Child Protection Policies

Saturday
05 July, 2008

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School Policy
Child Protection

Text last issued/revised: 25 May 2006.

Responsible Officer:

View/Print this Page as a Word Document [.doc file]

This web page is provided for information only and is an adaptation from the original Policy Document maintained by Comberton Village College. Where differences exist in text and/or presentation between the two versions, it is the wording and presentation of the original Policy Document that shall prevail in any dispute.

See also: Guidelines for Recording Child Protection Information

Introduction

Prevention

Procedures

Supporting the Pupil at Risk

Bullying

Pupils with Special Educational Needs

1: Introduction

Comberton Village College fully recognises the contribution it makes to Child Protection work. There are three main elements to our policy:

a) Prevention, through teaching and pastoral support offered to pupils.

b) Procedures for identifying, reporting and responding to cases, or suspected cases, of abuse. Child Abuse is a term that relates to all the ways that a child's health or development can be harmed by the actions or inactions of others. Day to day contact with pupils provides staff with numerous opportunities to observe the outward signs of abuse.

c) Support to pupils who may have been abused.

Our policy applies to all staff working in the school - ancillary staff as well as teachers. Concerned parents may also contact the school.

2: Prevention

We recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and good lines of communication with a trusted adult help prevention. The school will therefore:

a) establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk and be listened to;

b) ensure that children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty;

c) include in the curriculum, activities and opportunities which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse and the knowledge of how and where they can seek help;

d) include in the curriculum material that will help children to develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life, particularly with regard to child care and parenting skills.

3: Procedures

We will follow the procedures set out in the document produced by the Cambridgeshire Child Protection Committee, " 'Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children in Need in Cambridgeshire' Inter-Agency Procedures".

The school will:

a) ensure that it has a designated member of staff who has undertaken the two day course provided by the LEA as a minimum and who is thereafter enabled to develop relevant skills and knowledge to ensure that she/he is well-informed about the school's responsibilities towards pupils in its care. The designated teacher at present is Mrs Lil Davies;

b) ensure that at least one member of the Senior Leadership Group has undertaken the two day course provided by the LEA and is thereby able to serve as the designated teacher if circumstances should require this; This is currently Mrs Irayna Owen.

c) provide training for all members of staff so that they know their personal responsibility, the appropriate procedures to follow in the case of abuse or suspected abuse of a child they are working with, the need to be vigilant in identifying cases of abuse and how to support a child who tells of abuse;

d) recognise the role of the designated teacher by facilitating training in Child Protection issues for staff in school that may be delivered by the designated teacher or by an outside agency;

e) ensure that every member of staff and every governor knows the name of the designated teacher;

f) ensure that every member of staff is aware of his/her responsibilities:-

(i) to follow the procedures set out in " 'Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children in Need in Cambridgeshire' Interagency Procedures"

(ii) to know where the book " 'Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children in Need in Cambridgeshire' Interagency Procedures" is located;

a) ensure that members of staff are aware of the need to be alert to the signs of abuse and know how to respond to a pupil who may tell of abuse;

b) adhere to the procedures set out in Circular 10/95: "Protecting Children from Abuse The Role of the Education Service" and in " 'Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children in Need in Cambridgeshire' Interagency Procedures" when an allegation is made against a member of staff;

c) ensure that the possible criminal background of applicants for vacant posts is checked rigorously.

g) ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibilities placed on the school and staff for Child Protection. The school will contact parents within a working day of concerns being raised about their child, unless there is a possibility that the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering physical or sexual abuse from a family member, a member of the school staff or another child. In these situations, the school will first contact the local Social Services Department for guidance on how to proceed.

The designated teacher for Child Protection will:

a) adhere to the procedures set out in " 'Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children in Need in Cambridgeshire' Interagency Procedures";

b) pay due regard to the document "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (2000) produced by the Dept. of HealthMonday 23 October, 2006yment;

c) notify the local Social Services team if the school excludes a pupil who is on the child protection register, either for a fixed term or permanently

d) notify the local Social Services team if there is an unexplained / unauthorised absence of a pupil at risk of more than two days duration from school (or one day following a weekend).

e) work to develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their work on child protection matters;

f) keep written records of concerns about children, noting the date, event and action taken and member(s) of staff involved, even when there is no need to refer the matter to Social Services immediately;

g) ensure that all records are kept securely;

h) ensure that parents are informed within a working day if there is a concern about their child's welfare, unless there is a possibility that the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering physical or sexual abuse from a family member, a member of the school staff or another child. In these situations, the school will first contact the local Social Services Department for guidance on how to proceed.

4: Supporting the Pupil at Risk

We recognise that children who are abused or who witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth and to view the world as benevolent and meaningful. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of self-blame.

This school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. Nevertheless, when at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn.

The school will endeavour to support the pupil through:

a) the content of the curriculum to encourage self-esteem and self-motivation;

b) the school ethos which

(i) promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment;

(ii) gives pupils a sense of being valued.

c) the school's pastoral policies, which are aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school.

d) the school's response to a child who has been abused, who may display behaviour that is anti-social or unacceptable. All staff will agree on a consistent approach that deals with the behaviour without condemning the child. We will endeavour to ensure that the child is valued and will adopt an approach that separates the cause of behaviour from the child. Unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with in a way that does not lay blame on the child;

e) liaison with other agencies who support pupils, such as Social Services, Brookside (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), the LEA Educational Psychology Service and the Secondary Support Service;

f) holding records of concerns and actions taken throughout the child's time and school and notifying Social Services as soon as there is a recurrence of concern. In the case of children placed on the Child Protection Register, records will be held for the statutory period;

g) the school's response to a child who has abused another child. These children may exhibit behaviour that is antisocial or unacceptable. All staff will agree on a consistent approach that deals with the behaviour without condemning the child. We will endeavour to ensure that the child is valued and will adopt an approach that separates the cause of behaviour from the child. Unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with in a way that does not lay blame on the child.

When a child on the Child Protection Register leaves the school, we will transfer information to the new school immediately and inform the Child Protection Co-ordinator.

5: Bullying

Our policy is set out in our Behaviour Policy. We recognise that bullying behaviour is demeaning, frightening and paralysing. Pupils who are being bullied will be unable to learn effectively.

6: Pupils with Special Educational Needs

We recognise that pupils with Special Educational Needs are more likely to suffer abuse than their peers. Staff will be aware that there is increased vulnerability among these pupils and will endeavour to be particularly vigilant and sensitive to signs of abuse.

This page was last updated on: Monday 23 October, 2006

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