any girl who has a sister who has already undergone FGM must be considered to be at risk of FGM, as must other female children in the extended family; any girl withdrawn from Personal, Social and Health Education may be at risk as a result of her parents wishing to keep her uninformed about her body and rights. There can also be clearer signs when FGM is imminent: it may be possible that families will practice FGM in the UK when a female family elder is around, particularly when she is visiting from a country of origin; a professional may hear reference to FGM in conversation, for example a girl may tell other children about it; a girl may confide that she is to have a procedure’ or to attend a special occasion to ‘special a woman’; ‘become a girl may request help from a teacher or another adult if she is aware or suspects that she is at immediate risk; parents that they or a relative will take the child out of the country for a prolonged period; a girl may talk about a long holiday to her country of origin or another country where the practice is prevalent; parents seeking to withdraw their children from learning about FGM. Signs of FGM. There are a number of indications that a girl has already been subjected to FGM: she may have difficulty walking, sitting or standing; she may spend longer than normal in the bathroom or toilet due to difficulties urinating; she may long periods of time away from a classroom during the day with bladder or menstrual problems; she may have frequent urinary or menstrual problems; here may be prolonged or repeated absences from school; a prolonged absence from school with noticeable behaviour change (e.g. withdrawal or depression) on the girl’s return could be an indication that she has recently undergone FGM; she may be particularly reluctant to undergo normal medical examinations;
any girl who has a sister who has already undergone FGM must be considered to be at risk of FGM, as must other female children in the extended family; any girl withdrawn from Personal, Social and Health Education may be at risk as a result of her parents wishing to keep her uninformed about her body and rights. There can also be clearer signs when FGM is imminent: it may be possible that families will practice FGM in the UK when a female family elder is around, particularly when she is visiting from a country of origin; a professional may hear reference to FGM in conversation, for example a girl may tell other children about it; a girl may confide that she is to have a ‘special procedure’ or to attend a special occasion to ‘become a woman’; a girl may request help from a teacher or another adult if she is aware or suspects that she is at immediate risk; parents that they or a relative will take the child out of the country for a prolonged period; a girl may talk about a long holiday to her country of origin or another country where the practice is prevalent; parents seeking to withdraw their children from learning about FGM. Signs of FGM. There are a number of indications that a girl has already been subjected to FGM: she may have difficulty walking, sitting or standing; she may spend longer than normal in the bathroom or toilet due to difficulties urinating; she may long periods of time away from a classroom during the day with bladder or menstrual problems; she may have frequent urinary or menstrual problems; here may be prolonged or repeated absences from school; a prolonged absence from school with noticeable behaviour change (e.g. withdrawal or depression) on the girl’s return could be an indication that she has recently undergone FGM; she may be particularly reluctant to undergo normal medical examinations;
Safeguarding-Policy-Sept-2018.docx