

This session is suitable for classroom staff, pastoral leaders, headteachers, DSLs.

• What is a ’Harmful Sexual Behaviour’?
• What to look for…
• Types of behaviour
• How to Identify, Understand, Respond