Child Protection

At Lavington School we believe that children and young people have a fundamental right to be protected from harm and fully recognise our responsibility for child protection. We recognise that all staff have a responsibility to support the safeguarding of young people and to provide positive role models in the way they interact with students and staff.

The objectives of the policy are to:

• Ensure we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children and young people.
• Raise awareness of child protection issues and equip children and young people with the skills needed to keep themselves safe.
• Develop, implement and update procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
• Support children and young people who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
• Establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
• Ensure that staff are clear about the expectations of them in their interaction with students and in dealing with child protection issues.

Implementation of policy

This policy ensures that all staff at Lavington School are aware of their responsibilities and that procedures are in place to respond quickly and effectively to any child protection issues. We recognise that because of the day-to-day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The school will therefore:

• Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
• Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried.
• Include opportunities in the Personal, Social, Health and Economic, and Citizenship Education curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.

Lavington School will follow the procedures set out by the Wiltshire Local Safeguarding Board and available at swcpp.org.uk and will take account of guidance issued by the Department of Education to:

• Ensure there is a designated teacher for child protection who has received appropriate training and support.
• Ensure there is a nominated governor responsible for child protection.
• Ensure every member of staff, volunteer and governor knows the name of the designated teacher/staff for child protection and their role.
• Ensure new staff receive appropriate training from the designated teacher for child protection.

Training

Child Protection training is part of the induction process of all new staff, including trainee teachers. Staff will be updated in relevant child protection issues at regular intervals. All staff will be given comprehensive refresher training at least every three years. The Designated Teacher for Child Protection and Nominated Child Protection Governor will attend training every two years in accordance with Wiltshire Schools Child Protection Training guidance.

Support for students at risk

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 student through:

• The content of the curriculum.
• The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives students a sense of being valued.
• The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable students in the school.  The school will ensure that the student knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.
• Liaison with other agencies that support the student such as social services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, education welfare service and educational psychology service.
• Ensuring that, where a student who is subject to a child protection plan leaves the school, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and the child's social worker is informed.

Responsibilities

The Governors are responsible, in consultation with the Headteacher and Designated Teacher for Child Protection, for establishing the Child Protection Policy and for reviewing it at the appointed review date. The Personal Development Committee has particular responsibility for the development of the policy.

The Nominated Governor for Child Protection is responsible for championing child protection issues within the school and liaising with the Designated Teacher for Child Protection; having an overview of the Child Protection and all related policies; and auditing safeguarding measures annually alongside the Designated Teacher for Child Protection.

The Headteacher is responsible for the implementation of the policy. He will also:

• Support the Designated Teacher for Child Protection and other staff in the implementation of the policy by ensuring that sufficient time and resources are available to maintain excellent practice in all aspects of child protection
• Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed and will develop and follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff
• Ensure that any allegations against members of staff with a child protection aspect are dealt with following local procedures – all such concerns to be dealt with urgently, with concerns about staff to be reported to the Head, but concerns about the Head reported to the Chair of Governors
• Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in the school prospectus.

The Business Manager is responsible for following safe recruitment practices in the appointment of support staff and for ensuring that the school building and site are appropriately secure, with a clear record kept of any risk assessments carried out. She is also responsible for ensuring that the Reception desk is managed safely with regard to signing in, checking the identity of visitor, giving out identity badges and giving visitors a copy of the Visit Guidance,

The Designated Teacher for Child Protection is responsible for:

• Ensuring staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities for safer working practices
• Ensuring all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for recording any concerns and referring any concerns to the designated teacher responsible for child protection
• Ensuring all staff, governors and volunteers receive and sign for a copy of this policy
• Providing training for all staff
• Carrying out an annual child protection and safeguarding audit, and track progress against a safeguarding action plan, reviewed mid-year.  Governing Body will receive a safeguarding and child protection report at least twice a year (based on the annual audit and review)

The Designated Teacher for Child Protection and Deputy Designated person for Child protection are responsible for dealing directly with students for whom there are any child protection issues. This includes:

• Developing effective links with relevant agencies and co-operating as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attending case conferences
• Keeping written records of concerns about children, including those whose situation may not demand an immediate referral
• Notifying the appropriate social care locality team if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a student who is on the child protection register.
• Ensuring that all records are kept securely, separate from the main student file and in locked locations

Pastoral Leaders are responsible for working closely with the Designated Teacher for Child Protection to ensure there is support within school for students on the Child Protection Register or who may be vulnerable to abuse. They are also responsible for ensuring that the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) programme includes appropriate reference to child protection issues and to the support available for young people both within school and from external agencies. The Pastoral Leader for Upper School will ensure that training on child protection delivered to Peer Mentors includes clear procedures should Peer Mentors become concerned about a child.

Pastoral Support Managers are responsible for providing support within school for students on the Child Protection Register or who may be vulnerable to abuse. They will keep written records of concerns about children, including those whose situation may not demand an immediate referral, and will pass on any concerns which may be of a child protection nature to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection or Deputy.

The work-related learning co-ordinator is responsible for ensuring that the necessary safeguards for work-experience are in place.

All staff are responsible for following the school’s policy and procedures in dealing with any child protection concerns. They are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Safe Practice which is in the Child Protection Handbook and to the Acceptable Use Agreement for staff use of computers.

Students are responsible for sharing any concerns they have with a member of staff so that a young person who is at risk can be properly and effectively supported. Peer Mentors receive training in Child Protection issues so that they are aware that any Child Protection issues disclosed to them must be immediately passed on to a member of staff.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child is not at risk and for working with the school and external agencies to support their child’s safety and well-being

Evaluation and development of policy

The policy will be developed through consultation with staff, students and governors. The policy should be considered in conjunction with all safeguarding procedures within school and with other policies such as the Behaviour Policy, the Anti-bullying Policy, the E-safety Policy, the Health and Safety Policy and the Appropriate Use of Force Policy.

Review cycle of policy

This policy will be reviewed annually.

Reviewed by the Governing Body: July 2011

Date of next review: July 2012