CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
| CHILD PROTECTION POLICY |
| Kinson Primary School fully recognises its responsibilities for Child Protection. |
| Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school. There are five main elements to our policy: 1. To establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop. 2. To develop and implement procedures for identifying and reporting suspected cases of abuse. 3. To support pupils who have been abused in accordance with the agreed Child Protection plan. 4. To raise awareness of child protection issues and equip children with the skills to keep them safer. 5. To practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children. We are eager to address all our children's needs through the Every Child Matters agenda and believe that we must concentrate on all aspects of safety and security to safeguard our pupils. We recognise that because of the day to day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The school will therefore: Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure and safe against harm, confident to talk and know that they will be listened to. Ensure that the pupils know that any of the adults in the school can be approached if they are worried. Include opportunities in the PSHE curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse. Be ready to listen and give the pupils a voice through our School Council and in interviews, questionnaires and surveys. We will follow the procedures set out by the Area Child Protection Committee and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Education and Skills to: Ensure that we have a designated teacher for child protection who has received appropriate training to act as a source of support, advice and expertise within our school in deciding when to make referrals and who liaises with relevant agencies. At Kinson the Headteacher, Liz Thomasson is designated Child Protection Co-ordinator; if not available contact the Deputy. Encourage parents to discuss any concerns about their own children or others, in confidence with the Child Protection Co-ordinator. Ensure we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection. This is Adele Gentle. Ensure that every member of staff, volunteer and governor knows the name of the designated teacher responsible for child protection and their role. These are displayed in the staffroom and the entrance hall. Ensure all staff, students and volunteers, including new or part time ones, have access to a copy of this policy and understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and their responsibility to refer any concerns to the Child Protection Co-ordinator. Every volunteer, parent and student must have a Criminal Records Bureau [CRB] check and all new staff will have an enhanced version before they begin work at Kinson. Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in the school prospectus; a new statement was added in June 2005. Notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on the child protection register. Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences. Keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately. Child protection observation forms are available for all staff to notify concerns quickly to the Child Protection Co-ordinator. See Appendix A for proforma. Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file and in locked locations. Currently pupil?s active records are locked in the filing cabinet in the Head?s room. Develop & follow procedures where an allegation is made againstmember of staff or volunteer. Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed. We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helpless, humiliated and some sense of blame. The school may be the only stable, secure, predictable and caring element in the lives of children who are at risk. When at school, they may demonstrate challenging, defiant or withdrawn behaviour. The school will endeavour to support pupils through: Personal, Social, Emotional and Health learning in all areas of the curriculum. We will try to help Children develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life, particularly with regard to child care and parenting skills The school ethos and aims promoting a positive, supportive and secure environment which gives pupils a sense of being valued, with no blame for any abuse they have suffered. Providing pastoral care support to reinforce pupils? essential skills: self esteem, confidence building, thinking independently, counselling and making their own assessments of risk. The Pastoral Care Worker is Tracy Kerley and our Counsellor is Julie Paddick [Listening Ear]. Encouraging children to talk about their worries; but promises must not be made about divulging child protection issues. These should be notified to the C. P. Co-ordinator as soon as possible. Teachers should use a proforma if not able to attend a C.P. conference. See Appendix B The school Behaviour Policy which aims to support all pupils in the school through rewards, incentives and sanctions. We ensure that pupils know the behaviours that are unacceptable and these are identified on the behaviour continuum. Staff will use a range of strategies to encourage good behaviour. Liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as social services, Child and Adult Mental Health Service, Education Welfare Service and the Educational Psychology & Behaviour Service. Encouraging parents to build closer links with the school and attend parent consultations to discuss individual children in greater detail. Listening to Child Protection concerns expressed about members of staff by pupils and parents and taking these seriously. Ensuring that, where a pupil on the Child Protection register leaves, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and the child?s social worker is informed. * See PSHE, Safety & Security and Behaviour Policies for more information. * |
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| Staff Training |
| Kinson staff will have general awareness raising and updates every other year. The Child Protection Co-ordinator will have regular training at least once a year and will provide feedback to staff. The teaching staff are trained in CP every 3 years. To safeguard pupils from abuse by any adult within school and in dealing with allegations from pupils, parents, governors, students and other staff, we have adopted the DfES good practice document Safeguarding Children: Dealing with Abuse Against Teachers and Other Staff [November 2005].Please see Appendix C. Further information on related issues is available on the DfES website: www.teachernet.gov.uk |
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| Responsibility of the Governing Body |
| The Governing Body has the responsibility to ensure that all pupils are protected from abuse or interference at Kinson. The Governors will be supported in their monitoring by Bournemouth LEA?s link advisor to the school, Hilary Evans and the Education Welfare Officer, Alyson Hammond-Forge. This policy will be reviewed annually. Child Protection Co-ordinator: Liz Thomasson Agreed with staff and revisions made then agreed with governors: November 2005 Signed by Vice Chair of Governors: R.J.Keniston February 2006 |
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