Watch for signs of abuse when pupils return, teachers asked

TEACHERS should look for signs of child neglect and abuse when schools reopen, a children’s charity has said, as ministers draw up plans for a post-coronavirus child recovery strategy.

The NSPCC wants the Government to offer teachers summer courses in how to handle disclosures from pupils and how to spot the warning signs. The Department for Education is understood to be concerned for children who may have been affected in lockdown.

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, welcomed plans to reopen schools in September, but warned ministers must not overlook child well-being as part of their recovery strategy. He said: “Many will have lost the only place they feel safe and access to the only adults they can trust. We know children who have had traumatic experiences find it hard to engage academically.”

The NSPCC said last month that for every hour during lockdown they received at least one call about a child at risk of harm from domestic violence. Half the calls led to the children being referred to councils or social services.

Anna Edmundson, head of policy at the NSPCC, said: “When children come back to school the Government needs to ensure teachers are equipped to handle any disclosures.”

A government spokesman said: “Schools play a key role in protecting children, so we are looking at how to support the safety and well-being of vulnerable children by expanding the number of social workers in schools to help teachers identify those at risk.”