Information for parents and carers

Important information about the Safety During Childhood Survey (SDCS) specifically relating to the importance of the survey, details about the survey and how we will protect your personal data can be found in ‘About the Safety During Childhood Survey (SDCS) pilot section’.

This survey is for children and young people aged between 12 and 16 years (in year 8 to year 11 at school) and will be completed online in schools. Four classes from the school have been randomly selected to take part.

During an information session at school, children and young people will be told about the survey and the support that is available to them when taking part. It is important to us that children and young people understand that it is their choice whether or not they take part. We encourage all children and young people who are invited to take part in the survey to speak to a trusted adult to help them decide; they will need to give permission to take part.

Parents and carers will be invited to their own information session to find out more about the survey. Parents and carers can contact the school to inform us that they do not want their child to take part.

It is important that children and young people feel comfortable and safe while completing the survey. A strong support and safeguarding framework has been developed in collaboration with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) for children and young people taking part in the survey. We work closely with schools to implement this, and to ensure those participating have a range of support options available.

The safeguarding procedure includes:

• an information session held before the survey for teachers, parents and carers to ensure that they understand the survey and can ask questions; this will ensure children have the right support when taking part in the survey
• an information session held before the survey for children and young people to ensure they understand what the survey is about, the process, the support available, and to make them aware that they can opt out; they will be able to ask questions in person or anonymously
• in-school support options provided by the NSPCC and the school, and signposting to other sources of help and advice, including Childline

If a child or young person says something concerning in the survey, the tablet will show a message to thank them for being honest and encourage them to choose one of the support options available or to speak to a trusted adult.

Those completing the survey will be able to pause at any time, and the tablet will give them options for activities or games they can complete instead. They will be able to return to the survey if they want to. They will also be able to exit the survey at any time, and the tablet will give them options for activities or games to play.

We would like all selected children and young people to have the chance to take part in the survey, if possible. The school will consider all those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on a case-by-case basis. The school will consider whether they are able to understand what the survey is about, the permission process, and whether they can complete the survey with or without support.

The survey has options to make completion easier for some children with SEND, such as making the size of the text on the screen larger. If your child has their own device that they use to help them, they can use that device to complete the survey.

If your child or young person cannot complete the survey independently, but both you and the school agree they should still have the option to take part, the school can arrange for them to complete the survey with a support worker close by. The support worker will not see any of the responses that your child or young person puts into the survey, but they will be able to help by reading out the questions and response options. They can also explain terminology to your child. In this situation, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the school will ensure your child understands that if they disclose anything to their support worker while taking part, the school’s standard safeguarding policy will need to be followed.

Your child or young person can decide if they want to take part in the survey or not. If they agree to take part, they can skip any questions they do not want to answer and can stop the survey at any point.

If you are happy for them to take part, you do not need to do anything else. If you do not wish for them to take part, please contact the school by the date specified in the letter that was sent to you. This choice will not affect your or your child or young person's relationship with the school, the ONS or NSPCC.

If your child or young person opts out of the survey, the school will ensure that an alternative activity is available while the survey takes place. This choice will not affect your or your child or young person's relationship with the school, the ONS or NSPCC.

Neither you nor your child or young person will be able to opt out once they complete the survey, as they will complete it anonymously.