Lesson video

Hello, I'm Miss Kumar and I'm so pleased that you've chosen to learn with me today.

Today's lesson is called Keeping Safe in our Community, and it's taken from the unit, Communities, How do we respect people of different faiths? I would really recommend that you do this lesson with a trusted adult as there might be some parts of the lesson that you find challenging or worrying.

If at any point in the lesson you do feel worried or upset, please pause the video and speak to your trusted adult.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explain how to stay safe in public spaces, to trust my instincts and to seek help or report harmful behavior.

Before we begin any of our learning, let's remind ourselves of some important ground rules.

Laura reminds us to listen to others.

It is okay to disagree with each other, but we should make sure that we listen properly before we make assumptions or decide how to respond and if and when we do disagree, let's make sure that we challenge the statement and not the person.

Andeep reminds us to respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but we need to be sure not to use names or descriptions that could identify anyone and that includes ourselves.

Jacob reminds us no judgment.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic, but we should be able to do that without a fear of being judged.

And Izzy reminds us to choose our own level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to answer a question or join in a discussion.

We must never put anyone on the spot or make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Throughout today's lesson, you might notice that there are some words in bold, black font.

These are keywords.

Let's take a quick look at today's keywords and what they mean.

Precautions.

Precautions are steps taken in advance to keep yourself or others safe from harm.

And instinct.

Instinct is your gut feeling about something.

Today's lesson is split into three parts.

Let's start with part one, what are personal safety strategies? Police Officer Kofi says, "Most of the time, public spaces are safe and there is nothing to worry about, but one good way to look after yourself is to stay alert, notice what's happening around you, especially if something feels unusual." Let's have a look at some ways that we can keep safe.

Stay alert, travel safely, trust our instincts.

That's that gut feeling that you get when something is maybe not quite right.

Move away quickly and calmly if we are uncomfortable.

Keep belongings safe and don't display, that means don't have on show any of your valuables.

Ask for help.

Police officer Kofi says, "For example, staying alert might mean looking up from your phone regularly to notice your surroundings.

Traveling safely could include planning your route in advance or letting someone know when you expect to arrive.

These small actions can make a big difference to how safe and confident you feel.

Remember, personal safety strategies aren't about being scared, they're about being prepared and confident when you are out and about." Which of these is an example of staying alert in public? A, watching videos on your phone while walking, B, looking around and noticing who is nearby, or C, wearing headphones at full volume.

Pause to have a quick think and press play when you're ready to move on.

The answer is B.

Looking around and noticing who is nearby is an example of staying alert in public.

Police officer Paula tells us, "If you are worried in a public space, there are safe people you can turn to.

A police officer or police community support officer.

Sometimes called a PCSO can help.

PCSOs are uniformed officers you might see on patrol in your local area.

You can also ask shop staff, transport workers, or other trusted adults nearby for assistance.

In some areas, shops and businesses display a safe spaces sign in their window, which means they've agreed to be a safe place where young people can go if they feel unsafe or need help.

David says, "Your instincts are important.

If something feels off or makes you feel uncomfortable, trust that feeling.

It's your body's way of warning you.

You don't need to be able to explain exactly why something feels wrong.

Even if you can't see any obvious danger, that uncomfortable feeling is a signal worth paying attention to.

Time for another check for understanding.

What might the Oak National Academy pupil do in this situation? Give three suggestions.

The pupil is thinking, this doesn't feel right.

Pause to have a quick think and then press play when you're ready to see the answers.

Your suggestions might include the following, trust their instincts, move away quickly and calmly, speak to a trusted adult nearby, for example, a police officer, or go to a business displaying a safe spaces sign.

Josephine tells us, "Sometimes people incorrectly think if someone is harmed in public, it's because they didn't take enough precautions.

That's not true.

Harmful behavior is always the fault of the perpetrator," that's the person that's doing that harmful behavior, "not the victim.

Learning safety strategies is useful and can help us to feel more confident, but no amount of precautions can make someone responsible for another person's harmful actions.

Blame always lies with the person who causes the harm." True or false? If someone is harmed in a public place, it is their fault for not taking enough precautions.

You can pause to have a quick think and then press play when you're ready to move on.

The answer is false, but can you remember why? Harmful behavior is always the responsibility of the perpetrator.

That's the person that's doing that harmful behavior.

It is not the responsibility of the victim.

No amount of precautions can make someone responsible for another person's harmful actions.

That brings us to the first task for today's lesson, Task A.

Izzy is speaking to her local police officer.

Write the reply the police officer might give.

Izzy says, "Hello.

What are the precautions I can take to keep safe?" You can pause to carry out this task and when you're ready to see some possible answers, just press play.

Let's take a look at some possible answers together.

Your answers to Izzy's question might include the following.

The police officer says, "Hello, Izzy.

There are lots of precautions you can take to keep safe in public.

You can stay alert by looking around you instead of only at your phone and you can plan safe routes for travel.

It's also good to trust your instincts if something feels wrong and you can always ask for help from trusted adults or shop staff.

Another precaution is to keep your belongings safe by not showing valuables in public." Well done if your answers were along those lines.

That brings us to the second part of today's lesson, How can I recognize unsafe situations? David says, "Unsafe situations don't always look the same, but your instincts can help.

If something feels wrong, even if you can't explain why, that's the signal to be cautious." Walking when it is darker can sometimes feel different to walking in the light.

You can make it safer by staying in well-lit areas, walking with another person, keeping to places with people, letting someone know where you are and your estimated arrival time.

For example, you could text a trusted adult to say, I'm walking home now.

Should be back by 7:00 PM.

This means someone knows to check on you if you don't arrive by this time.

List three different ways this person could keep safe when walking home.

You can pause to have a quick think and press play when you're ready to move on.

You might have said any of the following.

Walk along a well-lit pavement.

Remove headphones to stay alert.

Walk with another person.

Walk in a busy area and let a trusted adult know where you are and your expected arrival time.

Police officer Kofi explains, "If a stranger approaches you and you feel uncomfortable, you don't have to engage.

You can walk away, ignore them or head somewhere safe.

You never owe a stranger your time or attention, even if they seem friendly.

It's perfectly okay to keep moving without responding, and you don't need to feel rude for protecting yourself." True or false? If a stranger approaches and makes someone feel uncomfortable, they must stay and respond politely.

Pause to have a quick think and press play when you're ready to move on.

The answer is false, but can you remember why? They can walk away and head somewhere safe.

You do not owe a stranger your time or attention.

Unsafe situations can include people shouting aggressively, someone following you, or friends pressuring you into something.

Peer influence can make it hard to speak up because you don't want to seem difficult or scared.

However, it's always okay to trust your instincts and suggest a safer choice.

Real friends will understand and respect your decision to stay safe and you should never feel you have to risk your safety to fit in.

Time for another quick check for understanding.

Amir's friends want him to take a shortcut through an unlit alleyway, but it doesn't feel right to him.

What should Amir do? You can pause to have a think and then press play when you're ready to see some answers.

Amir should trust his instincts and suggest a different route even if his friends don't understand.

It's okay to prioritize your safety over peer influence.

Dr.

Elsie tells us, "Sometimes your body notices danger before your brain does.

A faster heartbeat, feeling tense or getting butterflies can all be signs it's time to move away.

Remember, these feelings are your body trying to protect you.

They're not silly or embarrassing.

It's always better to trust these signals and move to safety, even if it turns out everything was fine." Which of these might be a sign of an unsafe situation? A, a faster heartbeat and feeling tense.

B, meeting friends at an agreed time at the park, or C, asking a shop worker for directions.

You can pause the video to have a quick think and then just press play when you're ready to see the answer.

The answer is A.

A faster heartbeat and feeling tense might be a sign of an unsafe situation.

That brings us to the second task for today's lesson, Task B.

Read the scenario and then answer the questions.

Ella, age 14, is walking home at night.

She notices someone she doesn't know following her closely.

She feels her heart beating faster and wants to get home quickly.

Question one, which signs show this might be an unsafe situation.

And question two, what should Ella do if she feels unsafe? Please pause the video to do this task and when you're ready to see some answers, just press play.

Your answers might include the following ideas.

For question one, which signs show this might be an unsafe situation? The signs are that a stranger is following her closely and that her heartbeat is getting faster.

For question two, what should Ella do if she feels unsafe? If Ella feels unsafe, she should move away calmly and quickly, go into a safe place such as a shop or bus station, or ask a trusted adult for help.

That brings us to the third and final part of today's lesson, How can I stay safe? Jay is 13.

He sometimes walks home after football training when it's getting dark.

He wants to make a safety plan to feel more confident.

A safety plan is something you create ahead of time that lists the steps you'll take to stay safe, and what you'll do is something feels wrong.

It's like having a helpful checklist in your mind that means you are prepared for different situations.

Jay says, "If I feel worried, I know I can go into a shop, a bus station, a library, or a safe space, places where there are trusted adults who can help me if I need it." Complete the sentence with one safe option.

Jay said he could go into a blank if he feels worried in town.

You might have said bus station, library, shop, or a marked safe space.

Jay tells us, "My first step is planning my route before I leave.

I'll choose well-lit streets and, if I can, walk with a friend.

I'll also keep my phone and money out of sight.

I'll tell my parents where I am and if plans change unexpectedly, I will update my parents straight away.

For example, if I decide to walk home a different way or stop somewhere first, a quick message will keep everyone informed.

I also know that at school I can always talk to my tutor if something's bothering me.

I've written down some helplines in my plan too.

I can call Childline on 0800 1111 or use Fearless to share concerns anonymously." Fearless is a website run by the charity Crimestoppers where young people can report crime and concerns safely without giving their name.

Ms. Walsh reminds us, "By having a plan, Jay feels prepared and more confident.

If something goes wrong, he knows what actions to take.

Having a plan doesn't mean Jay expects something to go wrong, it just means he's prepared, like having a coat in case it rains.

Which step is part of Jay's safety plan? A, posting his location online, B, walking with friends on a well-lit street, or C, keeping headphones at full volume? The answer is B, walking with friends on a well-lit street.

That brings us to the third and final task for today's lesson, task C.

Like Jay, make your own personal safety plan.

As a part of your plan, include the following, one, list two practical strategies you could use in public spaces.

Two, list two safe places you could go to if worried, and three, list two trusted adults or services you could talk to.

You can pause this video to do this task, and when you're ready to see some possible answers, just press play.

Your answers will be personal to you, but they might include some of the following ideas.

Number one, list two practical strategies you could use in public spaces.

You might have said plan routes, walk with friends, keep valuables hidden, and choose well-lit and busy areas.

For number two, list two safe places you could go to if worried.

You might have said shops, transport hubs, such as a bus station, libraries, police stations, or places with safe space signs.

Number three, list two trusted adults or services you could talk to.

You might have said parents, carers, teachers, designated safeguarding leads at school, youth workers, police, Childline, or Fearless.

Well done if your answers were along those lines.

That brings us to the end of today's lesson, but before we finish, let's just take a quick look at today's lesson summary.

Taking sensible precautions like planning routes, walking with friends and keeping valuables hidden can help people feel more confident.

Trusting your instinct is important.

If something feels wrong, it's a signal to move away or ask for help.

There are safe places and trusted adults who can give support, and harmful behavior is always the responsibility of the perpetrator, never the victim.

Young people can also reach out to Childline or Fearless if they need confidential advice or want to report concerns.

Well done on all your effort this lesson.

I hope that you now feel more confident about how we can keep safe in our community.

If you need any support following on from today's lesson, you can look at these websites, Childline.

This is a website and phone line which is able to offer confidential advice and support, and Fearless, this is Crimestopper's youth service.

This website provides free, confidential support and advice to anyone under 19 worried about violence, knife crime, or other issues.