Examples of good practice

( From the Heart of Birmingham Area Forum )

The 'Keep Me Safe' Project

St Mary's Church of England Primary School have recently been involved with a project called 'Keep Me Safe'. The school worked in partnership with Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board and NSPCC.

St Mary's C.E was chosen for instigating the 'Keep Me Safe' project because of its experienced and enthusiastic staff team and strong leadership within the school. The idea of running a school safeguarding project came from the Melanie Morgan's previous links with the school. The school has a vibrant positive atmosphere and way forward for working together, as outlined in the most recent Government Reports on Safeguarding children.

The main focus of the project was to engage with children, young people and their families, promoting their safety and well-being. The project also built upon circle time and anti-bullying activities that were already taking place at the School.

The five-week programme which commenced on 22nd February, 2006 involved a set of 'Keep Me Safe' learning objectives, delivered through a medium of Dance & Expressive Arts with children aged between (7-8 years Key Stage 3). The final showcase which took place on 3rd April,2006 involved active participation from children of different ages. The showcase was attended by over 300 pupils.

The project focussed on work undertaken with a class of 8 & 9 Year pupils over the 5 week period for half an hour each week. Children had circle time activities with Veenita Jassel (NSPCC), Kuldeep Kanwal (Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board), and Melanie Morgan from (HOBTPCT). Circle time plan captured themes such as 'All about me and my feelings, my family, my school, bullying, who can help? and celebrating me'.

The young people took part in mask making activities with their class teacher and a dance specialist Nadia Asomoah who was contracted by the school to teach the children a dance on the theme of 'staying safe.' This dance was of an excellent standard and was performed to celebrate the culmination of the project and was also used for the school Annual Dance Festival, attended by over 200 parents on evenings of 5th & 6th April, 2006.

Overall, there were many positive outcomes following the project:

  • Keep Me Safe Project - dance was performed as an integral part of the Schools Annual.
  • Dance Festival - attended by (300 children & 200 parents on 5th & 6th April, 2006). Presentation/displays set up on both evenings by NSPCC & BSCB promoting safeguarding.
  • Sharing of good practice within another Authority i.e. (recent request from Derbyshire Mental Health Trust)
  • Headteacher at St Mary's C.E would like a presentation to Local Forum of Headteachers.
  • Press release to be placed in local media i.e. The Post & Mail and The Forward newspaper.
  • Headteacher at Hamstead Hall Secondary, a feeder school has also expressed a keen interest to offer young people a similar project.