APPENDIX 56
Memorandum submitted by Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council has been identified
as a local authority with a high prevalence of forced marriage
by the Forced Marriage Unit. To date our evidence would suggest
that we do not have a high prevalence of forced marriages and
our safeguarding officer has not been involved with the Forced
Marriage Unit on individual case work.
The Authority takes the issue of all
children missing education very seriously. Procedures for tracking
children and young people missing education have been re-written
and clearly identify actions to be taken by schools and other
agencies. The procedures will be monitored by a specific Children
Missing Education officer who will link with the relevant agencies
to secure educational provision.
The Authority also has in place an Equalities
and Inclusion team which liaises on a regular basis with all sectors
of the community. It is the conduit for schools if they have any
concerns regarding forced marriages. The Service is working with
secondary schools to ensure that the FMU posters are appropriately
displayed.
Child Protection (safeguarding) training
for our schools and our supplementary schools includes issues
such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and sexual
exploitation.
The Authority is currently developing
an additional resource for schools to include in their PSHE programmes,
forced marriages will be one of the areas covered. Training will
be offered to staff on the PSHE resource and will include how
to spot the signs of forced marriage (eg extended holidays) and
awareness raising on how to intervene and who to contact.
All pupils below 85% attendance are also
monitored and schools work with the Education Welfare Service.
The Authority follows all statutory procedures
for Children Missing Education and is putting in place additional
support and training through PSHE resources and Child Protection
training to raise awareness of forced marriages in all our schools.
March 2008
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