Child Protection Policy
Netherbrook Primary School
Child Protection and safeguarding Policy
1
Introduction
This policy should be read in conjunction with the model policy
written by Dudley LA as there are appendices attached along with
phone numbers which will support recording information and
seeking advice.
1.1.1
The health, safety and well-being of all our children are of paramount
importance to all the adults who work in our school. This policy applies to all
staff, governors and volunteers working in the 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. These principles are at the heart of all our
policies. The governors recognise that the legal responsibility for safeguarding
goes beyond basic child protection procedures. The duty is to ensure that
safeguarding permeates all activity and functions. There are specific links to
the following policy documents:
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1.2
Behaviour – this sets out expectations we have of the children along with
consequences for poor behaviour. There is a reference to physical restraint
and procedures for this.
Anti-Bullying – Our policy on bullying is set out in a separate policy. We
acknowledge that to allow or condone bullying may lead to consideration
under safeguarding
Data Protection- We realise that all matters relating to child protection are
confidential. Disclosure of information to staff is on a need to know basis.
Paperwork related to child protection is kept in a locked filing cabinet in the
Deputy Head teacher’s office.
Health/ Safety- This policy reflects the consideration we give to the
safeguarding of our children both within the school environment and when
away from the school when undertaking trips and visits.
Equality Plan
E-safety policy- Our acceptable use policy for children and staff recognises
that safety is a whole school responsibility. We recognise that it is our
responsibility to educate our pupils, teaching them the appropriate
behaviours and thinking skills to enable them to remain both safe and legal
when using the internet and related policies.
Induction Policy – All new members of staff and volunteers have
safeguarding children included as a standard part of the process.
At Netherbrook 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. Pupils and staff
can talk freely about their concerns to relevant employees at school and know
that they will be listened to and appropriate action taken.
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Child Protection Policy
1.3
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. We also
teach them how to recognise different risks in different situations, and how to
behave in response to them.
2.0
Aims and objectives
2.1 This policy ensures that all staff, governors and volunteers in our school are clear
about the actions necessary with regard to a child protection issue. Its aims are:
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Ensure we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and
volunteers to work with children
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.
Show how we can support pupils who have been subject to abuse in
accordance with his/ her child protection plan
3.0
Procedures
3.1
The Deputy Headteacher is a named person at Netherbrook who is the Child
Protection Co-ordinator. The Headteacher is also trained and attends meetings
as and when necessary. Some delegation of this responsibility is given to the
Foundation Stage, Phase 1 and Phase 2 leaders in some circumstances. The
foundation stage leader will in line with EYFS welfare requirements act as the
first port of call for reporting child protection concerns or suspected concerns for
children within the foundation stage. The foundation stage leader will then liaise
with the child protection coordinator. If the child protection coordinator is
unavailable they will take the necessary course of action to ensure the safety of
the children at this stage of development. The same applies for leaders of
Phase 1 and 2 and his/ her relevant age ranges within the phases if the child
protection coordinator is not available. The Deputy Headteacher is the person
responsible for Looked after Children and together with the aforementioned
staff, undertakes any appropriate training.
3.2
If any teacher suspects that a child in his/her class may be a victim of abuse,
they immediately inform the named person about their concerns. Abuse can be
of a sexual, emotional or physical nature. It can also be the result of neglect.
Any member of staff receiving a disclosure of abuse from a child, or noticing
signs or symptoms of possible abuse will make notes as soon as
possible(within the hour where possible) writing down exactly what was said,
using the child’s own words. All notes should have a time, date and signature
on them.
Any issues reported by staff and which gives a cause for concern are logged by
the Deputy Headteacher in a confidential file. These entries are dated and may
be used to substantiate later allegations.
3.3
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 LA Child
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Child Protection Policy
Protection guidelines- see attached model policy from local authority. It is the
duty of staff to:
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Write down their concerns or in the case of a disclosure exactly what the
child said.
Report the incident, supplying any notes or observations to the Deputy
Headteacher or the Headteacher or to Coordinators if senior staff are
absent.
In the light of the evidence, the Headteacher will decide whether to proceed
with:
 Consultation with appropriate agency for clarification/advice (social worker
appointed by Dudley Central Cluster)
 Complete a CAF Pre-Assessment Form (common assessment framework)
 Make a section 17 or a section 47 referral depending on severity of
disclosure.
3.4
The school’s named co-ordinator and Headteacher work 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.
3.5
If a child alleges abuse against a parent, the school usually makes a referral
without communicating with parents first. In some circumstances we inform
parents first.
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If an allegation is made against a member of staff or the Headteacher, we would
follow procedures in accordance with LA guidelines:
Allegation made against a member of staff would come directly to head teacher
Allegation against the head teacher would be made directly to the chair of
governors
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) would be contacted
LADO will contact police if there is concern
LADO will discuss the case with the Head teacher (or Chair of Governors if the
head has been accused)
LADO will advise who can be informed and when
Head teacher will speak to accused member of staff under instruction from
LADO or Chair of Governors will speak to Head teacher under instruction from
the LADO. The accused can have a union rep present.
Investigation will ensue
In some instances the accused person will be suspended.
LADO to continue to monitor the case
We recognise that children cannot be expected to raise concerns in an
environment where staff fail to do so.
All staff should be aware of their duty to raise concerns, where they exist, about
the attitude or actions of colleagues.
3.6
If a child protection referral is made, a case conference is held within eight
working days of the decision. The case conference offers the opportunity to
share information and formulate a plan of action. All appropriate staff are
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Child Protection Policy
expected to attend and participate in all case conferences and meetings held
under the LA guidelines.
3.7
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 recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it
difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness,
humiliation and some sense of blame. The school may be the only stable,
secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. When at school
their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The
school will endeavour to support the child through:
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3.9
The content of the curriculum
Ethos of the school which promotes a positive, supportive and secure
environment which gives the children a sense of being valued
The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in
school.
Liaison with our Learning, Link Worker and other external services which could
help such as CAHMs, social worker, education welfare officer, educational
psychology and the school nurse.
Providing continuing support to a pupil by making sure appropriate transition
arrangements are in place at the end of each academic year.
In accordance with guidance from the L.A. regarding the health, welfare and
safety of children in our care, we require all adults including volunteers
employed in school to have their application vetted through police records in
order to ensure that there is no evidence of offences involving children or
abuse. A current CRB certificate is necessary before adults can work with
children in school. A live electronic record is kept up to date. All staff are
inducted with regard to safeguarding.
Agencies must present a written record of all appropriate checks and
qualifications of their supply staff.
Regular supply staff are also required to produce appropriate documentation
including their permission to work if not a UK resident.
3.10
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There may be times when adults in our school, in the course of their duty, use
physical intervention to restrain children. Each member of staff follows LA
guidelines on physical restraint and intervention techniques. The Headteacher
requires the adult involved in any serious incident to report this to her
immediately, and this will be recorded.
All adults in the school receive regular training to raise their awareness of
abuse and their knowledge of agreed local child protection procedures. This
policy is shared with staff through induction and regular refresher training.
Temporary staff receive a copy of the policy which is included in the ‘Supply
Survival’ booklet.
Staff are aware that hard copies of DCSB Procedures can be obtained from
the Designated Teacher, copies are also available from recent training
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Child Protection Policy
documents and notes and there is a link on staff desktops to the Dudley
Safeguarding site.
3.11
Parents are made aware of the policy and procedures through the school
website and newsletters. Copies are available from the School Office.
4
Monitoring and review
The governing body regularly reviews any incidents detailed.
This policy is reviewed annually by the governing body. Along with the
Headteacher and Senior Leadership team, they ensure that the policy and
procedures are in place, relevant training is given and that there is a Level 2
Child Protection trained Governor appointed (Alison Scott). Safeguarding is a
regular item on the Governor Meeting Agenda.
Full staff training took place in Jan 10
Reviewed and Amended: March 2010
Signed:
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