All children at Golden Hill Steiner school learn about child safety through a very comprehensive curriculum called Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum.  Many of our teachers have received explicit training in the use of the curriculum, while teachers who have just joined Golden Hill this year will be undergoing Keeping Safe curriculum training in Term 2.  

What is Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum?

• The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum is an evidence-based respectful relationships and child safety curriculum that teaches all children and young people they have the right to be safe and they can help themselves to be safe by talking to people they trust. The curriculum was developed in South Australia and is constantly being updated to ensure it stays relevant and responsive to our times. The Keeping Safe curriculum was developed collaboratively with child protection experts, teachers, educational leaders and other professionals, and has international recognition. This curriculum has been mandated in all public preschools and schools in SA where it was developed and is used by a range of other Australian and international schools, including Catholic Education WA and Association of Independent Schools WA.

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum aligns with our child protection requirements and National Principles for Child Safe Organizations.

How is the curriculum structured?

The KS:CPC is divided into 5 documents specific to the age and year level of students, starting from age 3 and progressing to age 17+. It focuses on two main themes which are presented through topics and activities of increasing complexity. The two KS:CPC Themes are:

• Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe
• Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.

These two themes are explored through four Focus Areas, which are examined in growing complexity in accordance with the age of the students. The Focus Areas are:

• Focus Area 1: The right to be safe
• Focus Area 2: Relationships
• Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse
• Focus Area 4: Protective strategies

Keeping Safe Curriculum at Golden Hill 

The activities of the curriculum are structured  so that they are developmentally appropriate, covering a range of topics accordingly.  At Golden Hill, the Keeping Safe Curriculum is embedded in a number of different learning areas and each class teacher structures their lessons on these themes in the most age-appropriate way for their class.  For example, our teachers may tell or read stories to the class, hold class discussions, or the children may have journals that they write in.  Feel free to chat to your class teacher about how this curriculum is delivered in your child’s classroom.

There is a range of fact sheets, concept summaries and further information on the Keeping Safe website: http://kscpc.2.vu/DE_ParentsCarers. However, please feel free to contact our GHSS curriculum coordinator, Robyn at robyn@goldenhill.wa.edu.au if you have any questions.