What Children Will Learn

A strong sense of belonging is vital for a child’s emotional health, wellbeing and development. When children feel connected and valued in their family, community and educational settings, they are more likely to develop a positive self-identity and a stable sense of security. Belonging builds confidence and self-esteem, and as children recognise their place and value in their environments, they better understand their needs and boundaries.

Understanding and identifying a Safety Team is crucial for personal safety. When children know who they can turn to for help, it increases the likelihood they will seek support when needed. Recognising who they can trust and encouraging them to ‘Go and Tell’ those trusted adults if something or someone feels unsafe helps to reduce children’s vulnerability and increase their confidence in seeking help.

Understanding feelings is essential for children to develop emotional intelligence and awareness of their personal safety. Recognising and naming feelings helps children identify when they are safe and when they might feel unsafe. This understanding empowers children to understand their own emotions and communicate them effectively.

Children need to recognise their body’s warning signs as important signals that something might be wrong. A warning sign is a physical sensation or feeling that tells us we may be in an unsafe situation. By becoming familiar with their warning signs, children can better understand when they feel unsafe or unsure, link their feelings to safety, and use warning signs as cues to take action.

When children learn about their bodies, the anatomical names for their body parts and that their body belongs to them, they are empowered to take ownership of their bodies and respect others’ bodies. By emphasising that our bodies are private and should be respected, we help children understand and assert their personal boundaries, reducing their vulnerability to abuses of power.

Understanding eSafety is essential for protecting children from online exploitation. By learning about safe online practices, children can develop the skills to navigate technology responsibly and know how to respond if they encounter something that makes them feel unsafe.

This rule teaches children that they have the right to feel safe and secure where they live, play, and learn, and that no one has the right to make them do something that makes them feel unsafe or unsure.

This rule teaches children that it is OK to stand up for themselves and say ‘NO’ if something doesn’t feel right. It builds their confidence to hold firm and say ‘No’ clearly, even to someone older or more powerful, and to trust that their voice matters.

One of the reasons that children fail to disclose harm is because they are afraid of getting into trouble. This rule helps to encourage them to speak to a trusted adult, even if something seems scary or terrible.