How to Have Difficult Conversations with Children and Young People

How to Have Difficult Conversations with Children and Young People

Whilst we aim to protect our children and young people from seeing and hearing upsetting information we know that this is not always possible. Children are naturally curious and need to have someone they trust who they can talk to when they need to and it is important for parents, carers and practitioners to feel confident in how to have conversations with children about difficult topics as they arise.

The Red Cross and NSPCC have some helpful guidance that can be used by parents, carers and professionals to support in the management of these types of conversations with children and young people:

1. NSPCC: How to have difficult conversations 
2. Red Cross: Talking with children about a major emergency (5–11 year olds)
3. Red Cross: Talking with young people about a major emergency (11-19 year olds)

Below are some helpful links to national guidance to support settings when considering the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people. However, we would highlight that every setting is different and will need to consider carefully what would be appropriate and proportionate to keep children safe.

1. DfE existing safeguarding guidance for all out of school setting providers can be found here: After-school clubs, community activities and tuition: safeguarding guidance for providers – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This includes detail on, and references to, health and safety guidance which should help in creating a safe setting.
2. ProtectUK offers advice and guidance to businesses and the public to help keep them safe – this advice is widely applicable and includes the existing Act for Education e-learning which is available to all staff, including non-staff working across education settings
3. Whilst aimed at registered education settings, some out of school settings may find it useful to consider some of our existing protective security and preparedness guidance for education settings: Protective security and preparedness for the education sector (publishing.service.gov.uk)