Teachers should be trained to identify child sexual abuse, says Children’s Commissioner

The report, entitled ‘Protecting children from harm’, follows a major enquiry from police forces across England which suggests that as few as one in eight victims of child sexual abuse come to the attention of authorities.

Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, has said that victims would have had more confidence to reach out and discuss concerns if they had been taught about relationships from a younger age.

The Children’s Commissioner recommends compulsory lessons on relationships from as early as five, with additional teacher training to help them deliver lessons in meaningful way for children.

Longfield said: "Most schools at the moment do provide some element of lessons for life, or PSHE. It is not compulsory at the moment and it's delivered in a very inconsistent way.

"This is about building confidence with children from the age of five upwards in terms of their healthy relationships and their understanding, but really looking at these issues as they move towards adolescence, too.

"I would like to see it compulsory in all schools, but very much looking at age-appropriateness, and looking and being led by children's needs themselves."

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the ATL teaching union, said: “We agree that teachers, and all school staff, should be trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse and that this should form part of teachers’ professional development and initial training, whichever route they take into teaching.

“Joined-up working is vital, but to take place effectively it needs funding. Teachers tell us that joined-up working among children’s professionals, including social workers, health workers and the police, is problematic and in too many cases intervention is delayed, or does not happen, because of high case loads and inadequate resources.”

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