Teachers face feeling “overwhelmed” and “helpless” owing to the sheer volume of safeguarding disclosures expected when schools reopen, an expert has warned.
And measures being taken to prevent the spread of the virus in schools could make it harder to help pupils who have suffered at home, according to Ceri Stokes, assistant head and designated safeguarding lead at Kimbolton School in Cambridgeshire.
Her comments follow fears that teachers will face a “tsunami of safeguarding disclosures” owing to the number of pupils who have experienced trauma during lockdown.
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Ms Stokes was speaking during a virtual roundtable on safeguarding during the pandemic and beyond, hosted by software company Impero.
She said pupils may have suffered bullying or isolation during their time away from school.
But, placed in smaller groups with the same pupils for days or weeks, they may lack the “space” to talk through how they are feeling, or a relationship with the teacher leading that group, she warned.
Ms Stokes added: “I’ve got to then support staff, because if they’re suddenly getting loads of disclosures, they are going to feel drained; they are going to feel helpless; they are going to feel overwhelmed; it could bring up their own baggage.
“I don’t really see how it’s going to work from a safeguarding point of view for the first few weeks, where we’re trying to give people a chance to talk.
“It’s going to be a tricky situation,” she said.
Ms Stokes also warned that schools may struggle to prioritise wellbeing when more pupils return from 1 June, as there will be pressure to continue to achieve “high standards”.
“I think it is really interesting to hear how everyone is being really great about saying about coming back and [focusing] on wellbeing and positivity”, she said.
“I am slightly nervous that that isn’t going to be the case - that we are going to be focusing so much on social distancing, washing hands, giving them the space.
“And then we’ve got the pressure from exam boards and we’ve got the pressure from government to still achieve the same kind of high standards that we’re meant to be achieving.
“So I’d love to say that we’re going to start with pastoral and rethinking it through, but I’m not convinced that that’s how it’s going to be.”
The Department for Education (DfE) said that one of the reasons it plans to open schools to more pupils is to improve their wellbeing.
A DfE spokesperson said: “We want children back in schools as soon as possible because being with their teachers and friends is so important for their education and their wellbeing.
“Plans for a phased return of some year groups from 1 June, at the earliest, are based on the best scientific and medical advice. The welfare of children and staff has been at the heart of all decision making.
“We have engaged closely with the unions throughout the past eight weeks, including organising for them to hear directly from the scientific experts last week and will continue to do so.
“We have also published detailed guidance on the protective measures schools should take to minimise the risk of transmission.”
Tes owns a safeguarding training provider, Educare, which had no involvement in this story.
