Children with a family member in prison: staff factsheet

Use this factsheet to make sure staff are clear on:

• Why having a family member in prison is a safeguarding issue they need to be aware of
• What signs they should look out for that a child is being affected by this
• How they can support affected pupils 

You could either use it as a basis for talking about the issue at a staff meeting, or send it round for staff to read themselves. Before you share it, make sure you edit the last bullet point to reflect your school's procedures.

Want to make it more interactive? 

If you want to have more of a discussion about the issue at a staff meeting, try these questions:

• As a school, how can we make sure we're aware when a child has a parent or family member in prison?
• What can we do to create a positive environment free of bullying and stigma?
• What warning signs that a child isn't coping would you look out for?
• How might the fact that a child isn't coping affect their learning?
• What do we need to consider when dealing with poor behaviour in a child who has a parent or family member in prison?
• Have you had experience working with a child who had a parent in prison? Can you tell us about that experience, particularly how you came to be aware of it, and how that child was supported?

... use our safeguarding scenario on children with a family member in prison to get your staff to put the learning into practice.