What training is available for dealing with peer-on-peer sexual harassment for teaching staff?
Bespoke training for safeguarding leads was delivered between December 2022 and March 2023, supplemented by a new online training module, available through the Keeping safe online area of Hwb. This training module is designed to support all school staff to identify, prevent and effectively respond to incidents of online sexual harassment.
Alongside the training, schools can also access teaching resources and further guidance through Hwb’s online sexual harassment information page.
The Welsh Government’s Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) strategy runs alongside the new Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code and guidance and underpins learners’ rights to enjoy fulfilling, healthy and safe relationships throughout their lives.
Within the RSE statutory guidance it is clear that the approach to RSE should be positive, protective and preventative, considering how learners might need to be supported to ‘have the knowledge to recognise all forms of discrimination, violence, abuse and neglect, including violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence’. A toolkit of Welsh Government VAWDASV resources to support schools and settings has been developed on this important issue.
We have commissioned a range of external experts and partners, to develop bespoke professional learning to support practitioners to realise new curriculum requirements. Work continues in a range of other priority areas, including relationships and sexuality education, children’s rights and religion, values and ethics. All new professional learning resources are accessible via Hwb.