Child protection policy

Hertford Junior School

 

Child Protection Policy

 

 

1         Introduction

 

 

·        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.

 

 

·        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.

 

 

·        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. Assemblies and Collective Worship also contribute to this ethos. We also teach them how to recognise different risks in different situations, and how to behave in response to them.

 

 

2         Aims and objectives

 

 

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

 

 

·        There is a designated teacher in our school who is the Child Protection Co-ordinator – Helen Booth

 

·        If any teacher suspects that a child may be a target of abuse, they immediately inform the Child Protection Co-ordinator about their concerns. Abuse can be of a sexual, emotional or physical nature. It can also be the result of neglect.

 

·        All concerns should be recorded in the Welfare Concern File kept in the Headteacher’s office

 

·        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 LEA Child Protection guidelines. These are kept in the head’s office and in the staff room (red folder).

 

·        The school’s Child Protection Co-ordinator works closely with the Social Services 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. Children may be monitored if there are any causes for concern and confidential records will be kept by the designated teacher.

 

·        If a child alleges abuse, the school usually takes advice from Social Services or the EWO (Education Welfare Office) without communicating with parents first.

 

·        If a child protection referral is made, a case conference is held. 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.

 

·        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.

 

·        We require all adults employed in school to have their application vetted through enhanced police checks in order to ensure that there is no evidence of offences involving children or abuse.

 

·        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 so the incident can be logged.

 

·        All adults in the school receive regular training to raise their awareness of abuse and their knowledge of agreed local child protection procedures.

 

·        If a child moves to a new school, any appropriate records will be forwarded. If the new school is unknown, Social Services will be informed.

 

         

 

4. General Principles

 

 

·        Confidential records will be kept electronically, separately to academic records. Any records needing to be kept as hard copies will be kept by the designated teacher. The Education (Schools records) Regulations 1989 do not require the disclosure to parents of any school record which relates to child protection.

 

·        Confidential records will include items such as copies of letters; reports; details of phone conversations; details of contact with parents; medical reports; details of disclosures; details of contact with appropriate agencies. Times and dates will be carefully recorded.

 

·        The school is not an investigative agency. The role is that of supporting the child.

 

·        If a child chooses to disclose any information, the member of staff should: listen to the child, rather than question; never stop a child who is freely recalling significant events; make a note of the discussion, taking care to record all the relevant evidence; record all subsequent events; treat the child with sensitivity and dignity at all times. A child should not be expected to repeat or elaborate what s/he has said to another member of staff, as one telling can be traumatic enough.

 

·        A member of staff should never promise confidentiality to a child. Disclosures must be shared with the designated teacher and appropriate agencies.

 

·        This policy should be read in conjunction with related school policies (eg Anti-Bullying policy, ESCC Child Protection Procedures document).

 

 

5.  Monitoring and review

 

 

This policy is reviewed every three years (or sooner if appropriate) by the governing body.