The NSPCC helped nearly 9,000 Worcestershire primary school pupils in the last year to understand how to recognise and report abuse, new figures reveal.

It comes as primary schools yet to receive a visit from the charity’s free ‘Speak out. Stay safe.’ programme are being urged to sign-up as soon as possible.

In the 2018/19 academic year, the NSPCC visited 38 schools in Worcestershire, and delivered assemblies and workshops to 8,943 children, in an accessible and age appropriate way.

In the average primary school class, at least two children have suffered abuse or neglect, making it vitally important that all primary schools help to equip their children with the knowledge and skills to speak up if something is wrong.

The ‘Speak out. Stay safe.’ assemblies and workshops will also help to reinforce key lessons about abuse and neglect that will be compulsory for all primary schools in 2020, as part of the Relationships Education curriculum.

Schools can request an NSPCC school visit via nspcc.org.uk/speakout