ANNUALSCHOOL

CHILD PROTECTION CHECKLIST

Academic Year 200_/200_

  • The following areas need to be considered by the DSP, Head Teacher and school governing body in order to establish whether the policies and procedures within school are effective in terms of safeguarding children.
  • It is essential that supporting evidence can be provided for each indicator.
  • All identified actions should have an indicative timescale.

1.Designated Senior Person for Child Protection (DSP) Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

1.1Does the school have a DSP for Child Protection who is a senior
member of the school’s leadership team?
1.2Does the school have a Deputy DSP who deputises when the DSP is
unavailable?
1.3Is it clear to all staff members/volunteers who the DSP and the Deputy
DSP are and what their role is?
1.4Have the DSP and the Deputy DSP undertaken child protection related
training?
(Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education, DfES 2006
Recommends refresher training at 2 yearly intervals for the DSP)
1.5Has the Child Protection School Liaison Officer Team been notified of
Who the DSP and Deputy DSP are and if there have been any changes
of personnel?
1.6Does the DSP/Deputy DSP use the Child Protection School Liaison
Officer for advice support and guidance in relation to child protection
matters?

2. Information to Staff Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

2.1Does the school have a Child Protection Policy?
2.2Is the school Child Protection Policy reviewed annually?
2.3Does the school Staff Handbook include information about the Child
Protection Policy and procedures and who to contact in the school if
there are concerns about either a child or member of staff/volunteer?
2.4Are key child protection documents available within school o all staff/
volunteers?
2.5What arrangements are in place for training staff and other adults within
the school about child protection issues and the school’s child protection
procedures?
When did such training take place?
(Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education, DfES 2006
Recommends refresher training at 3 yearly intervals for whole school
staff)
2.6Have all new staff/volunteers undertaken a child protection induction
session provided by the DSP?
(Induction package available on the HGfL)

3. Children Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

3.1How does the ethos of your school ensure that children and young
people are valued, respected, listened to and taken seriously?
3.2How do staff create and use opportunities to encourage children and
young people to communicate about issues that concern them?
3.3What support is available to children and young people, including any
who are at particular risk or have disclosed abuse?

4. Record Keeping Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

4.1Describe the school system for staff to log their concerns with the DSP/
Deputy DSP
4.2How does the DSP record and store confidential child protection
information in relation to both whole school and individual casework?
4.3Are all staff fully aware that they may be required to monitor particular
pupils with regard to child protection concerns and how to record this
for the DSP? How is this implemented and fed back to the DSP?
4.4How does the DSP ensure confidential child protection information on
a pupil is transferred when pupils transfer to or from another school?

5. Information to Parents Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

5.1Is information about the school’s role in child protection included in the
school’s prospectus?
5.2How does the DSP ensure that concerns about children are shared and
discussed with parents, unless doing so may place a child at risk of
harm?
5.3Does the school inform parents of support available within the
community?

6. Curriculum Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

6.1How does the school promote child protection and the safeguarding of
children through the National Curriculum?
(i.e. issues of personal safety, self-esteem, bullying, relationships and
Sex education, access to the internet etc.)

7. Child Protection Conferences Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

7.1Does the DSP attend all Initial Child Protection Conferences and ensure
that an appropriate school representative attends Review Child
Protection Conferences and Core Group Meetings?
7.2Has the recommended School Report to Child Protection Conference
been submitted on each occasion?
(Pro-forma available on the HGfL)
7.3How are relevant members of staff informed on a need to know basis of
a pupil’s child protection status and the areas of concern to enable
effective monitoring?
7.4Are arrangements in place for cover when staff attend Child Protection
Conferences?

8. Governors Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

8.1Is the Annual Safeguarding Report to the Governing Body completed and
presented without names and details of confidential information?
(Pro-forma available on the HGfL)
8.2Have members of the Governing Body attended appropriate training?
(Governors mustattend Governor Child Protection Training via the
Governance Unit. If they wish they may attend school based Basic Child
Protection Awareness training).
8.3How do governors monitor that child protection arrangements are
adequate and that any deficiencies or weaknesses are remedied without
delay?

9. Recruitment and Selection of Staff Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

9.1Is the Governing Body aware of the procedures the school must follow
when selecting staff so that recruitment and selection of staff and
volunteers is carried out safely?
9.2Has the Head Teacher and a governor undertaken the online Safer
Recruitment Training available via the NCSL?
9.3How is guidance on vetting and safe recruitment being adhered to?
(References and CRB checks)

10. Allegations Against Staff Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

10.1Is the Head Teacher aware of and following the procedures for
Managing allegations against staff and volunteers?
(Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures
2006 Section 10)
10.2Is the Governing Body following Module 10 of the Hertfordshire
Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures when an
allegation has been made or a concern arises about the suitability of the
Head Teacher, member of school staff or a volunteer?
10.3Is the Governing Body satisfied that the school has been pro-active in
making arrangements to reduce the likelihood of allegations against staff,
for example through training for the Head Teacher, appropriate policies
on physical intervention, intimate care and professional behaviour?
10.4It is recommended that all Head Teachers attend the Reducing &
Managing Allegations Against Staff Training provided by the Child
Protection Liaison Officer Team. Has the Head Teacher attended this
training and if so when?

11. Inter-Agency Working Answer Action Date for (Dates if Completion

Applicable)

11.1How is the school pro-active in establishing positive links and sharing
information where appropriate with other relevant agencies, particularly
Attendance and Pupil Support/Education Psychology Services, Social
Care and Health?

A copy of this document should be kept in the DSP’s WholeSchool Child Protection file.

Completed By …………………………………………………………. Head Teacher

…………………………………………………………. DSP

…………………………………………………………. Governor

Date Completed …………………………………………………………..

September 2008

ChildProtectionSchool Liaison Officer Team

4.