Child Protection Policy

 "Achieving our best together"

RATIONALE The well being and safeguarding of pupils is of paramount importance and is the responsibility of all adults – paid or volunteer within the school. All children, whatever their age, culture, gender, disability, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse. The Governors and staff recognise that for a pupil to achieve their best he or she needs to feel confident and secure in their relationships at home and in school.  The provision of this policy is seen as a necessary step in this process. It is the duty of the school to assist in any inquiries made by the Local Authority. AIMS To promote and safeguard the welfare of all the pupils of Whitchurch Primary School. To enable staff to recognise pupils who need help or support To enable staff to recognise any inappropriate behaviour in other adults in school To establish and maintain procedures so that all staff, pupils and parents know how to act if they have concerns or need support. To keep the school staff well informed about child protection issues. To liaise with outside agencies when appropriate. To provide a secure environment in which opportunities occur for pupils to be able to talk to with their peers and adults within the school about issues that concern them. To equip pupils with a range of strategies to make reasoned, informed choices, judgements and decisions. To encourage all pupils towards a positive self image. To ensure there is an ‘identified’ designated ‘CP’ member of staff. To provide resources for Child Protection, for example Pedestrian Training and Road Safety resources. To teach ways in which pupils can protect themselves through PHSE and Circle Time. To ensure an exchange of appropriate information within the school including health details. GUIDELINES 1          Robust statements must be in place for employing any member of staff, Governor or volunteer within the school setting to prevent any abuser or potential abuser being in school. (Children do not distinguish between the various roles of adults in a school setting and will place equal trust in any adult.) These statements will form part of the job advert and job description and will be incorporated into interviews. 2          The designated Child Protection member of staff will be the Headteacher.   The Child Protection member of staff will ensure that the school is kept informed about child protection issues and will liase with outside agencies should the need arise.  3          Pupils are to be given opportunities to talk with their peers and other adults and to learn about strategies for ‘dealing with life and relationships’ through curriculum areas such as PHSE and citizenship, Circle Time, religious education and school assemblies.  All pupils will be given the opportunity to write to/talk to their teachers about personal issues if they wish at least once a week. 4          Pupils will be encouraged towards a positive self image through the provision of role models and reinforcement of positive behaviour with praise (see Behaviour Policy). RECOGNISING ABUSE Abuse falls into four categories; Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. PHYSICAL ABUSE Where adults physically hurt or injure children, including hitting, shaking, throwing, burning or suffocating. KEY FEATURES OF PHYSICAL ABUSE Fractures Injuries which a child/parent/carer tries to hide or an inconsistent account of the injury is given. Delay in seeking help and repeated injuries may indicate abuse Burns and scalds Accidental burns and scalds are likely to be treated and easily explained. Bruises Consider the age and activity of the child.  Are they frequent, patterned, are old and new bruises in the same place, are they in unusual positions? SEXUAL ABUSE When adults (male or female) use children to meet their own sexual needs.  As well as sexual acts it can include showing children pornography or talking to them in a sexually explicit manner.   KEY FEATURES OF SEXUAL ABUSE Bruises, scratches, persistent infections in anal or genital regions Inappropriate sexual awareness (related to child’s age) Attempts to teach other children about sexual activity Refusing to stay with certain people or go to certain places Withdrawal from friends Change in behaviour EMOTIONAL ABUSE The persistent emotional ill treatment of a child likely to cause severe and lasting ill effects on the child’s emotional development KEY FEATURES OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE Behaviour Irritability Apathy Dullness Lack of social responsiveness Frozen watchfulness Self harm Drug/solvent abuse Attention seeking Eating problems NEGLECT When adults fail to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, to an extent where there may be serious impairment of the child’s health or development. KEY FEATURES OF NEGLECT Constant hunger Poor personal hygiene School non attendance Low self esteem Constant tiredness Inappropriate clothing Untreated medical problems BULLYING, RACISM AND OTHER TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION ARE ALSO FORMS OF ABUSE. (Please read appropriate Policies) SOME POINTERS TO POSSIBLE CHILD ABUSE Delay in seeking medical help (or not sought) Accident story is vague, keeps changing Account of accident is not compatible with observed injury Parent(s) behaviour gives cause for concern Other adults behaviour gives cause for concern Child’s appearance & interaction with parent(s) is abnormal (e.g. frozen watchfulness) Child may disclose inappropriate sexual awareness Engaging in sexually explicit behaviour Being prevented from socialising with other children Eating/weight disorders Unexplained changes in behaviour GOOD PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN – (need to do) MANAGING ALLEGATIONS & DISCLOSURE Be aware that the way you treat an allegation or disclosure may have an effect on the evidence which is put forward in subsequent proceedings. Care must be taken in asking and interpreting children’s responses to questions about indications of abuse.  This applies whether a child makes an allegation or volunteers information, which amounts to an allegation. Adults disclosed to need to be supportive, trustworthy and emotionally calm. They should make themselves available to listen and demonstrate that they take the child seriously. IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER Remain calm and caring – don’t allow your own feelings to surface. Before they tell make clear that you cannot keep secrets and that you may have to tell someone else if necessary. Take allegations seriously Only ask open questions and not leading ones Reassure the child that they are right to tell you and that the alleged abuse was not their fault Keep a written record which must include date, time, place, people who were present and what was said and observed.  If possible give a verbatim account in the language the child uses e.g. parts of the body.(?need to include form as appendix in policy) Keep all CP records securely locked Seek support for yourself if you are affected Report the concerns / allegations along with any evidence to the Designated Teacher DO NOT ASK THE CHILD TO REPEAT THE ALLEGATION TO ANOTHER PERSON(S). Children should only have to tell their story once to investigating officers. OTHER ISSUES The Child Protection teacher (Headteacher) will be responsible for all confidential information and will inform others on a ‘need to know’ basis. The CP teacher will ensure that medical information (asthma, allergies etc,) is passed on to the relevant staff and updated regularly. The head teacher, staff and governors will ensure that strategies involving outside agencies to improve the wellbeing of the pupils (Cycling Training, Pedestrian Training) will continue to be accessed. Guidelines on use of photographic and filming equipment – appendix to be done Guidelines for transporting children – appendix to be done Recruitment/employment /deployment of staff and volunteers - appendix to be done