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Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 1d

The first rise in 14yrs of teenage pregnancies (a rise seen in all areas of England) and a lower rate of condom use has led to a call for renewed action by the government and associated agencies (e.g. schools, NHS) from the Local Government Association.
www.local.gov.uk/about/news/t...

Teen pregnancies rise for the first time in 14 years prompting LGA call for renewed action

“Councils have led the way in reducing teenage pregnancies. We must now build on the achievements of the past 25 years by tackling persistent inequalities, digital exclusion, school absence and…

www.local.gov.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 1d

A BBC investigation has found there have been incidents of very young children taking knives into school. Kent police recorded an assault carried out by a 4-yr-old, while West Midlands police reported that 6-year-old had taken a flick knife into class.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Children as young as four taking knives into school, BBC finds

Incidents of young children bringing knives into primary schools have been revealed by a BBC investigation.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 3d

I'm going to be one of the speakers at the Northern Primary Leaders Conference.
My talk will be about Keeping Children Safe in Education and Safeguarding in the Digital Age, and will cover lots of up-to-the-minute topics.
📅October 17
📍Harrogate, Yorkshire
www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...

Yorkshire Primary Leaders Conference

This one day conference will bring together leading experts in the education sector to look at the key challenges schools face today. The speaker...

www.trybooking.com

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 3d

I'm delighted to be one of the speakers at the African Caribbean Education Network 5th Anniversary Conference on Thursday. There will be keynote addresses from Lord Simon Woolley and Afua Hirsch.
📅 7 October
📍Eton College, Windsor
Register here:
www.aceducationnetwork.com/acen-5th-ann...
#ACEN

ACEN 5th Anniversary Conference – Eton College – ACEN

www.aceducationnetwork.com

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 3d

Been a Designated Safeguarding Lead for over 2 years and need to strengthen your skills?
Child protection is always changing - and my Renewal course brings your practice bang up to date:
💥 Latest case studies
💥 Updates to KCSIE
💥 Changes in values and attitudes
For more info, DM me or link in bio.

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 4d

#ThinkTheUnthinkable: A father who killed his 2-wk-old son while he was in a special care baby unit has been given a life sentence. After inflicting catastrophic injuries, he walked out of the hospital for a cigarette, leaving nurses trying to resuscitate him.
www.itv.com/news/westcou...

www.itv.com

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 5d

A primary school in Northamptonshire says that after a smartphone ban was introduced last month, its children are calmer and more focused.
The school was expecting some pushback from parents, but the headteacher says its effects have only been positive.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Smartphone ban means calmer pupils, says Northamptonshire teacher

Marie Lally says children are turning up at the school gates "more focused".

www.bbc.co.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 7d

An academy trust CEO says leaders need to call out schools that attempt to curate their rolls, in order to improve data. He told a conference panel that school leaders need to start a conversation around inclusion, and welcome every single young person.
schoolsweek.co.uk/call-out-sch...

‘Call out schools curating their rolls’, urges trust CEO

Trust leader says 'we need to stop rewarding schools' who do not welcome all youngsters in their community

schoolsweek.co.uk

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Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 8d

✨✨BY POPULAR DEMAND✨✨
My September DSL Renewal Course sold out, so I've scheduled an extra date for those who weren't able to make it.
The date is Friday 14 November.
The course is online.
Details are on the poster; book via my website or contact/DM me to find out more.

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 8d

I really enjoyed my visit to the Childcare and Education Expo last Friday. The atmosphere was buzzing and it was so busy!
I got great feedback on the workshop I presented, and it was amazing to meet up with colleagues past and present.
Here's me in full flow during my session:

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Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 9d

New research from Girlguiding shows two-thirds of girls age 11-21 change their everyday behaviour to avoid sexual harassment, over half say they don't feel safe on their own while on public transport and 86% have avoided going out after dark to keep safe.
www.girlguiding.org.uk/about-us/pre...

Girls stand together in solidarity as two thirds change their everyday behaviour to avoid sexual harassment

New research from Girlguiding reveals how the persistent threat of sexism, misogyny and harassment is impacting girls’ everyday lives and affecting their confidence, mental health and wellbeing.

www.girlguiding.org.uk

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Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 10d

Action for Children says they have seen a big rise over the last three years in parents facing violent behaviour from their children.
Unmet SEND needs, mental health issues and school transition periods are spoken of as key trigger points for parents.
www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media-centre...

UK parenting service sees 51% rise in demand for help with children's violent behaviour towards parents

UK parenting service sees 51% rise in demand for help with children's violent behaviour towards parents.

www.actionforchildren.org.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 11d

✨✨BY POPULAR DEMAND✨✨
My September DSL Refresher course sold out, so I've scheduled an extra date for those who weren't able to make it.
The date is Friday 14 November.
The course is online.
Details are on the poster; book via my website or contact/DM me to find out more.

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 11d

A BBC-commissioned survey found that over one third of teenagers spend at least 5hrs a day on their phones, with 5% spending 8 or more hours a day. In another poll, 80% of parents questioned said phone usage had negative impacts on their child's behaviour.
www.sec-ed.co.uk/content/news...

Teens on their phones for more than five hours a day - SecEd

Two polls – from the BBC and the Liberal Democrats – have raised fears about the impact of mobile phones on young people

www.sec-ed.co.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 12d

Children and young adults are being recruited by 'hostile states' such as Iran and Russia as proxies to carry out crimes such as sabotage, says the Metropolitan Police.
They have urged parents to pay attention to their children's online activity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Met warns that hostile states are recruiting youths for crime

Cdr Dominic Murphy's warning comes weeks after three people were convicted in a case linked to Russia.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 14d

1/3 women have experienced sexual harassment during their time at university, according to data published by the Office for Students, who asked over 50,000 women in their final year. The survey also found almost 20% experienced sexual assault or violence.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Third of women report facing sexual harassment at university in England, survey finds

Higher education regulator’s findings from survey of 50,000 final-year students described as ‘national scandal’

www.theguardian.com

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 15d

The DofE want more education professionals to carry out Prevent training, & have regional coordinators to support its delivery in education settings.
They offer large, virtual training sessions for everyone working in education in England. More here:
www.gov.uk/guidance/reg...

Regional Prevent education co-ordinators

How regional Prevent education co-ordinators (RPECs) can help education providers with the Prevent duty.

www.gov.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 15d

Talking to children about stress:
This article in the Children's Society archives is really effective. It helps you to recognise the signs of stress, listen effectively, encourage exercise and it even suggests some apps to help kids to manage their stress.
www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/b...

Boiling point: Talking to children about stress | The Children's Society

Stress doesn’t have to be an issue. In fact, when managed right young people can use it as a way to develop emotional resilience and handle difficult situations better later in life.

www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 16d

For the 1st time, disturbing AI-generated images of child sexual abuse have been found on an AI chatbot site. The site appears inoffensive but if accessed a certain way, will generate 'abhorrent' sexual scenarios with children, which is illegal in the UK.
www.iwf.org.uk/news-media/n...

‘Disturbing’ child sexual abuse images found on AI chatbot website

IWF says this is the first time it has identified imagery of child sexual abuse linked to AI chatbots.

www.iwf.org.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 16d

The Centre for Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse has created a guide enabling professionals to develop a effective, evidence-based response to CSA. It's designed for those working with local & regional safeguarding children partnerships.
Download here:
www.csacentre.org.uk/research-res...

Developing your strategic response to child sexual abuse | CSA Centre

A guide for safeguarding children partnerships to build an effective, evidence-based strategy covering each part of their response to child sexual abuse.

www.csacentre.org.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 17d

It probably seems ages since the new safeguarding reforms came into effect on 1 Sept, but at the start of the year it can be easy to overlook something on an ever-growing to-do list. Here's another quick guide to the main EYFS reforms introduced this year.
www.cypnow.co.uk/content/in-d...

Safeguarding reforms: what early years settings need to know - CYP Now

A range of changes that strengthen child safety and clarify provider responsibilities across early years settings come into force from 1 September.

www.cypnow.co.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 17d

Sweden is to implement a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools from Sept '26. It will be compulsory for all schools (& after-school clubs) to collect phones & keep them until the end of the day. The aim is to improve both study conditions & security.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Sweden to implement nationwide mobile phone ban in schools

From autumn 2026 all schools and after-school clubs must collect and hold students’ phones until the end of the day

www.theguardian.com

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 18d

#ThinkTheUnthinkable: a Northumberland teacher has been banned from the profession indefinitely after being jailed for ten years for child sexual abuse offences. The offences included her and her boyfriend filming themselves sexually abusing a child.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Northumberland woman who filmed sexual abuse banned from teaching

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) says Zoe Williams fell "significantly short" of the profession.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 18d

Schools Week has investigated the increasing number of challenging pupils who have been turned away from in-year transfers, amounting to what councils say is selection. Some schools are capping cohorts & wrongly turning away vulnerable children in care.
schoolsweek.co.uk/shut-out-how...

Shut out: How schools are turning away vulnerable pupils

Schools accused of refusing so many pupils it 'amounts to selection', capping cohorts to prevent in-year transfers and wrongly turning away youngsters in care

schoolsweek.co.uk

Ann Marie Christian @thesafeguardinguru.bsky.social · 19d

I am speaking THIS FRIDAY at the Childcare & Education Expo Midlands 2025.
You can register for free: buff.ly/TltDvyH.
A must-attend event for professionals shaping the future of early years education.
📅 26 –27 Sept 2025
📍 Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry

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