23/06/2025
Safety at school is important and it’s much more than soft-fall mulch. Students (especially those who have a disability) can often feel very vulnerable and unsafe at school.
So what is safety at school about??
Safety at school is about:
• positive relationships between peers,
• relationships of warm regard between students and staff,
• feeling competent and capable (more often than not),
• being able to access the curriculum and demonstrate learning,
• being able to be yourself and not having to mask,
• having your support needs identified and responded to,
• not being shamed for the difficulties you experience due to your disability,
• being met where you are at rather than where people wish you were at,
• not having to work harder because of your disability,
• being celebrated for who you are,
• feeling like you know what will happen next,
• having enough energy available to meet the demands of the day,
• sensory experiences that feel just right,
• being listened to,
• having agency over things that cause you stress,
• feeling okay about using the toilet or eating at school,
• being given enough time to share your ideas or complete work,
• being able to complete work in the same amount of time it takes peers,
• being able to engage in activities that help restore energy during break times,
• prioritising relationships over tasks,
• Feeling included,
• Having adults who are curious about how to help students feel safe,
• Having adults who respond favourably to a student’s attempts to self-advocate.
Safety at school is feeling like there are people there who “get you” and think you are awesome. Safety by it’s nature is subjectively felt.
If a student can’t go to school often there is an issue with feeling safe. Start by identifying why they feel unsafe and addressing these issues.