Accountability for Children in Education Western Australia - ACE WA

True!

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The Power of a "Safe Person" in Our Schools 🏫
Such wise and beautifully articulated words in this post. It asks a question we all need to pause and reflect on: “What does it actually mean to be a 'safe' person?"

As the post highlight, being a safe person isn't about being perfect. It’s about emotional accountability, consistency and refusing to invalidate someone else's reality.

It means providing a space where a person’s nervous system can finally drop its guard and rest.

When we look at this post through the lens of schools, the concept of a "safe person" is an absolute necessity for children

- A child cannot learn if their brain is stuck in survival mode. When school staff act as "safe harbors," they give children the emotional security required to take risks, make mistakes and grow academically

- A safe person doesn't deny your reality. For a child navigating big emotions, bullying, or trauma having just *one* adult in a school building who looks them in the eye and says, “I hear you and your feelings are real” can literally alter the trajectory of their life

- Children learn more from what we *do* than what we say. When school adults embody the traits - owning mistakes and offering genuine, changed behavior, we teach kids that safety doesn't mean perfection; it means integrity

Every child deserves to walk into a school building knowing there is at least one adult who represents total safety. Let’s commit to being the educators and mentors who show up with consistency, self-awareness and open hearts.

Thank you again to ** for opening up this vital conversation. 🤍

https://thewest.com.au/news/education/applecross-senior-high-school-teachers-call-for-review-of-wa-school-year-length-arguing-it-should-be-shorter-c-22416496

Teachers at prominent Perth school in push for shorter year Teachers from a prominent Perth high school are calling for the number of days students spend at school each year to be slashed, arguing it could even improve academic performance.

Seen someone wearing a Sunflower lanyard and not sure what it means? 🌻

It’s a simple, discreet way for someone to show they may have a non-visible disability and could need:
• Extra time
• Patience
• Understanding
• Support

This could include people living with ADHD, autism, anxiety, dementia, hearing loss, chronic pain, epilepsy, mental health conditions and many other non-visible disabilities or chronic illnesses.

You don’t need to do anything differently.
And you should never ask someone what their disability is.

If someone needs support, simply ask:
“How can I help?”

Then let them lead the conversation in the way that feels comfortable for them 💚

Learn more about the Sunflower by visiting the website https://bit.ly/40VEGQ8

Making the invisible visible.