Stage 06 · Why Might Someone Stay Silent? · Introduction

Why Might Someone Stay Silent?

Silence, delay and changing accounts can have many explanations. Safe support keeps uncertainty and dignity in view.

This level adds the idea that people may minimise, retract or change what they say without that automatically proving either truth or falsehood.

Teacher View

Teach

Purpose Develop empathy without teaching credulity.

Ask How can we take a changing account seriously without assuming we know why it changed?

Respond

Misconception Retraction proves the original concern was false, or silence proves abuse.

Protect

Safeguarding Do not invite disclosures; model non-pressuring language and honest limits to confidentiality.

Adapt & assess

SEND / EAL Use barrier categories: emotional / practical / social / safety-related.

Evidence of learning Learner gives a patient, non-leading response to changing information.