As part of our commitment to safeguarding and promoting children’s wellbeing, I wanted to send some information about the importance of age-appropriate reading materials, television programmes, films and online content.
Recently, a number of our junior pupils have been discussing and bringing into school books and comics that are intended for significantly older audiences. One example is the manga series Jujutsu Kaisen, which is generally recommended for teenagers and contains themes, language, violence and imagery that may not be suitable for primary-aged children.
As a school, we have a responsibility to ensure that the materials we actively promote, endorse and record as part of our reading provision are appropriate for the age and developmental stage of our pupils.
For this reason, staff may exercise professional judgement when considering whether a book can be signed off as part of a child’s reading challenge. Where a book contains content that is not considered suitable for primary-aged children, we may be unable to recognise it as part of our school reading programme, even if a parent has permitted their child to read it at home.
We would also encourage parents to check age ratings and content guidance for books, television programmes, films, video games and online media, as children may not always recognise when material is intended for an older audience.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us promote safe, enjoyable and age-appropriate reading experiences for all our pupils. If you have any questions or would like advice on suitable reading materials for your child’s age group, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Yours sincerely,
Anna Morrice
Designated Safeguarding Lead
