To ask the Minister of Education what work his Department is undertaking to ensure that children and young people are aware of the signs of (i) child sexual exploitation; and (ii) child criminal exploitation.

ANSWER

My department has issued up to date guidance ‘Safeguarding and Child Protection in Schools – A Guide for Schools’ which covers both child sexual exploitation and exploitation of children and young people more widely. The Departments of Justice and Health are currently carrying out work on child criminal exploitation, once this is complete we will seek to incorporate specific guidance on the matter.

In order to support implementation of the safeguarding guidance, Child Protection Support Service in the Education Authority (EA) provides training, information and resources for school Governors, Principals, Designated Teachers/Deputy Designated Teachers and for all EA staff including those with designated safeguarding responsibilities to assist them in safeguarding children and young people.