School bans ALL physical contact

Usually a bigger issue surely? Sexual assaults etc.

Even in primary school sexual touching is on the rise. I can imagine the outcry on here if someone's child was sexually assaulted -.hand up skirt, breast groped etc It would be the school's fault of course for not enforcing a no touching ban.

What, not even a bit of light flogging or the occasional strap?

@Dilapidateddilapidate thank you! This has been really helpful. It's actually explained a big part of this situation to me which wasn't making sense.

No, they were incorrect. The legislation around reporting only covers mandatory reporting for certain professionals (teachers, doctors, social workers etc), and ‘reporting’ means reporting through their channels- not necessarily to the police.

What laws are there about touching? Can you name one?

@Dilapidateddilapidate I'm assuming the legislation only covers schools? The police told me the same thing- the parents must report it to the police.

It must be the organisation’s policy (and a stupid policy in my view- withholding support from children if they aren’t good victims who does what they’re told?!’)

the legislation is what it is though- it’s the same in every LA.

Check out the Everyone's Invited website. Sexual assaults against girls in schools is prolific and not everyone is brave enough to call it out. Children especially are often scared of backlash, both the victim and those who witness it. Then there are general assaults masquerading as messing around. A blanket ban goes some way to helping this.

Same as banning any fighting, some will do it anyway. Can start from one puts their arm round another’s shoulder and the other doesn’t like it. Leads to an argument or physical altercation maybe. Even an accusation of bullying/intimidation. Male students especially tend to wrap their arms round each others shoulders and for some weird reason it gets them hyped up, start bouncing around like at a football match etc. Causes issues in the corridor etc especially with younger students trying to walk past. Female students tend to hug before each and every lesson as if they’ll never see each other again. In the corridors all grouped together. Causes obstruction and lateness again between lessons mostly because they drag it out like one of them is off to war. It’s weird but true. These are two of thousands of examples.

Sounds overdramatic and far fetched but when you’ve 1000 teenagers in a building these scenarios happen every flipping day and then you’ve student statements to get, consequences given, dealing with parents complaining etc if there is an escalation.

Most schools have this rule and if one student is upset etc and others are consoling them by hugging etc I’ve never known consequences handed out for this but for the most part them touching each other never tend to end particularly well and again for the most part it’s completely unnecessary.

I would imagine it's to stop girls being groped, and stop boys being pushed around.

I had 2 female students stroking each other regularly in class and found it odd.

Can't you just ban playfighting then?

@Dilapidateddilapidate not referring to legislation. It's been eye opening to read what you've posted though. Without outing myself I had to do a referral for a child to lighthouse and until the parents agreed to report it to the police, they wouldn't take them on. They were adamant all sexual abuse needs to be reported to the police before they take it on, so this may well be their policy which I assumed is the law. When I was helping this family report it, the police also said the same as lighthouse. All sexual assaults on children needs to be reported. It is up to the victim/family of they want to do a recorded interview and seek persecution, but a report must be made. I have no idea what legislation this is on. I'm assuming not the same as the school one which seems absolutely bizarre.

I agree with you Tandora.

What happens in P.E. lessons? How could they learn to play rugby without touching in scrums? Football, basketball, netball without bumping into each other? Gymnastics without supporting each other? There are hundreds of occasions in sports where you can't avoid touching other people. Those of you who teach in these schools - can you tell me how the P.E. teachers manage?

@Foxesandsquirrels which legislation are you referring to when you say sexual assault must be reported? All the legislation I know and @NeverDropYourMooncup posted, says that basically the school should report sexual assault through their channels (so the LADO etc), and a decision is made about the police on a case by case basis- the same as sexual harassment.

Different LAs can have different policies but the statutory duty (or lack of!) is the same for them all.

@NeverDropYourMooncup that's really strange. I wonder if this differs from LA to LA as well. I know for sure Lighthouse in Camden doesn't allow referrals without a police report.

As someone mentioned there are parents who teach their kids leasons at home and life skills and social skills. But there are a lot of parents who have kids and throw them to the streets to be raised. I know! I have an uncle who has done this and his kids are feral. My youngest cousin aged 5 nearly stabbed my father. You bet that was the last time we saw them. And that was not the first incident. There is 0 discipline.
Even the Nursery kicked him out and gis older siblings and the schools are refusing to take him until he behaves in a proper way. He ended up starting school aged 6!!! But his behaviour and that of his siblings is awful. The oldest 2 who are 20 and 18 have no social skills and exhibiting very worrying behaviour.

It might have stemed from reports of physical abuse (innapriproate touching etc) not hears of this before but aware in religious schools they have strict policies. My BFF was kicked out of A-Levels for holding hands with her Boyfriend. Not on school hours once school finished...... So yeah places exist.

I am sure there is a reason. But as parents they incident needs to be shared with you all. They shoule have contactes the parents ahead of time or called a parents meeting to discuss it.

Hmmmm

That's the scary bit. It includes sexual assault in the 'decide if you want to report it' category.

With a good DSL, Head and LADO, it happens. But not all DSLs or Heads are good - and then you need a good LADO to accept it reaches threshold.

The issue with that is if those parents are allowing it to happen , do you really think they are getting teached ?

So in one camp: "children should be taught appropriate physical boundaries"

And in the other: "children often don't have appropriate physical boundaries, so that physical contact leads to fights or sexual harassment and / or assault."

Easy fix: teach your child when, how and why it is and isn't appropriate to touch others. Your child. Teach them before they get to school and keep keep keep reinforcing. Do not allow 'play fighting', do not allow coercion in physical form and sanction until this rule is understood.

When kids know how to behave appropriately, they can be allowed to touch one another. It's earned, not a right. That way all children are safe, rather than the 'needs' of some to 'explore' or learn to the detriment of others.

Honestly, the number of parents who turn a blind eye to their kids being violent is INSANE. It's NEVER okay.

@NeverDropYourMooncup Yh it's shocking really but I didn't mean harassment. I meant sexual assault which is what the PP was referring to. She said if the no touch policy has been triggered because a child was assaulted in the school, she wants to know about it and what's to know if the school reported it to the police. This would break safeguarding guidance I believe. At the very least, LADO should be informed and asked for advice.
No parent would be privy to this information.