Parents' Guide to Safeguarding for Black & Racially Minoritised Children

About this event

This free workshop, hosted by Black South West Network and facilitated by Domini Choudhury, supports parents of Black and Racially Minoritised children to better understand England and Wales’ education system and advocate confidently for their children.

This is part of a 3-part series focused on support parents of Black and Racially Minoritised students:

Workshop 1: On Rights and Navigating Systems with Margaret Simmons-Bird MBE (17th June 2026, 13.00 to 15.00 at the St Paul’s Learning Centre)

Workshop 2: On Safeguarding Policies and Complaints with Domini Choudhury (23rd September 2026, 13.00 to 15.00 at the St Paul’s Learning Centre)

Workshop 3: On Parent Self-Advocacy, Care, and Parent-School Engagement with Jasmine Tippett (18th of November 2026, 13.00 to 15.00 at the St Paul’s Learning Centre)

The education system can often feel complex and inaccessible. The Black Equity Organisation found that 89% of Black Britons felt schools failed to support the needs and aspirations of Black students, and many racially minoritised and migrant parents report struggling to navigate how UK schools work. This workshop responds with practical, accessible guidance grounded in lived experience.

Led by Domini Choudhury, the session takes a hands-on approach to navigating school structures, policies, and escalation processes. Through a racial justice lens, it also explores how safeguarding, behaviour, and accessibility intersect with race and faith, equipping parents with the tools to advocate more effectively.

Who is this event for?

• Parents and carers of Black and Racially Minoritised children
• Families who feel unsure about how the education system works
• Parents wanting to advocate more confidently for their child’s rights
• Those seeking practical guidance on engaging with schools and educators
• Parents who feel unheard or marginalised within school systems

What will be covered?

This session will begin by clarifying key education structures, including the roles and responsibilities within schools, what OFSTED does (and does not do), and why contacting Headteachers or Senior Leaders can often feel difficult or inaccessible. By building this foundational understanding, parents can better navigate the system with confidence.

Recognising that parents of Black and Racially Minoritised students often feel unheard, the workshop will focus on practical, empowering strategies through a racial justice lens. Parents will be guided through:

• How to navigate school websites to find key policies (e.g. behaviour, safeguarding, complaints)

• Understanding how complaints processes work in practice, including who to contact first and when to escalate.

• Clear guidance on escalation pathways within schools and beyond.

• What to do if you are not satisfied with a school’s response, including introduction to Subject Access requests.

• Making policies more accessible and understandable for parents.

• Linking safeguarding and behaviour policies to issues of race and equity.

Who will we hear from?

• Domini Choudhury – School Improvement Partner, Award-winning EDI consultant, Anti-racism Education, and Director of A.I.M Consultancy Ltd
• Japheth Monzon, Black South West Network – Host organisation supporting Black and Racially Minoritised communities across the South West

What else do I need to know?

• Format: Interactive workshop (in-person preferred, with potential recording/streaming)

• Duration: 1–1.5 hours

• Venue: Community setting (e.g. St Paul’s Learning Centre)

• Accessibility: Creche provision planned to support participation

• The St Paul's Learning Centre is wheelchair accessible with step-free access, accessible bathrooms, and a lift.
• Parking is free for all users. The car park is located at the side and rear of the venue. Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders cannot be booked in advance. There is/are 2 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.

The session prioritises interaction, shared learning, and community-building, recognising that connection and support are key to parent wellbeing and advocacy.

Notice of Consent

Materials from the workshops can be shared with attendees after each session. By registering for a ticket, you opt into the BSWN newsletter and give permission to be contacted regarding our future programme of events, programmes and opportunities. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please email us on blackswnetwork@gmail.com.