1 Introduction
1.1 The health, safety and well-being of all our children are of paramount importance to all the adults who work in our school. Our children have the right to protection, regardless of age, gender, race, culture or disability. They have a right to be safe in our school.
1.2 In our school we respect our children. The atmosphere within our school is one that encourages all children to do their best. We provide opportunities that enable our children to take and make decisions for themselves.
1.3 Our teaching of personal, social and health education and citizenship, as part of the National Curriculum, helps to develop appropriate attitudes in our children and makes them aware of the impact of their decisions on others. We also teach them how to recognise different risks in different situations, and how to behave in response to them.
2 Aims and objectives
2.1 This policy ensures that all staff in our school are clear about the actions necessary with regard to a child protection issue. Its aims are:
• to raise the awareness of all staff and identify responsibility in reporting possible cases of abuse;
• to ensure effective communication between all staff when dealing with child protection issues;
• to lay down the correct procedures for those who encounter an issue of child protection.
3 Procedures
3.1 There is a named person in our school who is the Child Protection Co-ordinator. This is the Headteacher but he may delegate this responsibility in some circumstances. The Deputy Headteacher will deputise for the Headteacher in his absence.
3.2 All members of staff receive a copy of the school’s Child Protection Policy for which they are required to acknowledge in writing. The Child Protection Policy is also published to parents/carers in conjunction with the School Prospectus and on the school’s website.
3.3 If any member of staff suspects that a child may be a victim of abuse, they immediately inform the named person about their concerns. Abuse can be of a sexual, emotional or physical nature. It can also be the result of neglect. Where a child makes a disclosure of abuse, the member of staff must inform the child that the staff member will have to inform the Headteacher. Staff members should not carry out an ‘interrogation’ of the child. The member of staff must complete a copy of the school’s ‘Concern Form’.
3.4 Any action that the named person takes when dealing with an issue of child protection must be in line with the procedures outlined in the agreed Inter-Agency Child Protection Procedures.
3.5 The school’s named co-ordinator works closely with the Social Services and Health Department and the Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) when investigating any allegations of abuse. All parties involved handle such investigations in a sensitive manner, but the interest of the child is of paramount importance.
3.6 If a child alleges abuse, the school usually makes a referral without communicating with parents first. In some circumstances we inform parents first. The school will contact Children’s Services for advice to ensure the correct procedure is followed.
3.7 If a child protection referral is made, a case conference is held within eight working days of the decision. The case conference offers the opportunity to share information and formulate a plan of action. Staff are expected to attend and participate in all case conferences and meetings held under the LEA guidelines. The Headteacher often represents the school at case conference using information gathered from appropriate sources. The school uses the agreed pro forma to provide information for case conferences (see attachment).
3.8 We regard all information relating to individual child protection issues as confidential, and we treat this accordingly. We only pass information on to appropriate persons. We inform the child at all stages of who is involved, and what information we have given them. All records of child protection cases are kept in a secure place.
3.9 We require all adults employed in school to have their application vetted through the Criminal Records Bureau in order to ensure that there is no evidence of offences involving children or abuse.
3.10 There may be times when adults in our school, in the course of their duty, use physical intervention to restrain children. The headteacher requires the adult involved in any such incident to report this to him immediately, and to record it in the interventions folder. The parents/carers of a child who has been restrained by a member of staff is informed as soon as possible of the incident. (see Restraining Pupils Policy)
3.11 All adults in the school receive regular training to raise their awareness of abuse and their knowledge of agreed local child protection procedures.
4 Monitoring and review
4.1 The Disciplinary Committee of the Governing Body regularly Child Protection proceduress through regular discussions with the Headteacher. This policy is reviewed annually by the governing body.
Reviewed: September 2006
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