What is domestic abuse?
Within the Domestic Abuse Act (2021), domestic abuse is described as any abusive behaviour towards one person from another, when the two are connected and aged sixteen or older. Domestic abuse can happen inside or outside the home. It can also happen over the internet. Domestic abuse may continue to occur even when a relationship ends. Abusive behaviours include:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Threatening behaviour
- Controlling or coercive behaviour
- Psychological abuse
Who is affected by domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status. Children and young people are considered victims of domestic abuse if they see, hear or experience its effects. It is estimated that around 4.5% of children and young people experience domestic abuse in the UK. It is reported that incidents of domestic abuse increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The effects of domestic abuse on children and young people
Experiencing domestic abuse can have a negative impact on children and young people. This may present immediately or at a later stage of development. The effects may be short term or long lasting. Research suggests that experiencing domestic abuse can have an impact on:
- Social outcomes
- Emotional wellbeing
- Physical health
- Cognitive ability
- Mental health
How might this impact children and young people in an educational setting?
Within a school setting, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse may:
- Find it difficult to make positive relationships (with both peers and adults)
- Find it difficult to attend school
- Exhibit externalised behaviours (arguing, aggressive behaviour)
- Exhibit internalised behaviours (withdrawal, isolation, experiencing anxiety)
- Report somatic complaints (headaches, stomach aches and pains)
- Experience difficulties in concentration during lessons
How can educational settings help?
Educational settings can act as a protecting factor for children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. Some of the ways in which school settings may support children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse include:
- Support to build positive relationships with adults at school
- Identifying a key adult/adults who can offer extra support
- Providing check-ins
- Support to identify and manage emotions
- Support to make friends
- Support interpreting situations as non-threatening
- Supporting building self-esteem
- Identifying strategies, with the young person, which support them with learning and behaviour
What do children and young people want educational settings to know?
The Devon Educational Psychology Service worked with children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse to explore their experiences of school. Difficulties experienced in school included:
- Completing homework – particularly when living within a refuge
- The stigmatisation of males experiencing emotional difficulties
- Being unable to sit by peers in class with whom the young person has a trusting relationship with
- Having caring responsibilities which school weren’t always aware of
- Being academically capable, therefore appearing successful and unable to ask for help.
Children and young people described having a positive relationship with an adult within their class as a major factor in making school easier for them. Examples of the outcomes of these positive relationships included:
- Feeling heard
- Having someone check in with them
- Receiving personal praise as opposed to public
- Being given choices
- Feeling able to ask for help
- Being given time to settle at times of transition
- A relationship built on trust
Further support
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child or young person, you should report this to your designated safeguarding lead. Useful contacts/support:
https://www.devon.gov.uk/dsva/support-services/ Devon Domestic Abuse Support Services
https://ndada.co.uk North Devon Against Domestic Abuse 01271 370079/80
https://wearesafe.org.uk Stop Abuse For Everyone