The challenges of remote learning and safeguarding

About the webinar

For some children, school can be the safest environment in their lives.  A place where children at risk of abuse* may be noticed and sources of support provided. With the experience of previous pandemics, the risks of abuse are known to be higher. 

This webinar focused on how we continue to ensure children have optimal learning experiences whilst managing the challenges of remote learning and safeguarding.

• How are teachers and other support workers continuing to support the children who need it most? 
• What types of support and guidance are being created to help keep children safe? 

*For this webinar the expression 'children at risk of abuse' is defined in alignment with the World Health Organisation definition: ‘[Child] abuse’ or ‘maltreatment’ constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power’ 

About the panel

From Republic of Ireland: Marie Delaney is an educational psychotherapist and teacher trainer. Marie supports schools with their work with vulnerable students and students who present with challenging behaviours. She will talk about how the current COVID-19 crisis has created psychological challenges for safeguarding in schools. 

From Scotland: Lorna Aitken is senior education officer at Education Scotland . Scotland has an online education platform called Glow which has been the main way teachers and learners have been engaging during school closures. Every teacher and school child has a bespoke email and login to this platform, providing a safe and secure location for learning to take place Lorna will share guidance that has been created to help safeguard all learners whilst participating in online learning. 

From Spain: Maria Jesus Perez works at the Madrid School in Spain as Wellbeing & Safeguarding Coordinator and Sonja Uhlmann as Child Protection Manager for the British Council in Spain. They believe strongly that the role of teachers in children’s wellbeing is especially important at this time. They will share their experience of developing new practical guidelines to protect children as their lessons have moved online.  

From Northern Ireland: Shauna Eastwood is Assistant Director of Pupil Inclusion, Wellbeing and Protection at the Education Authority (EA) in Northern Ireland .  Shauna will share the approaches taken by EA to support vulnerable young people during partial closure of schools through the collaborative working models and practices delivered by a range of pupil and school support services.

Watch a recording of the webinar below