Guidance for schools in BBC news

the document this is in - keeping children safe in education.

its the statutory safeguarding guidance that schools absolutely must follow.

there’s statutory musts and shoulds - musts mean staff face criminal prosecution if they don’t follow. There aren’t very many musts but one is for example, that teacher must immediately call the police if fgm is suspected. Not go and speak to anyone else. It’s an immediate call to 999.

the shoulds are all very serious and statutory.

so in some ways this is excellent. In others it’s problematic. As now children can formally transition under kcsie (most likely linked to the trial, but I think there will be more outwith the trial who just aren’t taking drugs.)

however, the very firm guidelines on single sex spaces will have a very big impact.

(actually, wider than we think; a friend’s daughter has been allowed to do rugby with the boys sessions as there’s no rugby for the girls - she’s absolutely passionate about it. This will mean schools have to provide more opportunities for all children in sports.)

Labour MP. Professor Flint is a legend.

Good summary of news reporting on this - https://ground.news/article/vast-majority-of-parents-should-be-involved-if-children-question-gender-schools-told_99492d

That's not transitioning. And in this country the chances of this sort of medical error occurring is vanishingly small. Are you thinking of males like Caster Semenya?

The role of parents in transitioning their children really does require a lot more attention. There is always this implicit assumption that it is always totally child led.

What is kcsie?

Absolutely! It is a total mess of confusion and contradiction. Trying to appease everyone, and in doing creating inconsistency and chaos.

yes I had thought that if there is going to be a handful of children definitely transitioning they have to provide guidance there. But it’s very problematic for others.

and does legitimise children transitioning.

I can’t help worrying that these parents will home school. But that is why the gov is so determined to bring more safeguards into homeschooling (which the homeschooling community seem to hate, even the GC ones I know.)

The key thing that this is out for consultation - which iirc doesn’t usually happen for kcsie

I think this is true but also means there are going to be kids on the trials not allowed to use the opposite sex facilities in schools.

There is a section on living in stealth and how this is a safeguarding issue, but they are bloody creating the issue!

Just the concept of living in stealth should obviously be an ultimately psychologically disastrous position for a child to try and maintain.

Yet here we are with the NHS and schools supporting confused children to do it.

More comments from other sources:

I suspect that some of the rationale for this guidance is down to the fact that the upcoming puberty blocker trial is going ahead and as a result there will be some children who will be 'transitioned' by the NHS and given PBs.

If they were being transitioned by one body ( NHS), but then not affirmed in schools that really would be a mess wouldn't it? And totally one of the government's own making.

Both this guidance and the upcoming trial both leave the concept of a 'genuinely trans child' untouched.

And yet all safeguarding training says to go to NSPCC. Especially if you’re not school based.

honestly, this is going to take a long time to get sorted. putting it directly in kcsie is brailliant - I’m so glad this wasn’t an add on which gives the impression schools can ignore it

more parents are going to have to kick up a fuss.

it does mean Ofsted will check policies on this. Policies will have to be in line with kcsie. And be ready for sept 26.

hence the pre release.

The NSPCC are completely batshit.

Screen shot

Is that Caroline Flint, the former Labour MP, or Caroline Flint, the retired midwife? Or a different Caroline Flint I'm not aware of?

NSPCC are the most worrying imo, as they’re technically linked to government safeguarding processes.

their pages on “supporting LGBT children” are horrific and link to outdated advice and Scottish advice

https://x.com/transgendertrd/status/2022060259695800592?s=46&t=A2fpFNgDRyXF2d6ye97wEA

My prediction is that he is going to be very limited in his response, but supportive. Or the NEU will just make a statement. Like BP, he keeps cards close to his chest.

NEU LGBTQ lot had a conference last week; it’s worth looking at the type of thing they were talking about on their Facebook page

transgender Trend are keeping a thread record of responses, many of which still don’t get it

Unfortunately there are activist headteachers, and parents, who still see this as a social justice/ inclusion issue who will still want to support social transition and who will see this guidance as permission.

Local authority school support and advisors, who schools may involve are largely captured ideologically and believe in trans kids and 'inclusion' as their only guiding principle. Including children's social workers, educational psychologists and safeguarding leads.

The only way to stop these people and the ideology that has infected their professions, is clear unambiguous legislation: children cannot change sex, and schools should have no involvement in supporting the recent unsubstantiated beliefs some people have about gender identity.

There is no reason for schools to be involved in this dangerous nonsense that a minority of people believe.

Vanishingly tiny numbers. 0.001%

to the al dsd is 0.02% the number you can’t tell at a glance and then didn’t check via dna is going to be practically zero.

It should be a ban. Particularly at primary age. At secondary too no dc should be asked to aid another in a social transition.

If everyone sticks to sex based pronouns then it’s just a relaxed uniform code.

In this country, in case of ambiguity, the necessary tests would be done immediately and biological sex confirmed.
If there was no ambiguity but there was an unobserved dsd, the next probable suggestion of a problem would most likely be at or post puberty.
This vanishingly rare situation shouldn't be used as an argument for changing pronouns for 4 year olds.

Have the NEU commented yet? It has previously taken a very TRA line but I have seen on here that the current leader is more neutral/gender critical?