The word 'Safeguarding' is being used for everything?

[Cocktailglass]

For me, the decades in the teaching profession we've always had whatever is the new vocabulary to adhere to. So much CPD on incorporating all new strategies into lessons and being scrutinised at micromanagement level to ensure this is done.

This includes applying Blooms for teaching factual subjects like Maths and sciences, where you really don't need a cross dimension discussion about the intricacies of the text.

Anyway, sorry, back to the point...

EVERYTHING has been referred to as a safeguarding issue, it's something that has stuck and because that word is serious it's a serious issue.

So many SLT and parents have jumped into naming everything as a safeguarding issue, which means a DC is in danger from being physically hurt, which will be acted upon immediately, to being offended by a trigger, told no, teacher trying to get students to follow the prescribed powerpoints, which indeed are boring.

Just one example, I have thousands more...

Sam, Y9 student, known as very difficult, I loved him as I 'get' them, purely understanding and patience. He was usually sent to me in whatever lesson I was teaching because I could integrate him into the class or spend time giving going over previous learning and a quick worksheet.

So, yes, getting to the point...

Sam was in our actual lesson and had come in late from issues from previous lesson, kept back and given detention for behaviour. He was clearly at the height of meltdown so I said just wait outside for a couple of minutes to calm down and I'll come and speak with you.
Of course SLT came past (which you never see when you need them) and shouted at him why he was outside the classroom. I immediately jumped in and said it's OK, I told him to, time out pass. SLT said I wasn't safeguarding because Sam was outside and couldn't be trusted. Ok, got that in the neck and brought him in.

At that point Sam was really struggling but stayed in his seat. Got on with the lesson, he said he didn't have a pen. Gave him one, he stood on it, pulled out part of it and stabbed himself in the hand!

The outcome for me? Being questioned why I hadn't realised and prevented Sam from doing this a safeguarding issue. I tried to, gave him space before coming in but he was bawled at by SLT and had to come in, with the send him to me if any problems. Yeah, trying to send Sam out to see you means he will run off and this will also be my responsibility and a tell off.

Apart from this type of situation, yes safeguarding is mentioned for everything, somehow anything can be linked to it. You looked away for a second, a fight starts. What makes it harder is parents have of course latched on because schools' priority to enforce it. So, why wasn't my DC safeguarded from falling over in the playground/trigger warning from watching a cartoon/saying a particular phrase.

So much, glad I'm out of full time teaching now because it really is so stressful having to second guess everything you say and do.

I can completely relate, it's scary how some people can translate any little thing into safeguarding. This will never go away but continue to be used as a weapon to pass blame.

Shocking and sooooo ridiculous 😒

This too!

So sad to hear so many doing the same, including me a couple of years ago. After a stella track record of being good, caring and above and beyond teachers, many of us are now being questioned by young SLT about the most pathetic tiny things.

Why weren't you outside the door with bell tasks?
Because I just arrived to the room with a trolley full of books from the other side of school on the 3rd floor and no one was around to get the lift key so had to trundle and run down the flights of stairs. Have to login so register can be done within 10 mins or will get a call.
Why haven't these books been marked since last week?
Priority of y11 mock exams to mark, which took several hours at home, along with reports, parents' evening and doing a stall at school fayre. This set of books, along with other classes, is gor my weekend joy 😊

Oh and due to incidents where students have fallen out with each other I've had to spend time writing these up and getting witness statements, while also speaking to parents. Funnily enough they were best friends the next day so all that time was wasted because we have to follow up on trivial things like this!

Exactly 💯! As experienced and good teachers who just want to teach, we have to analyse and predict the outcome of the most trivial things which the mind goes into overdrive with. If I do this... this could happen...if I do this...this can happen. It's mentally draining. There was a time we were trusted and supported acting in common sense and instincts.

There used to be a HT and 2 deputy heads, now so many assistant headteachers who all have to show their worth with what they're assigned with. Sadly each of their own little segment of 'value' impacts on daily teaching and then of course the students.

A is in charge of ... and had to implement it, same for B etc, all these strategies to incorporate into lessons.

We all know it's it's batshit, unsustainable and 100pc damaging. When is the education system going to wake up?!

Finger pointer back footer.
there are those who point the finger (auditors, critics, "safeguarding") and those who are on the back foot when accused.
the finger pointer will always have the positional advantage against a back footer. They are free to accuse with impunity. There are frequently no consequences for critics.
So - i am also not a believer in this whole "safeguarding" system.

I am actually appalled by its stunning lack of insight into the damage it will cause. very very careless.

if this helps, i am not a true believer in the system.

i think it does more harm than good.
finger pointer back footer. FPBF.

My “favorite” overuse of the word was the Mumsnet post where the OP’s son had sex with a girl and she lied afterwards, telling him
she was pregnant. OP wanted to inform the school where the son and the girl met, but where they no longer attended. “Clearly, she’s very vulnerable, a young girl making up these lies! They should be alerted for safeguarding reasons!”

People were like, “No, you’re just pissed off and you want to tell people who know her what a liar she is.”

1. Sam needs more support or a different school environment.
2. It's usual for children not to be observed at all times even at infant school and therefore not a safeguarding issue that he was in the corridor for a few minutes.

My first week at my current school, I heard someone use it to tell another teacher off for forgetting that they had detention duty, as a "safeguarding risk". There were at least three adults in the room doing detention duty. And it used to be school policy not to give any reminder whatsoever to teachers about duties.

I just know what my teachers would have said to that SLT person who moaned at you (any chance they spent hardly any time as a classroom teacher before seeking a management role?); our teachers often sent us out, for various reasons.
And I don't think any of them would have understood the new safeguarding training-look how it's changed in a couple of decades. And ironically, children are less safe and less happy at school than they used to be, and social media/smartphones can't explain all of that.

I would have thought the correct phrase would be risk management, not safeguarding. Safeguarding I'd associate more with highly vulnerable people at risk of intentionally inflicted harm or neglect from others. This was poor management of Sam's risks. Taking him out of an environment and putting him in a similar is a bad plan for him. They are trying to make you responsible for something the SLT and SENCo should be doing.

I will add to the OP that it wasn't you, you are going above your role, it is the general plan for Sam. It is obviously not working if you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

It’s the new “data protection”