The Department for Education Child protection in schools, early childhood education and care services policy (2015) states that ‘all children and young people in DECD preschools and schools will access the approved child protection curriculum’.
Children will be learning the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) throughout the year. The teachers delivering the program have received explicit training in the use of the Curriculum. The KS:CPC is a Department for Education responsibility under the Children’s Protection Act 1993 and the Child Protection in Schools policy to ensure that effective abuse prevention programs are implemented and that all children and young people have access to the approved child protection curriculum. Although parent permission is not required under the Education Act 1972, we encourage parents/carers to seek further clarification if required and to provide the teacher with any relevant information about their child that could alleviate any concerns.
Classroom teachers will provide information about children’s learning in the KS:CPC as part of their regular communication with families.
The KS:CPC is an evidence based, best practice curriculum developed collaboratively with child protection experts, teachers, educational leaders and other professionals.
The KS:CPC is predicated on two main themes which are presented through topics and activities of increasing complexity. The two KS:CPC Themes are:
- Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe
- Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.
The two KS:CPC Themes are explored through four Focus Areas, which are examined in growing complexity in accordance with the age of the students. The four KS:CPC Focus Areas are:
- Focus Area 1: The right to be safe
- Focus Area 2: Relationships
- Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse
- Focus Area 4: Protective strategies
The KS:CPC fits primarily within the Health and Physical Education learning area of the Australian Curriculum and is often incorporated across other learning areas.
More information can be found on the KS:CPC website: http://tiny.cc/KSCPC-ParentCarerInfo.
Please contact the classroom teacher or Jane-Ann Natar at the school if you have any questions about the curriculum.