The WCED's Safe Schools Programme works with schools to ensure safe school environments needed for successful teaching and learning.

Safe Schools has a three-pronged strategy:

• Environmental programmes
  where the physical structure of the school is secured
• Developmental programmes
  by focusing on attitudinal or behavioural changes  through support and training, to modify and influence parent, educator and learner behaviour at school.
• Systems programmes
  by focusing on systemic development, community relationships and effective partnerships that incorporate a holistic approach to changing how the whole school operates as far as safety is concerned.

Safe Schools has a whole-of-society approach (WOSA)  as well as a whole-of-government approach (WOGA) to address school safety promotion and violence prevention and works in partnership with numerous stakeholders. These stakeholders include amongst others the South African Police Services, the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, the Department of Social Development and the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement division.

The following Safe Schools services are available:

Occupational health and safety training
Substance abuse prevention training
National School Safety Framework Training
School Safety Committee Training
Anti-bullying Programmes
Conflict management and peer mediation training
Youth development programmes, which includes after school and holiday programmes
Trauma support

The Safe Schools Call Centre provides a central point where educators, learners and parents can report any form of abuse, violence, vandalism, burglaries and any other incidents that impact on efforts to ensure safe schools. It serves as a coordinating centre from which referrals are made to appropriate agencies and from which vital information is disseminated to the relevant parties. Callers receive online debriefing in crisis calls and, in non-crisis calls, callers are directed, where necessary, to the counselling agencies of the WCED, non-governmental agencies and community-based organisations.

The Call Centre’s toll-free line is 0800 45 46 47