Personal safety
Personal safety is about understanding risks and knowing how to protect yourself and others. It includes:
- feeling safe in your body and relationships
- knowing when something is not right
- understanding who to trust
- knowing how and where to get help
- staying safe when using the internet or social media
- managing risks when out in the community
Learning these skills takes time and support. Every child and young person will need different approaches depending on their needs. Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) may need extra support to understand risks and stay safe.
Personal safety and SEND
Children and young people with SEND can be more vulnerable to harm. This can be because they may:
- find it harder to communicate worries
- rely on adults for care and support
- have limited awareness of danger or risk
- find it difficult to recognise unsafe situations or relationships
- feel isolated from others
Because of this, they may need:
- clear, simple information about safety
- repeated teaching using real-life situations
- support to understand boundaries and consent
- help to build confidence and independence
- trusted adults they can go to for help
Adults who support children with SEND should take extra care to notice changes in behaviour, mood or communication. These can be signs that something is wrong.
Building independence safely
As children grow, it is important to help them build independence while staying safe.
This includes:
- learning how to travel safely
- managing money and making choices
- understanding risks in new situations
- developing confidence to speak up
For young people with SEND, this may take longer and need more support. Progress should be gradual and based on their needs and strengths.
Services in Somerset
You can find information and advice that might help you with personal safety below.