Creating safe spaces in schools with Kidscape

January 2nd 2020

As a bullying prevention charity, Kidscape are in touch each week with children and families who find school life challenging.  With at least one child in every class bullied on a daily or weekly basis (Department for Education), we all have a role to play in keeping children safe. Read on for their tips on how schools can create safe spaces, including the all-important school library.

"Bullying can happen in the classroom, in corridors, in the playground and school fields, the journey to and from school and online.  The best schools acknowledge that bullying can happen anywhere, and take practical action to stop it. We know that break and lunchtimes can be particularly challenging for children of all ages who feel lonely or isolated from their peers and it’s important that schools create safe spaces where all children feel supported and included. 

Here are our tips for creating safe spaces:

1. Map out the places in and around school where children feel most/least safe. Coloured dots and a rough map drawn out on paper can be good for this. Also look at school records for where most accidents and incidents happen. Consider what changes you can make to the environment to make things safer; where you may need more adult/older child supervision, and work with pupils to create an action plan for creating a safe and calm school environment.
2. Train your break and lunchtime supervisors in bullying prevention. School playgrounds are often noisy, hectic and fun but that can also mean bumps, scrapes and friendship fall-outs. It’s therefore very important that break time supervisors are trained to look out for bullying behaviour and any children who seem lonely, isolated and in need of a friend. 
3. Organised play. Free play is a great gift to children and they need it to thrive, but there will be occasions where children welcome the opportunity to join in a shared game or activity. It may be that you have staff who are willing to run lunchtime activities and clubs, or you could train older pupils to run activities for younger pupils. 
4. Peaceful places. We all benefit from spending time in nature and if you have the budget and volunteers who are willing to help, you could create a garden area in your school where children can spend quiet time. It could include lavender and other flowers that create calm, windchimes and circular benches were children can talk together.  
5. Libraries as places of solace. For many children who find school life difficult, libraries can be a godsend. It’s wonderful when schools are able to open up the library or create a reading area at lunch times. You could create a designated area that is calm and comfortable with cushions and a selection of books that encourage and inspire. You may also want to start up a regular book club for children who would benefit from spending time with others, reading and sharing what’s on their mind. Great for mental health and wellbeing as well as encouraging a lifetime love of reading!"

From Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of Kidscape

Visit Peters' furniture website to view our range of furniture and accessories for school classrooms and libraries.

For help with bullying including a range of teacher training and resources for schools visit Kidscape's website.

Our team of librarians have also put together book lists for primary and secondary schools to help tackle bullying and spark conversation amongst pupils:

Anti-bullying book list for primary schools

Anti-bullying book list for secondary schools