Agenda item - Harmful Sexual Behaviour & Schools

Report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning (copy attached)

Contact Officer: Justin Grantham

24.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning which updated the Committee on the work that had been implemented with schools and partners in the summer term of 2021 related to concerns around young people and Harmful Sexual Behaviours. The report was introduced by the Head of Safeguarding & Performance.

24.2    Cllr Nield asked if the Committee could be provided with copies of the PHSE education materials and was advised they could.

24.3    Cllr McNair noted that there was intervention from professional services but there was no mention of parents and asked how they were involved, and whether that would happen before formal referrals were made. The Head of Safeguarding & Performance confirmed that any referral should be considered with parents unless there was good reason not to. Cllr McNair asked in what circumstances parents would not be involved, and was advised that would be exceptional but would occur if it was felt that it could be unsafe for the child if the parents were aware of an allegation.

24.4    Ms D Boyd asked if children with SEN had access to the education material and whether they were adapted to be appropriate for everyone. The Head of Safeguarding & Performance confirmed that the educational material designed to be accessible for all young people. The lawyer confirmed that government guidance was that schools should take the lead and so it was expected that they would ensure that any educational materials was appropriate for their students.

24.4    Mr A Muirhead asked whether some schools may not be leading on this issue over concerns over reputation and, if there was a targeted intervention by schools on some individuals, would their parents need to have given their consent. The Head of Safeguarding & Performance said there was no indication that some schools were not fully engaging due to worries about reputation and the feedback from all schools was that they were very interested in this area. With regard to intervention by schools it could be part of a discussion with all pupils but there would be no targeted intervention with individual children without parental consent.

24.5    Cllr Grimshaw referred to paragraph 3.7 of the report regarding 1:1 support for boys and young men and asked for further information on how that would be undertaken, asked whether the PHSE was delivered to all pupils or if they could opt out, and if there could be gender-based discussions at schools to allow boys and girls to discuss the issues amongst themselves. The Head of Safeguarding & Performance said that with regard to support for boys/young men the Council’s partners in Change Hub supported boys where issues raised were of a more serious nature and the Police & Crime Commissioner were taking a lead on adult men around harmful sexual behaviour, but this was area which the Council wanted to explore further. PHSE lessons were part of the school’s curriculum so all children should take part but they would check after the meeting to confirm. The idea of gender-based discussion groups was good and would be discussed with the Schools Working Group.   

24.6    RESOLVED: That the Committee noted this report and its contents including the next steps.