Police launch trailblazing Initiative to protect and safguard children

West Yorkshire Police has launched a new initiative called ‘Pol-Ed’ (Policing and Education).
Pol-Ed: a new educational projectPol-Ed: a new educational project
Pol-Ed: a new educational project

Pol-Ed is a concept in both its development and design with the principle goal of safeguarding and protecting all young people across West Yorkshire.

It has been developed by officers and teachers working within West Yorkshire Police for delivery by schools and education providers across the county.

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Pol-Ed is a programme of lessons that follow children through their school career from age six to 16 years and beyond.

Every term at school, for every age group, has a different, but integrated, series of Pol-Ed lessons that develop as children travel through their educational journey.

As the children and young people get older, the lessons change, and themes are revisited that are age suitable.

Chief Constable John Robins QPM said: "This is an amazing programme, which I believe may be the first in the country. It is designed by teachers for teachers, to be delivered through PSHE. We are pleased to be working in this partnership with schools to deliver education to children and young people, education on policing matters - Police Education or “PolEd” as it will be known.

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“We want the PolEd programme to be a key part of our long term approach to keeping children safe. I hope that children and young people across West Yorkshire come to recognise the PolEd brand as something that is there to help them. I hope that teachers see it as a useful, professional, pre-prepared set of lesson plans that cover difficult but essential areas of education for all children and young people.

"The lessons and educational resources, of course, cover crime prevention and personal safety issues; but they are also there to explore and encourage healthy relationships, understand sexual offences, online safety, respect for each other, of course focussing on respect for women and girls and throughout the lessons which cover safeguarding issues. All the lessons are age appropriate and follow themes through a child’s educational journey from 6 to 16 years and beyond.

"This is just the start and the launch. Lessons will develop and change over time, constantly improving.

"I hope Pol-Ed will contribute to a positive generational change across West Yorkshire, benefitting not only our young adults of the future, but society in the coming decades ahead. “

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The ultimate aim of the project is to keep every child in West Yorkshire safe.

The resources will provide teachers with the tools to deliver information on the law, crime prevention and safeguarding whilst also building an understanding of resilience, peer to peer support and where to access help if needed.

Children with Special Educational Needs are also being catered for with bespoke lessons being produced specifically them. This will ensure all children have access to the learning and information that they need to keep them safe.

In order that we can reach all children in the county, West Yorkshire Police are providing the programme free of charge to all 1260 plus schools and education providers within West Yorkshire.

The Pol-Ed team have also ensured that the lessons and inputs provided are aligned to the objectives within the PSHE curriculum and are OFSTED compliant.