Child Safeguarding Awareness Training

Why It Matters

​

Children may choose to share a concern with you — not because you're the designated safeguarding lead, but because you made them feel safe. Your calm, supportive, and professional response can make all the difference. It's not your role to investigate, but it is your duty to respond appropriately and pass it on.

​

What to Do if a Child Tells You Something

​

When a child discloses something concerning, your role is to listen, support, record, and report — not to question or decide if it's true.

​

✅ DO:

• Stay calm and listen carefully
  Avoid showing shock, disbelief, or anger.

• Reassure them
  Say something like: “You’ve done the right thing by telling me.”

• Let them speak in their own words
  Don’t interrupt or try to finish their sentences.

​​

• Use the LEARN mnemonic:

  L – Listen – Be fully present. Stay quiet, and let the child speak.
  E – Empathise – Be warm and compassionate: “That must have been really hard to tell me.”
  A – Avoid leading questions – Use TED prompts if you need to ask anything:

  • T – Tell me what happened

  • E – Explain what you mean

  • D – Describe what you saw/did

       R – Reassure – Say: “This isn’t your fault, and you’re not in trouble.”
       N – Now report – Pass it to the DSL immediately. Don’t wait.

​

❌ DO NOT:

• Do not promise confidentiality: Never promise to keep secrets. Say: “I might need to talk to someone who can help.”
  You must pass the concern on to someone who can help. You can say:
  “I can’t keep this secret, but I’ll only tell the people who need to know.”

• Do not ask leading or probing questions
  You’re not an investigator. Stick to open prompts like TED if necessary.

• Do not express shock, anger, or disgust
  Your emotional reaction might make the child feel like they did something wrong.

• Do not delay reporting
  Even a short delay can increase risk to the child or others.

​​

Recording the Disclosure

As soon as possible, write down what was said. This record may be vital. Follow this guidance:

​

How to Record:

• Use the child’s exact words wherever possible – no paraphrasing

• Note the date, time, and location

• Include your full name and role

• Describe what you saw, heard, or were told — not your assumptions

• Keep the tone factual and objective

 

✅ Example:

At 2:45pm on 12 July in the art room, Jamie (aged 9) said: “He touches me in a weird way after camp.” Jamie appeared withdrawn and was avoiding eye contact. I responded by saying: “You’ve done the right thing telling me. I need to talk to someone who can help you.” I informed the DSL immediately.

 

Key Takeaway

Even if a child shares only a small detail, take it seriously. Your job is not to decide what happened — it's to ensure the concern is recorded and passed to the right person, so children can be protected.

Let me know if you'd like a printable checklist or flowchart for staff lanyards or camp handbooks!