Vaping
In recent years, smoking by young people has been steadily declining, but the production of Vapes is largely replacing traditional smoking with young people. To a greater degree, it is less regulated and is more easily available from multiple shopping outlets as well as online. Vaping is new and so far the impact on people’s health is still being determined, but despite that lack of knowledge there are some shocking concerns. With the lack of regulation, particularly in the online environment, the content of vapes varies massively and can contain illegal substances. An example of this can be taken from a recent operation in Devon and Cornwall where vapes taken from students were found to contain illegal substances.
So one of the greatest concerns we have for young people is that we know they don’t know what is in their Vapes. Whilst they may be smoking with little disregard to the potential health impacts, we need to be educating and creating safe environments for them.
ASH guidance on developing school policies on vaping
ASH have produced information to support schools in creating a robust policy around vapes in schools including questions to ask to inform wider school policies and ethos
- Do staff know what they would do if children in Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 are found to be smoking or vaping?
- Would policy change for children of different ages?
- Is there a range of sanctions to reflect severity?
- Do your policies support students if vaping is being used to stop smoking?
- How do you support children who smoke to stop?
- Are you in touch with school nurses about these issues?
- Do these policies align with a wider school ethos? If so, how?
The full document can be viewed here.
Addressing common myths about vaping: Putting the evidence in context
This short brief is to aid responsible reporting of the evidence about vaping and reduce:
- Repetition of misconceptions as conventional wisdom;
- Overstating the evidence, with caveats downplayed or missed out;
- Presenting opinions as facts.
You can read the full document here.
If you are from a school, college, or are a safeguarding lead there are a range of resources developed by ‘Smoke Free Sheffield’ you may find useful including:
- Two posters which can be displayed where students will see them, such as school toilets, classrooms, canteens, and noticeboards. Both digital and printed versions are available.
- A short, animated film which can be used in PSHE lessons, form times and assemblies, to start discussions.
- PowerPoint slides ready for use by teachers in the classroom alongside the animated film to guide discussions.
- To back up the slides for classroom use is a more detailed slideset for teachers, providing additional information to support educators, answering questions and signposting to additional support.
- An electronic leaflet designed for parents and carers giving more information about smoking and vaping.
Classroom Resources
Cover the statutory Health Education requirements with our drug and alcohol lesson packs
Category: Drugs, County Lines
Audience: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5
Developed by: PSHE Association
Duration (minutes): 30+
Keywords: drugs, county lines, alcohol
The PSHE Association drug and alcohol schemes of work for key stages 1-4 have been developed for Public Health England. This pack includes lesson plans and resources for each key stage — with knowledge organisers included — as well as a comprehensive teacher guidance document, a briefing on the evidence base underpinning effective drug and alcohol education, and governors’ briefing. Interactive PowerPoint lesson plans are also available, for members of the Association.
Support pupils with SEND to explore the facts, laws, risks and consequences associated with drug and alcohol use, as well as the dangers of household products and prescribed medications.
Category: Drugs, County Lines
Audience: SEND
Developed by: PSHE Association
Duration (minutes): <60
Keywords:
These lesson plans and slides are designed to be used flexibly, and can be adapted to meet the needs and abilities of your pupils. Each lesson provides several main activities for you to choose from, which are based on the progression stages outlined in our Planning Framework for Pupils with SEND.
The lesson plans from the Home Office are designed to prevent young people becoming involved in serious and organised crime.
Category: Crime and ASB, Drugs, County Lines
Audience: KS3
Developed by: PSHE Association
Duration (minutes): 2×60
Keywords:
The Year 7 lesson will help students recognise unsafe or coercive friendships. The Year 9 lesson explores the impact of serious and organised crime directly, including the example of young people involved in drugs supply with a focus on county lines (transporting drugs across counties).
KS3 form time activities
Category: Drugs
Audience: KS3
Developed by: NHS
Duration (minutes): -30 mins
Keywords:
In these 3 form time sessions, students learn about social pressures around vaping, its impact, and the effects of nicotine on the adolescent brain.
Consequences of vaping and challenging the influences that might encourage young people to vape
Category: Drugs
Audience: KS3
Developed by: PSHE Association
Duration (minutes): 60
Keywords: vaping, consequences, harm
A year 9 lesson exploring the consequences of vaping and challenging the influences that might encourage young people to vape. Designed to follow on from the Year 9 lessons in our existing suite of drug and alcohol education lessons, this lesson will help students understand the impact of influences, influencers and marketing on vaping-related choices and behaviours, explain the consequences of vaping, including the environmental cost of e-cigarettes, analyse ways to challenge influences and misconceptions about vaping
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