Information for schools

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’.

The Safety During Childhood Survey (SDCS) is voluntary. We feel the survey is important and hope that schools see the value in taking part, but there is no obligation for schools to say yes.

As well as contributing to the development of such an important survey, we will produce a high-level report of the data collected in your school. This will raise awareness of the experiences students in your school have had and can be used to tailor future educational events in your school. Individuals will not be identified. Your school will receive £500 in online vouchers to say thank you, as well as a copy of the report.

Students will be told about the survey and the support that is available to them when taking part. They will need to give permission to take part. Parents can opt their child out if they do not want them to take part. Alternative activities will need to be provided for the students who are opted out.

Your school will liaise with an Office for National Statistics (ONS) school liaison officer to agree a school-specific plan (a non-legally binding agreement between us and your school). This will be an overview of how the end-to-end process will work and it will capture important information, such as:

• important dates and times – for example, dates for letters to be sent to parents and carers and dates of information sessions
• which classes have been selected – including time, location, year group and the teacher of the lesson
• whether there are any students with special educational needs or a disability in the sample, including details about the reasons for their inclusion in the survey and additional support they need
• safeguarding options and logistics information available before, during and after the survey
• contact details of your school’s safeguarding team, school technical support, the ONS research team, and the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) team

We will work with your school to select four mixed-ability classes, one from each year group from year 8 to year 11, to complete the survey over two consecutive days. Three information sessions will be run by ONS and NSPCC staff. There will be:

• a session for teachers involved with the survey
• a session for the parents and carers of the children and young people taking part in the survey
• a session for the children and young people selected to take part in the survey

These sessions will provide detailed information on the survey, the support available to everyone, and an opportunity to ask questions (which can be anonymous).

The NSPCC will be present at your school on the day of the survey, and the day afterwards, providing a drop-in room for children and young people seeking such support.