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Public asked to check on children Public asked to check on children
(about 3 hours later)
People are to be taught how to spot children who are at risk and report their concerns to the authorities.People are to be taught how to spot children who are at risk and report their concerns to the authorities.
A government strategy says keeping children in England safe is fundamental to their happiness and school results.A government strategy says keeping children in England safe is fundamental to their happiness and school results.
But it also says they need to explore and to take "managed risks", and must not be "wrapped in cotton wool".But it also says they need to explore and to take "managed risks", and must not be "wrapped in cotton wool".
A new system for approving venues is to be devised, to cut down on the red tape that is said to be deterring teachers from organising school trips.A new system for approving venues is to be devised, to cut down on the red tape that is said to be deterring teachers from organising school trips.
Fear of reprisalsFear of reprisals
The Department for Children, Schools and Families strategy is based on responses to a consultation.The Department for Children, Schools and Families strategy is based on responses to a consultation.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said the majority of the 1,000 responses came from children and young people themselves.Children's Secretary Ed Balls said the majority of the 1,000 responses came from children and young people themselves.
"Children and young people told us they want to feel safer when they are outwith their friends, with safe, well-lit places to go," he said. "Children and young people told us they want to feel safer when they are out with their friends, with safe, well-lit places to go," he said.
A high level of response from all groups overwhelmingly said children's safety was everyone’s responsibility, though parents were ultimately responsible for their own children.A high level of response from all groups overwhelmingly said children's safety was everyone’s responsibility, though parents were ultimately responsible for their own children.
"Respondents felt that people have a responsibility to safeguard other people’s children and should intervene if they see a child in danger," says the action plan."Respondents felt that people have a responsibility to safeguard other people’s children and should intervene if they see a child in danger," says the action plan.
"However, although many respondents said they would intervene if they saw a child at risk of accidental harm (and have done so), many also expressed reservations about intervening in a situation when an adult was mistreating a child in public.""However, although many respondents said they would intervene if they saw a child at risk of accidental harm (and have done so), many also expressed reservations about intervening in a situation when an adult was mistreating a child in public."
People were scared of reprisals and of seeming to be interfering, or of people being suspicious of their motives.People were scared of reprisals and of seeming to be interfering, or of people being suspicious of their motives.
There is as yet little detail on how people should go about reporting their fears for children.There is as yet little detail on how people should go about reporting their fears for children.
The department proposes "a public communication campaign to improve the public's ability to identify and report concerns about children's safety - and raise awareness of the need for everyone to take responsibility for children's safety".The department proposes "a public communication campaign to improve the public's ability to identify and report concerns about children's safety - and raise awareness of the need for everyone to take responsibility for children's safety".
Learning outsideLearning outside
The "out and about" package for teachers draws on statistics showing that schools are doing the same amount of school trips as before but are doing fewer residential visits and fewer visits to the natural environment such as geography field trips.The "out and about" package for teachers draws on statistics showing that schools are doing the same amount of school trips as before but are doing fewer residential visits and fewer visits to the natural environment such as geography field trips.
"Teachers themselves have said that they will take pupils on visits if they feel confident and have had training.""Teachers themselves have said that they will take pupils on visits if they feel confident and have had training."
So as well as revised guidance on planning trips the department is going to combine various safety and quality schemes into one easily recognisable and understandable system for selecting suitable venues.So as well as revised guidance on planning trips the department is going to combine various safety and quality schemes into one easily recognisable and understandable system for selecting suitable venues.
The chief executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Tom Mullarkey, said: "This is a major step in the right direction towards simplifying regulation and reducing bureaucracy."The chief executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Tom Mullarkey, said: "This is a major step in the right direction towards simplifying regulation and reducing bureaucracy."
He added: "Teachers need support and guidance, not endless, unnecessary form-filling and this initiative will be widely welcomed in staff rooms throughout the country."He added: "Teachers need support and guidance, not endless, unnecessary form-filling and this initiative will be widely welcomed in staff rooms throughout the country."
Accident figures show that the biggest risk to youngsters is from transport accidents - especially among those in poorer neighbourhoods. The general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, John Dunford, said: "The increasing threat of litigation if something does go wrong and the amount of paperwork required for risk-assessments has made it more difficult to take young people out of school."
Children of parents who are long-term unemployed are said to be 13 times more likely to die from unintentional injury, and 37 times more likely to die from smoke, fire and flames, than children of parents in managerial and professional occupations. The government must address these two issues, he said.
Abuse by strangers is rare. Most of the children who are injured or murdered suffer at the hands of their parents. "It is hoped that the new government guidance will help to create a climate in which teachers are less likely to be sued."
On Monday the Conservatives launched a childhood review with a call for children to be allowed to play outdoors more, with park rangers being employed to ensure greater safety in playgrounds.