This document outlines best practices for addressing female genital mutilation (FGM) awareness in schools. It recommends that all schools implement PANTS or similar programs to teach children about body safety from nursery age. Schools should provide FGM education lessons from years 3 to 6, and make their child protection policies and stances on FGM known. It also stresses the importance of multi-agency cooperation between schools, children's services, police, and community organizations to facilitate open discussions and support families on the issue. The goal is for all London schools to adopt these measures to continue raising awareness of FGM and children's rights.

3. BASICS
 Attendance
 Absences
 Holiday Requests
 Known family information
 Trends in behaviour
 Trends in achievement
 Child Protection Policy

4. NORBURY – FGM AWARENESS
 Child Protection Policy*
 NSPCC – PANTS programme Nursery – year6
 FGM Education programme Yr3 – 6
 FGM Education focus group
 FGM training for over 20 schools in Harrow, 45 heads in Ealing &
Multi-agency in Newham
 UNICEF Rights of the Child

7. PARENTS
 No pupils excluded from FGM Awareness lessons
 Parents supportive
 Parents shocked FGM is happening…
 Procedures transparent, not victimised
 Unhappy, though accepting when challenged

8. “I wasn’t happy & questioned why this
was happening to my family. But the
school talked me through it, so did the
Social worker & the police were great.
I am just cross at being questioned;
embarrassed…”

9. CHALLENGES
 Tricky conversations
 Do use scientific words for genitals
 Make your policy & procedures known
 Make your stance ‘non-judgemental’ yet strong
 Schools can feel like the ‘poor relation’ to Children's’ services &
the police…

10. MAKE THE CHANGE TODAY
 All schools have PANTs or similar programme from Nursery*
 Training part of annual plan
 Know community which you serve
 All schools to know their Link Officer
 All schools ready for 'difficult conversations’
 Ofsted more aware of the key trends in communities schools serve
 Attendance & reasons monitored prior to/post holidays
 Adverts key places in schools, libraries to keep raising awareness
 WORKING with your community; support network

11. RESOURCES
 Created our own with our multi-agency, community focus group
 Created a film to empower other schools to be BRAVE
 Local Woman’s centre
 NHS Resource Directory
 Barnado’s
 Local Mosque
 Working & training in others schools; improved our delivery
 Professional, trusted relationships with police, childrens’ services

12. SUMMARY

13. SUCCESSES
 Key team at the Core
 Multi-agency Working Party
 25/48 schools in London Borough of Harrow
 Ealing, Brent, Newham,
 Home Office Case Study
 UCL Platinum Award for CPD
 Working with Met Police: project Azure
 Working with Bristol on primary school project

14. NEXT STEPS
 Secondary School: Sisterhood project
 Working across 10 boroughs bringing training (Barnardo's)
 All schools in London run the PANTS programme
 All schools in London have the designated FGM lessons
 All schools to know & support UNICEF Rights of the Child