Barking and Dagenham Council teamed up with Excel Training Solutions to help schools reduce the risk of students taking knives, and other prohibited items into schools.
Staff in ten schools took part in the course' Risk Reduction Through Search and Confiscation - Training for Trainers'. The training includes observational demonstrations and practising search techniques to give staff the ability to perform searches for unauthorised items when reasonable.
A recent Ofsted report dedicated to safeguarding children and young people in education from knife crime carried out a research project in schools, colleges and pupil referral units across London. The report recognised the responsibilities of schools and acknowledged the need for collaboration between everyone in the community. An extract from the report reads: ‘Schools can only do so much.’
‘They must identify, support, help and protect children on the school site, and they can do their best to teach them to read, write and add up, allowing them to achieve in school and experience success.’
‘But children need everyone in society – the police, LAs, health, youth services, welfare services, housing services, local communities, their parents, social media providers and so on – to work together and to put children first and protect them from county lines, gangs, knives, drugs and from adults who pose a risk to them.’
This is welcome training for our school staff and will play an essential part in making sure our school communities remain safe places for everyone.
The training complements the multi-disciplinary partnership approach, Step up, Stay Safe - a programme that involves the council working with community organisations, the youth-offending service and local stakeholders to support the wellbeing of children, young people and adults.
Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “We’re determined to put a stop to knife crime in Barking and Dagenham, so I am really pleased that this training has been brought in for our teachers.
“Along with the work we have been doing with the Lost Hours campaign and responsible retailer scheme for shops selling knives, this is a timely addition.”
Councillor Evelyn Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement, added: "This is welcome training for our school staff and will play an essential part in making sure our school communities remain safe places for everyone.
"Youth violence is sadly a problem across London, but we're doing all we can to tackle the issue.
Co-founder of Excel Training Solutions, Carl Holness, said: "I am delighted that we're able to give staff the skills to create a safe environment for themselves and young people.
"The courses have been specifically created following feedback from professionals in the education sector who highlighted the need for risk mitigation training."