Media reports on newly unsealed Epstein documents have referenced Kenya among countries mentioned internationally.
For those of us working in child protection, this reinforces one truth:
Children must be protected everywhere. 👶🏿🖤
We continue strengthening safeguarding systems and trauma recovery services in Kenya.

#ProtectChildren #Kenya #Safeguarding #EpsteinFiles #ChildProtection #EndExploitation

The final Safeguarding Report into the catastrophic suicide attempt by our daughter about 2 years has been published.

Although I was fully involved during the preparation of this report it is horrifying seeing the full catalogue of errors and missed opportunities laid bare in black & white.

Although there's the usual sections about 'whats changed' & 'recommendations', I have very little faith that the agencies involved - Mental health services, police, GP surgery, acute hospitals - will make sufficient progress to prevent something similar happening to someone else.

A lot of this is organisational inertia, lack of communication & poor professional behaviour, but it's underpinned by each and every one of the organisations involved being chronically underfunded.

(Edit ; our daughter has made an excellent recovery and although not fully 'well', is now living in supported accommodation. She is in constant pain.)

#MentalHealth #Safeguarding

Pastoral teams face a new frontline: abusive parents. Schools need firm boundaries, de-escalation for calls and meetings, safe escalation routes, and leadership backing to protect staff today. #Education #Safeguarding #Wellbeing

https://thetrainingnet.com/parent-aggression-is-becoming-a-frontline-issue-for-secondary-schools/

School plunged into special measures as inspectors uncover ‘serious concerns’ at Ysgol Harri Tudur

Estyn’s hard‑hitting report on Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School in Pembroke, published following a December inspection, warns that around half of pupils are not making enough progress, with many experiencing weak or inconsistent teaching and too few opportunities to develop basic skills.

Inspectors also raised serious concerns about safeguarding, saying staff had not been given the correct guidance on what to do if an allegation is made against a colleague, and lacked training on spotting signs of radicalisation.

The school — one of the largest in Pembrokeshire — must now produce an urgent action plan and will be monitored every four to six months.

‘Shortcomings are not acceptable’

Pembrokeshire County Council said it “fully accepts” the findings and has pledged rapid intervention.

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said:

“We take Estyn’s findings extremely seriously. The shortcomings identified – particularly in safeguarding, leadership, pupil progress and the consistency of teaching – are not acceptable for any of our learners and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency by the school and with the support of the Local Authority.

“We are now putting in place a programme of rapid, decisive improvement at Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School. This will include strong, targeted support alongside firm and sustained challenge.

“Our commitment is clear: we will work relentlessly with the school’s leadership, governors and wider staff to ensure that learners receive the high‑quality education, care and aspiration they deserve.”

The council said it will deploy enhanced school improvement support and leadership capacity, strengthen safeguarding procedures “as a matter of urgency”, and bring in tougher monitoring, accountability and performance systems through a multi‑agency improvement board.

Inspectors highlight weak teaching and poor attendance

Estyn found that while many pupils feel supported and safe, teaching quality varies widely. In around half of lessons, pupils make suitable progress — but in the rest, inspectors say work is undemanding, expectations are low and behaviour is not managed well enough.

The report also highlights poor attendance, especially on Fridays, weak self‑evaluation and improvement planning, underdeveloped literacy, numeracy, digital and Welsh skills across the curriculum, inconsistent behaviour management that leaves some pupils reluctant to report bullying, and a large deficit budget with no agreed recovery plan.

Inspectors concluded that leadership has had “little impact” on key areas of the school’s work.

Some strengths remain, inspectors say

Estyn did highlight a few bright spots in an otherwise tough report. Inspectors said staff work hard to create a caring atmosphere, and many pupils told them they feel supported and safe in school. Vulnerable learners benefit from the Supported Learning Centre, which provides targeted emotional and social help, while the Learning Resource Centre offers a calm, structured space for pupils who need extra support.

The school’s personal and social education programme was also picked out as a strength, giving pupils clear, practical guidance on relationships, identity, sexual health, safety and respect.

Pupils have opportunities to take on leadership roles through the school council and whole‑school Senedd. Inspectors said these roles help pupils feel involved in school life, even though some told them they’re not always convinced their views lead to change.

Six urgent recommendations

Estyn has ordered the school to:

• fix safeguarding issues
• strengthen leadership and accountability
• improve teaching and raise expectations
• boost attendance
• ensure staff are held fully accountable
• provide meaningful opportunities to develop literacy, numeracy, digital and Welsh skills

The school must now draw up an accelerated improvement plan, with Estyn returning every four to six months to check progress.

„Deutliche Fortschritte im Einsatz gegen sexualisierte Gewalt an Ordensfrauen | missio Aachen stellt seine Bilanz der #Safeguarding-Arbeit für #Ordensfrauen im globalen Süden von 2020 bis 2025 vor. Kultur des Schweigens bricht auf.“
🔗 https://www.missio-hilft.de/informieren/presse/pressemitteilungen/deutliche-fortschritte-im-einsatz-gegen-sexualisierte-gewalt-an-ordensfrauen-in-afrika-und-asien/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

#Missbrauch #Weltkirche #Fedikirche

Two #CareHome managers in #Dudley #Midlands #UK got #prison for #defrauding one of their own patients (and they are of the same age group as their victim!)

#HealthAndSocialCare #England #crime #safeguarding

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0410wrwq92o

Are there any interesting reads on banning social media for minors?

#privacy #socialmedia #safeguarding #civilliberties #socialmediabanner

This final post brings the series together.

Climate literacy, handled carefully, is not activism or overload. It’s part of doing our jobs well—supporting children’s wellbeing in a world that has already changed.

Not panic. Not perfection. Professional competence. So, what does this 'reasonable professional responsibility' look like? I propose five key components.

👇
https://geogramblings.com/2026/02/01/climate-literacy-as-safeguarding-what-reasonable-professional-responsibility-looks-like/

#Safeguarding #ClimateEducation #ProfessionalResponsibility #ChildWellbeing #Education

Final post of the series. Safeguarding rarely arrives with sirens. Children already care. Risks are now formally recognised. Schools sit inside these systems. What does 'reasonable responsibility' look like?
#Safeguarding #ClimateLiteracy #Education #DutyOfCare #ChildWellbeing

http://geogramblings.com/2026/02/01/climate-literacy-as-safeguarding-what-reasonable-professional-responsibility-looks-like/

A UK national security assessment (Jan 2026) identifies biodiversity loss as a long‑term systemic risk.
It doesn’t tell schools what to do—and that’s the point.

When risks become foreseeable, professional responsibility shifts. This post explores how to read such documents without alarmism—and why education can’t pretend this context doesn’t matter.

https://wp.me/p829C1-38S

#EducationPolicy #Safeguarding #ClimateRisk #Literacy #ProfessionalJudgement