Speak Out Stay Safe (SOSS) is an online safeguarding programme for children aged five to 11, supporting them to feel empowered and know how to speak out and stay safe.
It is available to all primary schools in the UK and Channel Islands.
The programme helps children understand abuse in all its forms and how to recognise signs of abuse, that abuse is never a child’s fault and that they have the right to be safe, and where to get help and the sources of help available to them, including the NSPCC’s Childline service.
Here, Richard Ewart, head of Year 7 and deputy vice principal at Strandtown Primary in Belfast, Northern Ireland, shares how his pupils have engaged with the programme.
How has your school engaged with SOSS?
At Strandtown, a large primary school in Belfast with over a thousand P4-P7 pupils, we engage with the NSPCC once every two years. The online assembly manages the sensitive nature of the topic of abuse thoughtfully, purposefully and in a way that primary children can understand and relate to.
We also appreciate that the assembly features voices from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland throughout. So no matter where you are watching from in the UK it feels relatable.
How have your pupils responded to the online assembly?
As a teacher I think who better to introduce the assembly than Ant and Dec. Although the pair only present the start of the programme, our children’s attention is immediately captured. Their concentration throughout is superb and they are fully engaged in the programme.
It’s been wonderful to see them responding with great listening and great awareness to what’s such an important subject. Overall, the content is very powerful and purposeful.
Does the online assembly support your school’s safeguarding duties?
The assembly ticks a lot of boxes in our Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU) curriculum, such as teaching children how to look after themselves, how to look after each other and how to be an active member of the community.
As well as tying into annual focuses such as our anti-bullying week and safety online day, the assembly provides the opportunity for us to reinforce to the children that if they’re worried or concerned about anything they can talk to any trusted adult within the school.
Are sensitive subjects managed well?
As the online assembly is prerecorded it’s almost word perfect, dealing with sensitive issues such as sexual and physical abuse with just the right level of care. One of the pupils’ biggest takeaways is the saying ‘I have the right to be safe, you have the right to be safe, we have the right to be safe.’
The constant drip feeding of key messages throughout the assembly ensure they stay front of mind.
Anything else to share?
I wholeheartedly recommend the SOSS online assembly to other teachers; you won’t be disappointed. Our collective hope at Strandtown is that SOSS will lead to safer children – children who know how to reach out for help when they need it.
Well done NSPCC for taking an exceedingly difficult subject and bringing it down to a child’s level. It’s vital that the message isn’t lost and for our children it really hits home. Find out more by calling 0116 234 7246, emailing schools@nspcc.org.uk or visiting the website.
