GMLPF to help further education sector ‘wise up’ on safeguarding

Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Federation (GMLPF) is calling on further education and skills providers to wise up on safeguarding issues. 

The local umbrella organisation for skills providers is warning that a ‘tick box’ approach will not result in meaningful ways to reduce the risks posed by radicalisation and extremism.

GMLPF will host a continued professional development (CPD) workshop later this month titled ‘Prevent, Safeguarding & British Values: What is Ofsted looking for?’

The government published the Prevent strategy in 2011 as part of its overall counter-terrorism strategy. Prevent duty guidance for the further education and skills sector was then introduced in September 2015. This requires all further education and skills providers in England to ‘have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.

British values are a set of values which were introduced to keep young people safe and promote their welfare. Institutions are expected to encourage students to respect other people and use their leadership to exemplify British values in their management.

However, an Ofsted report in 2016 highlighted that a number of further education providers are not implementing the Prevent duty successfully.

At the workshop on Wednesday 25 January, GMLPF will help further education providers understand what they are expected to do to fulfil Ofsted requirements and how to keep learners safe.

Delivered by Trevor Alley, who has over 30 years’ experience in the further education sector, the workshop will offer providers an informative resource on how to implement and evaluate new strategies; pastoral support and outline Ofsted’s requirements and expectations.

Joanne Rymer, membership development manager at GMLPF, says: “While it is impossible to shield pupils from all forms of extremism and discrimination, we believe that equipping staff with the right tools will allow them to recognise the signs and deal with any issues as and when they arise. It is not enough to simply tick a box to say that your staff have undergone training; it’s about understanding the nature of specific risks in the local community.

“Safeguarding young people is a job for us all and this workshop will detail not only what Ofsted are looking for but how providers can demonstrate the impact their strategies are having on learners.

“Empowering young people to understand the risks that are out there, particularly in the digital realm, is more vital than ever. Those working in education need to put safeguarding and British values at the heart of what they do to ensure success and promote diversity and equality.”

This workshop is the latest in a series of CPD workshops that are proving popular with GMLPF members.

Emma Sinnett from member Mode Training, says: “GMLPF’s latest CPD workshops are a cost effective way to implement staff development and ensure that new practices and standards are maintained within the further education sector. The workshops focus on different hot topics within the skills sector to maximise staff potential, improve staff morale and promote best practice; we have found them thoroughly engaging and informative so far.”

The workshop will take place on Wednesday 25 January, 9.00 – 16.00. For further information and tickets, please visit GMLPF’s website.