SoSAFE! Information for parents and carers.
We are dedicated to fostering the social and emotional development of our learners through the SoSAFE! program.
What is SoSAFE!?
SoSAFE! is an evidence-based, inclusive educational initiative designed specifically for learners with moderate and severe learning difficulties. This program teaches learners about social safety, including relationships, boundaries, and personal safety, in a manner that is both engaging and accessible. Utilising visual tools and clear social scripts, SoSAFE! supports learners in understanding how to interact safely and respectfully with others. By implementing SoSAFE!, we equip our learners with essential skills to build positive relationships and confidently navigate social situations, thereby enhancing their well-being and success both in and out of school.
Body Parts
Through the SoSAFE! program and through RSHE, we teach anatomically correct names for all body parts. It is essential that our learners know the correct anatomical names to ensure there is no confusion when they are explaining pain or discomfort or in the unfortunate instance that they need to make a disclosure.
Learners are taught that they have some body parts that are private and that only a private helper can support with intimate care or for medical purposes.
Private Helpers
There are two categories of private helper, a private helper who can help to wash or wipe private parts (intimate care) and a private helper who can help to stop private parts from hurting (medical professional).
Parents/carers are often private helpers for their child, as are staff supporting the learner with intimate care at school. We believe that it is important to limit the number of private helpers involved with the intimate care of a young person to maintain their dignity and to develop understanding that not everybody who they come into contact is able to complete intimate care.
At Cann Bridge, each learner has 4 helpers within their class. No other person within the school will complete intimate care. Learners will be supported to identify their private helpers. We would advise, where possible, the number of private helpers outside of school are limited.
Public and Private
Learners are taught the meaning of public and private places and learn that some spaces are public (accessible to everybody) and some are private (a place where others can’t see or hear them doing private things) when they close the door e.g. the bathroom, bedroom etc.
Learners will learn that using the toilet or having a bath is private so should be done in a private space.
Private things relate to private parts of the body, and often includes washing, cleaning, dealing with menstruation or getting dressed but it could also include masturbating or intercourse which would be discussed with learners individually should the need arise. It is important not to tell our learners that masturbating is wrong, but we must make sure learners know it needs to be done in a private space while on their own.
Consent
A key concept of the SoSAFE! program is the concept of consent. All learners will be taught the concept of consent.
The principle is:
- I say yes, you say yes and the behaviour is safe and appropriate – OK
- I say yes, you say yes but the behavior is not safe and appropriate – Not OK
- I say yes, you say no – Not OK
Talk Touch Triangle
The Talk Touch Triangle visually shows who and to what degree we talk to people and how this may change as relationships develop and evolve. It is important for our learners to understand that we talk first (ask for consent) before we touch people.
The Talk Touch Triangle differentiates the nine different categories of relationships our learners may experience and the different levels of verbal and physical intimacy that is appropriate within these relationships, providing consent is given by all parties. This tool only shows behaviours that are OK (permissible, appropriate and moral) with consent but learners are taught that they do not have to consent to all listed behaviours.
The nine categories of relationship from greatest to least intimacy are: Partner, boy/girlfriend, family, close friends, friends, community workers I know, other people I know (acquaintances), community workers I don’t know (strangers) and other people I don’t know (strangers). The Talk Touch Triangle visually shows how much verbal and physical intimacy is appropriate within the relationship e.g. a person in the other people I don’t know category has zero whereas a partner has the greatest representation.
Levels of verbal and physical intimacy are taught for each category, and learners are taught that consent must be given by both parties before they touch or before somebody touches them.
People and Relationship Book (PRB)
One of the most valuable tools to supporting understanding of the SoSAFE! program is the people and relationship book.
This book opens with a list of OK helpers (people to be contacted in an emergency) and a help page. This help page gives learners a method of reporting if something is wrong or if they are hurt.
The PRB has a list of private helpers to support with washing and wiping and private helpers for medical purposes. Learners are encouraged to check their PRB to ensure the person supporting them is a private helper.
The PRB then has a page for photos of people in each category, and a list of ok behaviours (green) and not ok behaviours (red). There is a separate page for each category and it is important to note that people can only be in one category so a family member can’t also be a friend and a friend can’t be a friend and a boyfriend. People can move into different categories as relationships change, but they must be removed from the previous category.
Consent is key here.
Consent must be given by each person and the behavior must be green to continue e.g:
- for families hugging: I say yes, you say yes … the behavior is green so it is ok. If I say yes, you say no so it is not ok and it can’t happen even though the behavior is green.
- For friends cuddling: I say yes, you say yes… the behavior is red so it is not ok. It can’t happen even though consent was given.
Steps to Relationships
The steps to relationship guide is in place to support learners to understand how to move through the different phases of relationships should they wish to. Progression to the next step must only happen with mutual consent from both parties.
These steps are:
- Meeting people
- Becoming friends
- Becoming close friends
- Becoming boy/girlfriend
- Becoming partners
Steps 1 and 2 are non-intimate, steps 3, 4 and 5 can be intimate or non-intimate.
