Child Protection Policy
Spotland Primary School
Safeguarding children Policy
Child Protection Policy
Introduction
The health, safety and well-being of all our children are of paramount importance to all
the adults who work in our 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.
In our school 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.
Our teaching of personal, social and health education and citizenship, as part of the
National Curriculum, helps to make our pupils aware of behaviour towards them that is
not acceptable and how they can keep themselves safe. We educate them to ask for
help if their safety is threatened.
Aims and objectives
This policy ensures that all staff in our school are clear about the actions necessary with
regard to a child protection issue. Its aims are:
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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.
Procedures
There is a designated person in our school with responsibility for Safeguarding children.
This is normally a member of the Senior Leadership team. The current designated
teacher is Kathryn Jagger. In her absence, concerns should be directed to either the
Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher.
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 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 Safeguarding children guidelines.
The school’s named co-ordinator works closely with Child Care Services and the
Safeguarding Children Unit in Rochdale 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.
If a child alleges abuse, the school usually makes a referral without communicating with
parents first. In some circumstances, the designated teacher may wish to speak to
parents to gain further information. In allegations of sexual abuse, the parents will not be
informed of the referral.
Once a referral has been made to Child Care Services, the Duty Manager will make a
decision based on the evidence collected within 24 hours, should the case be deemed
to be an emergency and the child is in danger of significant harm. If this is not clear, an
Initial Assessment will be made and should be completed within 7 working days.
Child Protection Policy
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. The designated teacher for safeguarding will attend core meetings and case
conferences as part of the role and feed back necessary information to the Headteacher
and staff involved with the child. Class teachers will be asked for information to help
compile reports for these meetings.
Spotland School will implement safe recruitment procedures and make sure that all the
appropriate checks are carried out on new staff and volunteers working with our pupils,
including the Criminal Record Bureau and List 99.
There may be times when adults in our school, in the course of their duty, use positive
handling techniques to calm and keep children safe. The Headteacher requires the adult
involved in any such incident to report this to him/her immediately, and to record it in the
interventions book. There is a separate Positive Handling Policy.
The designated teacher for safeguarding within Spotland School will undergo refresher
training on at least a two yearly cycle, with all other school staff receiving training on a
three yearly cycle.
Newly appointed staff to the school will be given induction training into school policy and
practice, including the procedures for safeguarding pupil welfare. Supply staff, visitors to
school and contracted workers will be made aware of what to do should they need to
report a concern regarding a child at Spotland.
The school has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of
staff and volunteers that complies with the guidance from the LA.
The school operates a key fob entrance at both main doors and all staff have their own
key fob. The children are regularly reminded that they must not allow anyone into school
and visitors and staff are challenged if they are not wearing a badge.
Monitoring and review
The governing body regularly reviews any incidents detailed in the interventions book. A
named governor participates in the school’s training with regard to the child protection
procedures. This policy is reviewed annually by the governing body.
Policy date September 2010
Review date September 2011