Safe, Supported, and Ready to Learn

At UWCSEA we believe that learning is most effective when learners feel safe, secure and supported. Working together as a community, we must prioritise protecting children and keeping them safe. One of the ways we do this is by conducting Safeguarding Lessons in the Infant School.

“At UWCSEA we expect our community to be honest and act with integrity; to be compassionate and morally responsible; and to help other people. We believe that every child and young person, regardless of age, has at all times and in all situations a right to feel safe and protected”. Our PSE curriculum not only teaches children important social, emotional and relationship skills, it also helps ensure our school is a safe and supportive place.

     

Personal and Social Education (PSE) - Safeguarding in the Infant School

Using the Second Step resource, we have developed a series of 12 lessons for Infant School children that specifically address the following areas and concepts:

Ways to Stay Safe

• Adults should take care of you and keep you safe.
• The Ways to Stay Safe are:
• Recognize: Is it safe? What’s the rule?
• Report: Tell an adult.
• Refuse: Say words that mean no.
• Following the Never-Never Rules helps you stay safe.

The Always Ask First Rule

• Always ask a parent or the person in charge first. (Always Ask First Rule)
• Following the Always Ask First Rule helps you stay safe.
• Always ask a parent or the person in charge first before doing something, going somewhere, or accepting something from someone. 
• Practice identifying adults they can ask and asking them assertively for permission.

Safe and Unsafe Touches

• The difference between safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches, and how to use assertiveness skills to refuse unsafe and unwanted touch.
• Safe touches help you feel cared for and loved.
• Unsafe touches hurt your body or feelings.
• You can say words that mean no to any kind of touch you don’t want.

The Touching Rule

• A bigger person should never touch your private body parts except to keep you healthy. Your child also learns how to refuse and report assertively when someone breaks this rule, and that it is never his or her fault that someone broke the rule.
• Private body parts are private because they’re not to be seen or touched by others.
• Remembering the Touching Rule helps you stay safe.
• It's never your fault if someone breaks the Touching Rule.

Practicing Staying Safe

• Practice using the Ways to Stay Safe when someone has broken the Touching Rule. 
• It’s never okay to keep secrets about touching.  (Never Keep Secrets Rule)
• It’s never too late to report a broken Touching Rule.
• Keep reporting until someone helps you.

Reviewing Safety Skills

• Remembering rules and using the Ways to Stay Safe will help you stay safe.
• A bigger person should never touch your private body parts except to keep you healthy. (Touching Rule)
• Never keep secrets about touching. (Never Keep Secrets Rule)

We aim to continue to nurture an environment of safety and support by implementing a PSE curriculum that includes teaching concepts that increase student protection, prevent bullying and promote safety. School should be a sanctuary, a place where children feel physically and emotionally safe and buoyed by positive relationships with supportive adults. When students experience school as a safe and supportive learning environment, one in which they feel welcome and respected, engaged and connected, challenged and valued, then they’re ready to learn.

Recommended Books for Children—Kindergarten–Grade 3