Teacher Training
Building skills in safeguarding and response
In the UK, 1 in 5 teenagers will experience physical abuse (NSPCC, 2016) and many are also impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
The reported effects on teenagers include reduced self-esteem and confidence, a higher likelihood of experiencing mental health issues, poor school attendance, and lack of ability to concentrate in class (Women and Equalities Committee, 2017).
It’s hard to imagine how facing problems like these wouldn’t have an impact on a young person’s prospects, as grades and ability to develop healthy social skills are likely to be affected.
To accompany our schools programmes, we offer Twilights – a suite of 60 – 90 minute training sessions. These sessions explore the complex issues around teenage relationships, domestic violence and abuse, enabling key school staff to better safeguard young people.
Accessible to all, the courses are delivered in an engaging and easy-to-follow format.
Bespoke sessions are also available for inset days.
Toolkits
View our selection of aids for teachers and professionals working with children and young people.
What are Twilights?
- Twilights are a suite of 60 – 90 minute training sessions for professionals, particularly those in an educational setting, or those working elsewhere with children and young people
- The sessions explore key issues surrounding abuse and relationships, enabling professionals to more keenly identify when children and young people they work with might be at risk, equipping them with the insight and knowledge to take preventative measures and aid survivors in gaining the support they need
- The sessions can be delivered in your work setting or online for convenience and accessibility
- Sessions can be delivered as interactive sessions, or in presentation format
- The content is suitable for groups of 5 or more.
Why are Twilights important?
Teachers are in a unique position to identify signs of domestic abuse and support pupils who may be experiencing it. Teachers who are trained to spot the signs of domestic abuse can intervene early and provide the right support.
- Academic performance: school attendance and behaviour can be improved
- Education: teachers can educate students about healthy relationships and boundaries and provide them with positive role models. By identifying and addressing domestic abuse, teachers contribute to creating a safer and healthier environment for their students
- Preventing further harm: early intervention can help break the cycle of abuse
- 16-19 year olds are more at risk of experiencing domestic abuse in intimate relationships. A report by SafeLives (2017) explains ‘Young people experience a complex transition from childhood to adulthood. This transition impacts on the social, emotional, psychological, physical and biological development of the young person. As a result, young people who experience domestic abuse do so at a particularly vulnerable point in their lives.
The Twilight Suite
Domestic Abuse Awareness
Did you know…
In Nottingham, 1 in 5 primary school children are known to DART (Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together, NSPCC, 2017)
Learning outcomes:
- Increase practitioners’ understanding and knowledge of domestic violence and abuse, and its impacts on children and young people
- Enable practitioners to provide better support to children and young people; this will include thorough safety planning, resilience building, exploring coping strategies and protective factors
- Provide workers with practical tools they can utilise with children and young people who have lived with or are living with domestic violence and abuse
- Increase workers’ understanding of appropriate referral pathways and signposting
Domestic Abuse in Teenage Intimate Relationships
Did you know…
1 in 4 teenage girls has experienced physical abuse from their partner (NSPCC, 2009)
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the dynamics of domestic abuse within teenage intimate relationships
- Understand the barriers to young people disclosing and accessing support for domestic abuse in their own relationships
- Improve skills to enable young people to disclose their experience of domestic abuse and to explore this with them
- Improve awareness of the young people’s DASH RIC as a tool to keep young people safe
- Increase confidence in using the young people’s DASH RIC
Online Safety
Did You Know…
78% of children join social media sites before the age they’re allowed to (IWF, 2016)
Learning outcomes:
- Exploring young people’s online behaviour
- Considering risk and vulnerability
- How to keep safe online, build digital fluency and resilience
- What are young people doing online?
- Considering risk and vulnerability
- Keeping safe online and digital resilience
- Looking at appropriate support services
Youth Produced Sexual Imagery (Sexting)
Did you know…
There has been a 417% increase in images and videos of child sex abuse since 2013 (IWF, 2016)
Learning outcomes:
- Understand what youth-produced imagery and sexting is and how it is defined by young people
- Learn how widespread the sending and receiving of sexual images is among young people
- Understand the law around youth-produced imagery and sexting
- Increase understanding of the reasons and consequences
- Apply learning to case studies
- How to take disclosures and support service
Sexual Harassment in a School Setting
Did You Know…
1 in 3 16-18 year old girls say they have experienced unwanted sexual touching at school. (#MeTooat School, 2021)
Learning outcomes:
- Increased understanding of sexual harassment
- Increased awareness of how common and normalised sexual harassment is in society
- Understand barriers young people face when disclosing
- To recognise of the impact of sexual harassment on young people
- To be able to respond appropriately to the needs of young people affected
- An understanding of how to address sexual harassment in an effective way
Consent
Did you know…
5,500 Sexual offences were recorded in UK schools over 3 years (Women and Equalities Committee, Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools, 2017)
Learning outcomes:
- Define what consent means
- Explore common myths about consent and sexual violence
- Focus on capacity to consent and contextualising consent
- Understand social models of consent
- Identify situations that make consent difficult to recognise
- Examine professional barriers to disclosure about sexual violence
- How to support young people
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Did you know…
There were 849 newly identified individuals with FGM within the Midlands and East area between September 2014 and March 2015 (Health Scrutiny Committee report, Dec 2015)
Learning outcomes:
- Explore what female genital mutilation (FGM) is
- Understand the prevalence of FGM, including looking at potentially affected communities
- Gain insight into the impact of FGM
- Examine current legislation
- Consider the role of schools and other professionals in preventing FGM
- Raise awareness of the multi-agency statutory guidance on FGM
- Inform delegates of appropriate referral pathways and help available
Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse
Did you know…
In 2015, Nottinghamshire ranked 8th for the number of calls received by Karma Nirvana’s helpline (Karma Nirvana, 2016)
Learning outcomes:
- To explore what is meant by the terms ‘honour based abuse’ (HBA) and ‘forced marriage’ (FM)
- To raise awareness of communities where HBA and FM are prevalent
- To examine current legislation
- To gain an understanding of the effects of HBA and FM
- To inform delegates of appropriate referral pathways and help available
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) : Basic Awareness
Did you know…
At least 16,500 children across England are at risk of CSE each year (The Children’s Society, 2017)
Learning outcomes:
- What is CSE? Definition, nature and myth busting
- Understanding the vulnerabilities of young people
- Knowing the indicators of CSE
- Understanding the links to missing children
- Knowing how to respond to CSE in your area
Get in touch
Want to find out more about our projects and resources for young people? Contact us here.
How you can help
No matter how much time, money or resources you can afford to give, your support will make a difference.
£10
Give monthly
Could pay for four children
to take part in our early intervention projects
£30
Give once
Could pay for one primary school child to receive our healthy relationship education program
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