Tender partners with MOPAC to launch a new Teacher Toolkit for primary schools

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, visited Tender’s work in action

Today, Sadiq Khan visited a Tender workshop at Seven Sisters Primary School (London) to celebrate the launch of our new Teacher Toolkit for primary schools, developed in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

The Toolkit expands on our similar resource for secondary schools, and is designed to prepare primary school teachers to develop essential skills in talking to children safely about healthy relationships, gender equality and their rights and responsibilities.

Sadiq watched as Year 6 students took part in activities from the Toolkit, such as acting out scenes which feature the early warning signs of unhealthy behaviour in friendships and holding up ‘red flags’ when they identified these actions. Sadiq also engaged in discussions with the children about how they can build healthy, respectful friendships and where to access support if children feel unsafe.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Tender CEO Susie McDonald

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said:

‘I saw how teachers and workshop leaders will work with children to understand the power of their words & attitudes. This will teach the next generation to recognise inappropriate behaviour in an age-appropriate way, and encourage them to champion healthy relationships and attitudes.’

Our Chief Executive, Susie McDonald, acknowledged that discussing gender inequality and healthy relationships could be difficult, but said primary school was a critical time for children to learn about communication, empathy and respect:

‘It’s imperative that children learn about healthy relationships and are supported to build positive attitudes and behaviours,’ she said. ‘By challenging potentially problematic attitudes at their root, we can prevent a culture of abuse against women and girls.’

In addition to the Toolkit, Tender is also supported by MOPAC to deliver free online trainings which help teachers to use the Toolkit activities when educating their students. We are running a series of borough-specific and London-wide sessions throughout the autumn term: sign up here.

Teachers need and deserve the tools and confidence to deliver high-quality Relationships Education and safeguard children’s wellbeing. We are proud to be working with MOPAC to support them and their students in these efforts.