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Child Protection Policy
At West Twyford Primary School it is our overall aim to make staff aware of their responsibilities to protect the children in their care and to work alongside other agencies to fulfil their duties in accordance with the Children Act 1989, based on the principles that -
1 the welfare of the child is paramount and must be promoted and safeguarded at all times
2 that confidentiality should be respected as far as possible (without compromising the first principle).
The school is committed to providing an environment in which children feel secure and their viewpoints are valued. Fundamental to our school values and practice is the principle of working with parents, children and outside agencies in partnership to ensure the welfare of all our children.
The school has a duty to take appropriate action in order to safeguard the well being of pupils who may be in need of support.
Procedural Matters
We aim to be vigilant in cases of suspected child abuse, recognising signs and symptoms. We have clear procedures whereby staff report such cases to the Headteacher, the designated teacher. We are aware of local procedures so that information is effectively passed on to the relevant professionals in the social services and the police.
Objectives
Our objectives are as follows:
- To raise awareness of both teaching and support staff of the need for child protection and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.
- To provide a systematic means of monitoring children thought to be at risk.
- To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff.
- To develop a structured internal procedure to be followed by all members of the school community in cases of suspected abuse.
- To promote understanding and build relationships with outside agencies in order to work together more effectively.
- To support the child's development in ways which foster security, confidence and independence.
- To develop a network of support for young people and adult members of our school community.
Curriculum Matters
We aim to integrate child protection within the existing curriculum for personal and social education, allowing for continuity and progression.
Objectives:
- To provide a preventative curriculum which deals with the three aspects of
Knowledge - facts, dangers, possibilities, rights, agencies, keeping safe
Awareness - self esteem, self awareness, confidence
Skills - assertiveness, problem solving and communication
To enable pupils to develop an understanding of relationships, personal safety and responsibility and independence.
- To provide a safe learning environment in which children can explore emotive issues - there must be clear ground rules.
- To acknowledge children's and young people's rights to:
* express and share feelings, emotional ideas and opinions
* be assertive and make judgements and choices
* be shown respect for their own bodies and ideas
* understand love and care
* safety at home, at school, in the community
* encouragement
* tolerance - permission to experiment, make mistakes and learn their own way
* be valued and accepted
* respect as individuals without prejudice
- To recognise the contribution of the informal curriculum and ethos at the school, especially through adult examples of tolerance, sensitivity and negotiation.
School Management of Child Abuse Concerns
1 Reporting procedures inside the school
Staff must record, indicating dates and times, ANY incident, bodily mark or conversation which may be considered unusual or which is not suitably accounted for. This information should be brought to the attention of the Headteacher. If the Headteacher is absent, information should be passed onto the deputy Headteacher.
2 Reporting procedures to outside agencies
The Headteacher will then decide if/which other agencies need to be informed - social services/ESW/NSPCC/doctor/police. The Headteacher will then make a referral by phone to the social services. We acknowledge the school has a responsibility to report child abuse, not to investigate it. All staff are aware in cases of sexual abuse, the concerns must not be discussed with the parents.
The Headteacher keeps our link Governor for child protection briefed on progress by email as and when necessary.
3 Recording and monitoring concerns
All class teachers at West Twyford keep pastoral records and these can play a vital role in helping to monitor certain aspects of the child's progress and behaviour in school. This is particularly important when there has been no direct disclosure of abuse, when a child has communication problems or is too young to give much information. Monitoring in school is particularly valuable because teachers are in daily contact with the children and are used to monitoring them. They are uniquely placed to observe the behaviour of large numbers of children and are likely to know what is 'normal' or 'usual' for a particular child.
Recording needs to take place where there is concern over:
- marks on the child's body
- unusual/different behaviour, including academic achievement
- mood changes
- puzzling statements/stories from the child or information from others
- if requested by another agency e.g. following a child protection conference
Staff must record the following
Patterns of attendance
Change in moods
Change in classroom functioning
Relationships - with peers/adults
Behaviour
Statements, comments, stories, 'news' drawings
General demeanour + appearance
Parental interest and comments
Home/family changes
Medical
Response to PE/sport
Injuries/marks past and present
Recording should be done as soon as possible after an event, noting time, date and context. It must be accurate and detailed separating fact from opinion.
Relevant information should be passed on to the Headteacher our designated teacher, who will keep a record in the child protection folder.
The child protection folder is stored in the Headteacher’s locked filing cabinet in the Headteacher’s office, to which there is controlled access.
The ESW regularly checks attendance registers, recording irregular/poor attendance, unexplained absence or lateness. On the first day of a child’s absence, for designated poor attender, if no phone call or letter is received, the school will telephone the parent/carer to find out the reason for non-attendance.
4 Child Protection Register
The Headteacher receives notification of children on the register. Staff will be told when a pupil is on the register on a 'need to know' basis. The welfare of registered pupils should be monitored by regular discussion by all relevant staff. Social services will be advised by the Headteacher when a pupil leaves the school and their records will be sent on within 15 working days.
5 Child Protection Conference
All staff are aware that in certain cases a case conference may be convened and the school will be invited to send someone to attend.
Information needed for a child protection conference -
The child's school attendance
Progress/difficulties in learning
Observation of child's general well being
Behaviour/discipline issues
School's contact with parents
Details of child protection incident if referral is from school.
Looked after children
It must be ensured that all looked after children have a Personal Education Plan - to be started within 20 days of his/her arrival. A home/school agreement should be drawn up with the primary carer. Monitoring the child’s attendance is of particular importance and his/her social worker should be informed if it falls below target levels.
The Headteacher keeps our link Governor for looked after children briefed on progress by email as and when necessary.
Pupils who disappear from school
If a parent advises school that the pupil will be moving school or to a different area -
1 Ask for the address of the school and planned start date or pupil’s new address
2 Ring and ask the school if they can confirm transfer
3 If they cannot ESW will be asked to contact the family and they will advise the school
4 If ESW cannot make contact they will pursue information from other sources
5 If no contact is made the ESW will confirm they should be removed from the roll and school will pass details to social services as either a pupil who has disappeared but there are no welfare concerns or where school is concerned for the child’s welfare. School will store records pending any future request for them.
6 If a pupil disappears from the roll and there is no preceding notice from the parent - school refers to ESW and steps 3 - 6 are followed. If there are concerns for the pupil’s welfare an urgent referral will be made to social services.
Confidentiality
Pupils and their families are entitled to confidentiality, but school staff have a duty to pass on confidential information if a pupil is at risk because of:
- the need to stop the abuse and protect the child from further harm
- the possibility of offering help to the child and family
- the need to protect other children (including siblings) from future harm
- the need for staff to protect themselves from carrying the burden of knowing that a child is at risk, because they alone cannot change the situation.
When reporting or monitoring concerns information should be shared only on a 'need to know' basis.
Parent helpers
Class teachers must make parent helpers in their classrooms aware of the need for complete confidentiality of information in school and the necessity to pass on any concerns/conversations with regards to child protection issues which come to their notice.
Training and support
All school staff need emotional support and training on child protection as these issues are complex and sensitive in nature.
It is important to remember some staff may have suffered abuse in the past. The LEA provides regular courses for all staff. Every member of staff has access to the child protection policy.
Allegations against staff
The Headteacher will refer to the LEA officer, Mr Tom Galvin.
Working with parents
With reference to our school mission statement, we aim to work in partnership with parents but our paramount concern is the welfare of all the children in our school. We aim to have a non-judgemental attitude towards parents, respecting confidentiality and recognising their feelings of guilt, shame, anger and betrayal.
However, it is our duty to contact social services on child protection issues before discussing concerns with parents.
To maintain a working relationship with parents, the Headteacher will arrange a meeting with them after the investigation to discuss the parents’ feelings, the school's duty and the necessity of working in partnership to meet the pupil's needs.
Policy reviewed annually
Last review June 2005
Co-ordinator – J. Hills
LEA Contacts:
Tom Galvin, Principal Education Social Worker for procedural matters – 8825 5000
Police - Ealing Police Child Protection Unit
2 Maingates Flats, Ealing Hospital, St Bernard’s Wing
Uxbridge Road, Southall
8574 3298
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