Be aware of the safeguarding risks over the holidays
It's useful to be aware of potential problems before the holidays start, so you can point pupils, parents and carers in the direction of support, and get staff ready for when pupils return.
What types of safeguarding issues could appear during the spring holidays?
Long-standing issues within families could be heightened over the holidays, and new safeguarding issues may take place
Children might also be exposed to:
- Domestic abuse
- Lack of basic care, like heat, shelter or food
- Eviction, moving around in temporary housing or homelessness
- Parents or carers with depression or addiction
- Criminal exploitation
- Online scams
- A generally stressful home environment
Even if a child doesn't experience abuse in any way, these types of situations could have knock-on effects, such as worsening a pupil's mental health.
There could also be increased risks of both child sexual abuse and child-on-child sexual abuse over the holidays. Children may
