Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) can have a impact on a child’s school learning and engagement, especially when behaviours are responded with exclusion and embarrassment. The child may have difficulty focusing due to anxiety or fear of judgement, which is increased in environments where the child feels unsafe or misunderstood. Sense of belonging which is linked to attendance, motivation, and engagement in learning can be impacted also by peer conflict and social isolation. For some students who don’t feel they belong, school can feel like a place that is stressful instead of supportive, which will increase emotional dysregulation and avoidance behaviours, which impacts heavily on learning and school engagement (Ey & McInnes, 2020).

Impacts on learning may include:

• Decreased engagement and concentration
• Reduced attendance or avoiding specific learning spaces
• Issues working in groups
• Outburst or withdrawal
• Identity and relationship confusion
• Decrease in academic performance

(Ey & McInnes, 2020)(World Health Organization, 2024)

These impacts on learning and engagement in school often can escalate overtime without appropriate support. To help students regulate emotions, build trust, and increase engagement with learning and positive experiences at school.