Table 1 Overview of the Keeping Safe Programme: Themes and examples of key messages by age group

Healthy Relationships in Term 1:

teaches children to recognise what a healthy relationship looks like (online or face to face), between adults at home, peers or friends. This theme addresses bullying behaviour and most forms of abuse.

4-6 yrs. the names of feelings, their hands are not for hurting, that no one has the right to hurt them, what to do if someone hurts them, what to do if they are worried about someone else being hurt.

6-8 yrs. they have the right to be in a happy and caring environment, what a good friendship should look like, that it’s okay to say no to a friend, what to do if they feel hurt by anyone (even if it is an adult).

8-11 yrs. the importance of having respect for others, the different types of bullying behaviour, the reasons for it and strategies for dealing with bullying, what cruelty is and how we can stop it, the problems that can occur with online friendships, how to recognise an unhealthy relationship, what domestic abuse is and know that it is wrong.

My Body in Term 2:

focuses on sexual abuse. It teaches children to recognise when they don’t feel safe by explaining the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch, the difference between secrets and surprises and how to identify if they are being tricked into doing something unsafe.

4-6 yrs. what private means and know the proper names for body parts, that we don’t share private parts, the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch, they have the right to say no if their body gets a feeling that they don’t like, the difference in secrets and surprises.

6-8 yrs. that privates are not for sharing, that their body belongs to them, to talk about secrets that upset them even if it involves someone they or their family know very well, no one should make them do things that they don’t want to, they will know how to say no, to recognise bribes and threats and know what to do.

8-11 yrs. that their body belongs to them and they are entitled to privacy, that private areas should never be shared, the potential dangers with sharing photos online, to be able to identify the four main forms of abuse (neglect, sexual, physical and emotional), the problems some people face in telling about abuse.

Being Safe in Term 3:

encourages children to talk about their feelings. They are taught how to seek help from a trusted adult when they don’t feel safe or realise what has happened to them is wrong or abusive. Children are also taught how and when to talk to safe adults and to keep telling until they get help.

4-6 yrs. what safe means and to explain the feelings they get when they are safe, identify situations that are safe and not safe, to tell someone if they are not feeling safe, that they should talk about worries, identify their safe adults, the importance of asking for help from an adult while online.

6-8 yrs. recognise different body signs when they feel unsafe, how to keep themselves safe online, the importance of staying with a safe adult in public places, safe people to ask for help from in different situations, , not to make judgements based on appearances alone.

8-11yrs. the difference in needs and wants, they have a right to feel safe and secure, how their body reacts when they are angry or feel threatened, what is safe to share online and offline, to tell an adult if they are being asked for personal information online or being asked to meet someone they have met online, what is meant by cyber bullying, how and why it happens and how to deal with it, to educate younger children in the school about ‘Keeping safe’.