Monday News Issue 185- 1st September 2025
- Matthew Paminter
- Sep 1
- 8 min read
“Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly, you're doing the impossible.”
Events this week:
September 1st- Migraine Awareness Week 2025
September 1st- Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2025
September 1st- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2025
September 1st- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2025
September 1st- Blue September 2025
September 5th- International Day of Charity 2025
Legislation/Regulation of the week
Workplace health, safety and welfare regulations 1992
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (WHSWR) came into force on 1st January 1993 and gave effect in Great Britain to the requirement of EC Directive 89/654/EEC concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace. The Regulations do not apply to construction work sites, but they do apply to facilities, design and equipment in buildings used as workplaces and modifications and extensions of such buildings.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 30 mins)
Please remember to review this in your policy/legislation review workbook)
Videos of the week
Unforgivable
The Mitchell family deal with the devastating aftermath of an act of sexual abuse committed by a member of their own family who, after two years, is about to leave prison..
Watching this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 60 mins)
Event of the week/month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2025
March is prostate cancer awareness month. In the UK, about 1 in 8 men are diagnosed with it each year. For Black men the rate is 1 in 4. If you are a trans woman or are non-binary assigned male at birth, you also need to be aware of prostate cancer and its symptoms.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 30 mins)
Safeguarding & ED & I
Safeguarding and the Digital World – Even for Under-Fives
It’s tempting to think online safety is only an issue for older children, but many under-fives have daily access to tablets, phones, and smart TVs. Exposure to inappropriate content, online adverts, or unfiltered videos can be harmful, even at this age. Children may not understand what they are seeing, but it can still affect their wellbeing and development.
As practitioners, we can help by encouraging parents to use child-safe settings and parental controls, and by promoting screen time that is age-appropriate and interactive. Talking to children about what is “safe” to watch in simple and positive language, can help them develop healthy online habits for life. Small steps now can have a big impact in the future.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 50 mins)
Has FGM Happened in the Holidays?
According to the NHS, girls are more at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) being carried out during the summer holidays, as this allows more time for them to heal before they return to school. FGM is a procedure where the female genital organs are changed or removed as part of a cultural procedure.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
Working Together – Why Safeguarding is Everyone’s Responsibility
In an Early Years setting, safeguarding isn’t just the job of the Designated Safeguarding Lead – it is the responsibility of every adult. Whether you are in the kitchen, office, classroom or outdoor area, you may see or hear something others don’t, and that could be vital in protecting a child.
Strong safeguarding cultures grow when concerns are shared quickly and without fear, when staff feel confident about procedures, and when everyone knows the DSL and deputy DSLs. It’s not about “reporting to be safe” – it’s about “sharing to protect.” Every concern matters, no matter how small it may seem, because each one could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
Spotting the Small Signs: Why Early Intervention Matters
In Early Years, safeguarding isn’t just about reacting when something is clearly wrong – it’s about noticing the small signs that could indicate a child is at risk. Changes in mood, play patterns, or even eating habits can be early indicators of distress. For example, a child who was previously confident but becomes withdrawn over a few weeks might be signalling that something isn’t right.
Using ‘Record of Concern’ forms or an online safeguarding system is a simple but powerful way to ensure nothing is missed. Even small observations can build a bigger picture when recorded over time, where patterns may emerge that may not be obvious from a single incident. This record-keeping also ensures important details are not lost or forgotten. It is always better to log a concern, however small, than to dismiss it. A well-timed record could be the first step in securing the help a child needs.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 30 mins)
Podcast: Protecting boys from financially motivated sexual extortion
Online sexual extortion is a crime that sees both girls and boys being blackmailed to prevent real or AI generated images or videos being shared more widely. Whilst girls are usually asked for more images of themselves, boys report that they are often being blackmailed for money. Although this is not a new issue, the National Crime Agency and the NSPCC have seen an increase in the last two years of boys experiencing online sexual extortion.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
Health & Safety
Social and emotional mental health needs
Children and young people presenting with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties often struggle to manage their emotions and behaviour. They also find it difficult to make and keep relationships with adults and other children and young adults.
These difficulties may show as them becoming withdrawn or isolated as well as through challenging, disruptive or other concerning behaviour. Children and young people with SEMH often struggle to engage in a learning environment, often showing inappropriate behaviour and may benefit from additional support to reach their full potential.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 40 mins)
Water Safety Advice And Tips - Know The Risks
Heading to the coast or out on the water is a great way to have fun and stay active. But, if you're not careful, it's a lot easier to get into trouble in the water than you might think. Conditions can change quickly and if you're not prepared, you can easily get caught out.
We've collected all our advice here, so you can find the information you need. Whether you're going to the beach, exploring the coast, or venturing out onto the water, we have the sea safety advice to help you stay safe.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
Save a life September
For most people, the thought of being in an emergency situation where they might be responsible for saving someone’s life is terrifying. The responsibility would be overwhelming. The fear of failure – overpowering.
But what first aid skills give us is the power to protect those we care about. Even basic first aid skills help us keep our loved ones safer.
Many of us would do anything – and we mean anything – for the people we care about.
(Watching this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
Wider Curriculum
West Sussex Children’s Homes Praised by Ofsted
Three children’s homes run by West Sussex County Council have been commended by Ofsted for the quality of care they are providing children and young people.
Inspectors praised the relationships that staff at all three homes have built with children, as well as the support they provide enabling children to spend quality time with their families.
Following inspections in May and June, High Trees home in Crawley has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating, with Worthing’s Blue Cove and Bright Star homes both rated as ‘good’.
The homes look after children and young people with a variety of support needs. High Trees and Bright Star care for children with complex physical or learning difficulties, and Blue Cove provides short-term, emergency support for children in times of crisis, who may face significant emotional or social challenges.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 30 mins)
Spotting Signs of Financial Exploitation
As financial pressures mount, especially amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the UK, students in further education are increasingly vulnerable to different forms of exploitation. Criminal networks often target people with offers of “easy money,” luring them into money laundering schemes or fraudulent job scams under the guise of legitimate opportunities. Many students, juggling studies and financial hardship, may unknowingly expose themselves to serious legal consequences and long-term damage to their futures. It’s vital that FE provisions raise awareness during enrolment and provide clear guidance on how to spot and report suspicious activity.
(Watching this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
Supporting Staff Well-Being Throughout the Year
As the autumn term begins, we all step in with energy and optimism but it’s no secret that the demands of FE can quickly lead to stress and staff burnout.
Prioritising staff well-being isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. When staff feel supported and balanced, learners thrive too. Take a moment for yourself this term. Below are some helpful resources: videos, articles, and tips to keep you grounded and resilient throughout the year.
(Watching this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
Sustainability
Rice, two curries and dal: The Indian cafes where you can pay in rubbish
Garbage cafes are springing up across India. The BBC visits the city of Ambikapur to find out how much impact they can really have on plastic – and people.
As I approach India's first Garbage Cafe on a cloudy and foggy winter day in early 2025, the smell of hot samosas immediately makes the place feel cosy. Inside, people are sitting on wooden benches holding steel plates filled with steaming meals, some chatting, others eating quietly.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 30 mins)`
7 Messages from Youth the World Needs to Hear
Around the world, young people are rolling up their sleeves and shaping a future we believe in. We are organising community clean-ups, leading advocacy campaigns, starting social enterprises, influencing policies, and using our creativity to solve global problems.
Yet too often, the dominant story about youth is one of waiting, waiting to “grow up,” and “be ready.” But here’s the truth: youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, we are the change-makers of today.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning if it links to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard – Approx. 20 mins)
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