CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Introduction
This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Education Act 2002 and related guidance, including Every Child Matters: change for children in schools (2005).
Our school fully recognises the contribution it can make to protect children and support pupils in school.
There are three main elements to our child protection policy:
• Prevention (e.g. positive school atmosphere, teaching and pastoral support to pupils).
• Protection (by following agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to child protection concerns).
• Support (to pupils and school staff and to children who may have been abused).
This policy applies to all pupils, staff, governors and visitors to the school.
School commitment
We recognise that for our pupils, high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and clear lines of communication with a trusted adult help prevention.
Our school will therefore:
• Establish and maintain an ethos where pupils feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
• Ensure that pupils know that there are adults in the school who they can approach if they are worried or are in difficulty.
• Include in the curriculum, activities and opportunities for PSHCE which equip pupils with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse. Further information about these activities and opportunities can be obtained from the Director of Studies.
• Include in the curriculum, material which will help the pupils develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life. Further information can be obtained from the Director of Studies.
• Ensure that, wherever possible, every effort will be made to establish effective working relationships with parents and colleagues from other agencies.
Framework
Schools do not operate in isolation. Child protection is the responsibility of all adults and especially those working with children. The development of appropriate procedures and the monitoring of good practice are the responsibility of the Kent Child Protection Committee.
The role of the school in situations where there are child protection concerns is NOT to investigate, but to recognise and refer.
Roles and responsibilities
All adults working with or on behalf of the children have a responsibility to protect the children. There are, however, key people within the school who have specific responsibility under child protection procedures.
The Designated Child Protection Officer is J. S. D. Mount (Deputy Head). He is responsible for:
• Co-ordinating child protection within the school
• Liaising with other agencies
• Ensuring that locally established procedures are followed within the school, and to make sure that relevant enquiries to the named agencies have been carried out, according to the guidance given under the Independent School Standards Regulations 4, 4a, 4b and 4c. These regulations apply to staff, supply staff, and governors; peripatetic teachers are not treated any differently.
• Acting as a consultant for staff to discuss concerns
• Maintaining a confidential recording system
• Managing and monitoring the school’s part in Child care/protection plans
• Organising child protection training for all school staff
• Liaising with other professionals
• Ensuring that all staff employed within the school are aware of the school’s internal procedures, to advise staff and to offer support to those requiring it.
The roles and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Governors are to ensure that the school has an effective policy, that area protection procedures are complied with, and to support the school in this aspect.
It is important that governors are not given details relating to specific child protection situations to ensure that confidentiality is not breached.
The governing body undertakes an annual review of the school’s child protection policy and the procedures and efficiency with which the related duties have been discharged. The Governor with responsibility for Child Protection is Mrs S. Ratcliffe.
The LEA child protection coordinator provides advice, support and training to the school and to the designated person within the school. He can also make referrals to the Child Protection Committee and can raise concerns about procedures on behalf of the school.
Procedures
A copy of Kent’s Child in need/child protection procedure is kept by the DCPO and is available to all members of staff. It contains details of procedures and the categories and definitions of abuse. All staff are advised to read chapters 4 and 5 of this handbook. A copy of the assessment framework is also available from the DCPO
• In the event of an allegation being made by a pupil against a member of staff, we will follow the procedures laid down by the DCSF under The Children Act 2004 sections 157 and 175 as detailed on pages 13.8 to 13.11. The Designated Child Protection Officer will contact the safeguarding agency within 24 hours of a disclosure or suspicion of abuse.
• In the event of an allegation being made by a pupil against a member of staff, we will also ensure that the procedures laid down by the Kent Safeguarding Children Board ( Kent and Medway Safeguarding Children Procedures Sept 2007), are followed.
• In the event of suspected abuse by one or more pupils against another pupil, and the offence is beyond the school’s own disciplinary system, external agencies may need to be contacted.
• All arrangements made to deal with allegations against staff, apply to volunteers working within the school.
• Other adults in school rarely work unsupervised or alongside children. However, should there be a need for this, the Headmaster will ensure that they are aware of the school’s policy and also that they are informed of the name of the D.C.P.O, to whom they should raise concerns.
• The school has an effective “visitor procedure” to ensure that adults visiting the school on a non-permanent basis to carry out work within the school, do not have unsupervised access to children. The school also insists that they carry visible “visitor cards”, so that all staff (and children) are aware of their presence in the school.
• A statement in the school information booklet for parents will inform parents about our school’s duties and responsibilities under the child protection procedures.
• Our child protection policy is freely available to parents upon request.
Training and support
Our school will ensure that the designated member of staff for child protection attends training relevant to his role. This will entail training in child protection and inter-agency working which will be updated every two years. The Headmaster, all
staff, and part-time and voluntary staff who work with children will undertake awareness training during their induction into the school, and will refresh and update their knowledge and understanding every three years.
Professional Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an issue which needs to be discussed and fully understood by all those working with children, particularly in the context of child protection. The only purpose of confidentiality in this respect is to benefit the child. A member of staff must never guarantee confidentiality to a pupil nor should they agree with the pupil to keep it a secret, since where there is a child protection concern, this must be reported to the named person and it may require further investigation by appropriate authorities. This could lead to the breakdown in trust of adults by the pupil, and could potentially compromise their well-being and safety.
The D.C.P.O will invoke the local agreed guidelines and procedures where there is a cause for concern.
Staff will be informed of relevant aspects in respect of child protection on a “need to know” basis only. Any information shared with a member of staff in this way must be held confidentially to themselves.
Records and monitoring
Well-kept records are essential to good child protection practice. Our school is clear about the need to record any concerns about a child or children within our school, the status of such records and when these records should be passed over to other agencies.
A file note will be made of the concern raised and action taken. The named person keeps these file notes in a confidential file, to which no other person has access. A note on a child’s profile sheet, which is kept on the school computer, will refer to the fact that such a confidential file exists.
If a pupil transfers to another school, these files will be forwarded to the pupil’s new school marked confidential and for the attention of the receiving school’s child protection named person. If a pupil dies whilst still on the role of our school, these files will be appropriately disposed of.
Attendance at child protection conferences
The Headmaster (or named person) would attend a child protection conference called in respect of a pupil. Other relevant staff may accompany him (eg the pupil’s form teacher) if this is of benefit to the pupil. Staff attending such conferences will be offered support and access to appropriate counselling if they wish to receive this.
Supporting pupils at risk
Our school recognises that children who are abused or who witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth or to view the world in a positive way. This school also recognises that some children who have experienced abuse may in turn abuse others. This requires a considered, sensitive approach in order that the child can receive appropriate help and support.
This school will endeavour to support pupils through:
(a) The curriculum to encourage self-esteem and self-motivation.
(b) The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and is one which gives all pupils and adults a sense of being respected and valued.
(c) If necessary, regular liaison with other professionals and agencies who support the pupils and their families.
(d) The school has a very effective anti-bullying procedure (see section entitled “anti-bullying policy”). This policy is constantly reviewed and updated.
Safe School, Safe Staff
• Staff will need to be sensitive to the pupil’s preferred style of communication and their individual special needs if we are able to provide a safe environment for our pupils. When engaging with pupils, all staff must be aware of the potential for misinterpreting our pupil’s efforts to raise a child protection concern or issue.
• Staff are advised not to ask leading questions when receiving a disclosure. Staff are further advised that before receiving a disclosure, no guarantee of confidentiality must be given to the child.
• Staff are given advice on avoiding possible allegations:
• Staff working in a one to one situation with a pupil should ensure that they are visible and audible to other staff where there may be a possibility of misinterpretation of their interaction with a pupil.
• Staff conveying pupils in cars should only do so with permission and knowledge of the Headmaster or other senior member of staff. Normally staff will not convey children on their own in either their own car or other means of transport.
• Games staff are advised on appropriate conduct in the changing rooms and showering area of both girls and boys.
• House staff are advised on appropriate conduct in the boarding houses.
• Staff are advised that physical intervention should only be used when the child is endangering himself/herself or others. Such events should be recorded and signed by a witness. Staff should be aware of Kent’s Positive Handling Policy and the school’s own Behaviour Management Policy. Any physical interventions must be in line with agreed policy and procedure (see heading “School Policy on Physical Restraint”)
• Staff involved in electronic communication with children are aware of possible dangers involved
• No adults other than those who normally work in the boarding houses have any access to the boarders’ dormitories or changing areas whether the children are present or not.
• Parents are strongly discouraged from visiting their children in the dormitories when other children might be changing.
• Notices are posted on changing room doors and children’s toilet areas indicating that those areas are for children’s use only.
• School staff will not generally give advice on sexual matters except through the proper channels, i.e. the Science or PSHE curriculum.
• School staff work hard to maintain effective partnerships with parents and they should be aware that this policy might affect this working relationship at a given time. However, we will maintain our commitment to working with parents to the benefit of all pupils.
• All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check, which will include police records search, prior to taking up their appointment (or as soon as possible after taking up the appointment), and to sign a declaration regarding convictions relating to the harm of children during their application process. Staff who deliberately mislead the school in this respect will be subject to instant dismissal.
• In the event of an allegation being made by a pupil against a member of staff, we will follow the procedures laid down by the DCSF under The Children Act 2004 sections 157 and 175
• In the event of an allegation being made by a pupil against a member of staff, we will also ensure that the procedures laid down by the Kent Safeguarding Children Board (Kent and Medway Safeguarding Children Procedures Sept 2007), are followed.
• If children are involved in an activity or visit away from the school, the Headmaster or EVC (Educational Visits Coordinator) will ensure that staff employed by another organisation and supervising children from our school, have received appropriate child protection checks. Details of full risk assessments are also held by the school
• In the event of a boarding member of staff being suspended pending a child protection investigation, alternative accommodation away from the children is provided by the school.
• Any member of staff affected by issues arising from concerns for children’s welfare or safety can seek support form the DCPO.
• All newly qualified teachers and Gap Year students have a mentor or co-ordinator with whom they can discuss concerns including the area of child protection.