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All school policies are available from the school office upon request.
Policies to promote and safeguard the welfare of children include:
1 Child Protection
2 Pastoral Care
3 PSHCE - Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education
4 Assemblies
5 Health Education
6 Sex Education
7 Substance Abuse
8 Good Behaviour and Sanctions
9 Equal Opportunities
10 Disability Equality
11 Anti-bullying
12 Racial Incidents
13 First Aid
14 Asthma
15 EpiPens
16 Supervision of Children
17 Educational Visits
Child Protection Policy Statement
Designated Child Protection Officer {Designated CPO} Mrs. S. R. Watts
Deputy Child Protection Officers {Deputy CPO} Miss H. Davison & Mrs. K. Sampson
Introduction
The school adheres to the principles outlined in
•o The Children Act 1989
•o Education Act (2002), section 175
•o DCSF guidance ‘Safeguarding Children in Education' (2004)
•o ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children' (1999 DoH)
•o ‘Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against teachers and other staff (Nov 2005)
believing that all children have a right to be protected from abuse. It is the intention of the procedures within this policy to ensure that the appropriate action is taken immediately where it is alleged that a pupil is suspected of being abused. The prime concern at all times must be the interests and safety of the pupil(s).
In line with ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children' (1999 DoH) we follow the guidelines for protecting children from abuse which are established by Harrow Children's Services Protection Committee. We have appropriate procedures in place for responding to situations in which they believe that a child has been abused or are at risk of abuse - these procedures also cover circumstances in which a member of staff is accused of, or suspected of, abuse.
In line with the DCSF guidance ‘Safeguarding Children in Education' (2004) we aim
•· To ensure staff understand the different types of child abuse.
•· To raise awareness of staff regarding the signs of abuse.
•· To ensure staff are aware of their own responsibilities regarding the child protection procedures.
•· To ensure that staff are aware of whom the Designated Child Protection Officer and her deputies for Child Protection is/are.
•· To ensure staff are aware of the role of the Designated Child Protection Officer and her deputies.
•· To recognise the dilemmas of confidentiality.
•· To provide support for both staff who have experienced disclosure and for the pupils who have disclosed.
•· To ask the Foundation to provide further training for staff, updated every 3 years, and include discussion of child protection issues in the programme of induction for new members of staff.
•· To ask the Foundation to provide training, updated every 2 years, for the designated teacher/s.
•· To operate safe recruitment procedures.
‘Every Child Matters' is the Government's plan to reform and improve children's care and was written in response to the inquiry into the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie. It affects all children, aged from birth to 19 years and aims to improve educational achievement and reduce the levels of ill health, teenage pregnancy, abuse and neglect, crime and anti-social behaviour.
‘Every Child Matters' is intended to help children and young people achieve the five outcomes that matter most to them and their parents and carers. These are: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution to society, and social and economic well-being.
PSM embraces these initiatives.
Designated Teacher for Child Protection
The role of the Designated Teacher for Child Protection is to:
•· ensure child protection procedures are in place and updated as appropriate.
•· ensure all staff are aware of the school policy and procedures;
•· be available to provide advice/support to staff and for confidential discussions about concerns;
•· be available to provide support to pupils;
•· liaise with one or both Deputy Child Protection Officers and to keep one or both of them informed regarding child protection issues;
•· meet with the Deputy Child Protection Officers, Children's Services and the Police when required;
•· keep records of any concerns/suspected cases of abuse/referrals;
•· coordinate arrangements for monitoring of pupils on roll who have been identified as being in need of protection;
•· inform Children's Services and the new school when a child who has a Child Protection Plan (CPP) moves to another school;
•· suggest that the curriculum offers opportunities for raising pupils' awareness and developing strategies for ensuring their own protection (e.g. PSHCE).
Roles and Responsibilities
Staff
All members of staff have a responsibility to be aware of the procedures to be followed in cases of suspected child abuse. Staff in regular contact with pupils are well placed to notice signs of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, behavioural change or failure to develop as expected.
Nursery staff and in particular the nursery teacher are responsible for informing the Designated Child Protection Officer of concerns in the EYFS setting.
If a member of staff suspects a pupil may be at risk or hears a disclosure from a pupil, the Designated CPO must be informed. The member of staff will then be asked to complete a recording form if they have not already done so, to provide an accurate account of any discussions or observations regarding the pupil concerned.
Any records are then passed to the Designated CPO as they are confidential documents and are kept in a separate locked child protection file. Ultimately it is the Headmistress, in her role as Designated Child Protection Officer who makes the final decision on matters. If the Designated CPO is not in school on that day, the matter should be reported to one or both Deputy Child Protection Officers.
When the Designated CPO has been informed of a case of suspected abuse or of a young person who may be at risk of abuse, she must refer the matter to Children's Services within 24 hours. Children's Services will then advise the CPO regarding any contact with the family, as it may be the responsibility of the Children's Services Department to inform the parents.
In compliance with Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education:
•· the Headmistress is required to report to the Secretary of State, via the DCSF in Darlington, within one month of leaving the School, any person whose services are no longer used because he or she is considered to be unsuitable to work with children;
•· the Headmistress and Governors are required to operate safe recruitment procedures;
•· the Governors must undertake an annual review of the school's protection policies and procedures and of the efficiency with which the related duties have been discharged.
Recognising Child Abuse
It is a teacher's responsibility to recognise signs of abuse and to refer these concerns to the Designated CPO who will decide whether to refer these concerns to the relevant investigatory agency - usually a Children's Services department.
All lists of ‘signs and symptoms' of child abuse should be treated with caution. At times there will be straightforward explanations for injuries or behaviour. What is essential is that staff share their concerns with the Designated Child Protection Officer and that these are discussed in the light of what is known about the child and family, and if necessary, with those professionals with the responsibility for investigating abuse.
There is a growing recognition that children brought up in 'high criticism, low warmth' households are particularly vulnerable.
Definitions of Child Abuse
•· Physical Abuse:
Where a parent (or somebody else caring for the child) physically hurts, injures or kills a child. This can involve hitting, shaking, squeezing, burning and biting. It also involves giving a child poisonous substances, inappropriate drugs and alcohol, and attempted suffocation or drowning. It includes the use of excessive force when carrying out tasks like feeding or nappy changing.
•· Emotional Abuse:
Where children are harmed by a constant lack of love and affection or threats, verbal attacks, taunting or shouting.
•· Sexual Abuse:
When adults seek sexual gratification by using children (boys or girls). This may be by having sexual intercourse (buggery), engaging with the child in fondling, masturbation or oral sex, and includes encouraging children to watch sexually explicit behaviour or pornographic material, including videos.
•· Neglect:
Where parents (or whoever else is caring for the child) fail to meet the basic essential needs of children, like adequate food, clothes, warmth and medical care. Leaving young children alone and unsupervised is another example of neglect. Refusing or failing to give adequate love and affection is a case of emotional neglect.
Female Genital Mutilation
This form of physical abuse involves female genital mutilation {FGM} by way of circumcision, excision or infibulations. FGM is extremely harmful. It causes long-term mental and physical suffering, difficulty in giving birth, infertility and even death. It cannot be justified as a cultural or religious practice. Leaders of all the main faiths have spoken out against it. If FMG is suspected, the Headmistress will contact Harrow Children's Services.
Forced Marriages
Forced marriage is a marriage conducted without the full consent of both parties and where duress is a factor as opposed to an arranged marriage. Forced marriage is a human rights abuse and falls within the Crown Prosecution Service definition of domestic violence. Young people at risk of a forced marriage may be experiencing emotional and/or physical abuse at home. If there are concerns that a child is in danger of a forced marriage, the Headmistress should contact the Government's Forced Marriage Unit and Harrow Children's Services.
The procedure for dealing with allegations or suspicion of abuse against a member of staff follows the guidelines ‘Dealing with Allegations against a member of staff' (21 Nov 2005).
The DCSF has statutory guidance on ‘Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against Teachers and other Staff' contained in their document ‘Safeguarding Children in Education' published in November 2005. This guidance is about managing cases of allegations that might indicate that a person is unsuitable to continue work with children in their present position, or in any capacity.
Any allegations should be reported to the Headmistress {CPO} immediately unless the allegation is about the Headmistress in which case it should be reported to the Chair of Governors.
When a concern arises, these are three processes that may need to take place:
- a child protection investigation
- a criminal investigation
- action by the School to discipline or remove the member of staff
Peterborough & St Margaret's School will take no direct action against a member of the School without advice and agreement of the investigating agencies {e.g. the Police, NSPCC or Children's Services}, except where such action is necessary to protect a child.
If, following further investigation and any consultation, the concern clearly is about bad practice rather than abuse the Headmistress will take the necessary action to advise, manage or instigate disciplinary action against the member of the School about whom the allegation has been made.
Irrespective of the outcome of the Police and Children's Services investigations the School may consider suspension and/or disciplinary action in accordance with its usual disciplinary procedure.
Only the Headmistress, or in her absence and with her agreement, either of the Deputy CPOs, will contact the police and Children's Services.
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