Learningfest: Identifying and Responding to Child Neglect in Schools with Dr Victoria Sharley, University of Bristol.
Child neglect is the most common reason for a child to be on a child protection plan in the United Kingdom. It is also one of many problems that presents challenges to effective learning and teaching in schools with children unable to learn successfully if their basic needs have not been fully met. This introduces responsibility for schools to provide pastoral care alongside the provision of education. Given the universal nature of education, schools are well-placed to notice and intervene in neglect early and provide support to promote children’s health and wellbeing. However, little is known about the ways in which staff in schools identify and respond to neglect, and what factors help them to provide effective school-based support. This talk discusses the findings from the speaker’s research study which conducted 30 interviews with staff in six mainstream primary and secondary schools in Wales. The talk will draw out implications for front line inter-agency practice between social workers and staff located in schools. Attendees will be provided with a free taster chapter from Victoria’s book ‘Working with Children who have Experienced Neglect’.