WHITEHALL NURSERY AND INFANT SCHOOL

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

Equal Opportunities policy Anti-Bullying policy

Behaviour policy E Safety policy

Teaching & Learning policy Safer Working Practice policy

Attendance policy Whistleblowing policy

Disability & Discrimination policies Radicalisation and Extremism guidance 2015

Use of Mobile Phones policy Safer Recruitment policy

INTRODUCTION

At Whitehall Nursery and Infant school a range of people are employed to cover many different roles including teachers, support staff, office staff, lunch time supervisors, site staff, supply staff and volunteers. Although the roles we carry out are different, our responsibility to safeguard the children in our school is fundamentally the same. All new staff are given information on their duties regarding safeguarding and the procedures within school during their induction process. All staff attend refresher safeguarding training each year to keep them up to date with changes. Supply staff and volunteers are provided with safeguarding information in a pack including the name of the designated safeguarding teacher, the procedure for sharing information and this policy.

A range of documents, circulars and guidance for good practice governs Child Protection work at Whitehall Nursery and Infant School. Key documents, whichinform this policy, are:

Local and National

  • Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016 (part 1 is given to all staff as compulsory reading)
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
  • Walsall Children’s Safeguarding Board Procedures
  • The Education Act 2002 s157/s175
  • What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused March 2015.
  • Information sharing guidance for practitioner and managers 2015

Statutory Framework and Legislative Duties

Inorder to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, we will act in accordance with the following legislation and guidance:

  • The Children Act 1989
  • The Children Act 2004 (see Appendix A)
  • Education Act 2002
  • Walsall Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures
  • The Education Regulations 2005
  • Dealing with Allegations of Abuse Against Teacher and other Staff (DfE 2011)

The designated lead for Child Protection is the Headteacher and in their absence the PSA or Inclusion Manager or next most senior member of staff available; with the Head being informed as soon as possible.

SAFEGUARDING AND PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

  • protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
  • Children includes everyone under the age of 18.
  • Where a child is suffering significant harm, or is likely to do so, action should be taken to protect that child. Action should also be taken to promote the welfare of a child in need of additional support, even if they are not suffering harm or are at immediate risk.
  • Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. School and college staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children, to prevent concerns from escalating. Schools and colleges and their staff form part of the wider safeguarding system for children. This system is described in statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015. Schools and colleges should work with social care, the police, health services and other services to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
  • Whitehall Nursery & Infant School has a designated safeguarding lead who will provide support to staff members to carry out their safeguarding duties and who will liaise closely with other services such as children’s social care.
  • The Teachers’ Standards 2012 state that teachers, including headteachers, should safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties.
  • All our staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn.
  • All our staff have a responsibility to identify children who may be in need of extra help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm. All staff then have a responsibility to take appropriate action, working with other services as needed.
  • In addition to working with the designated safeguarding lead staff members are made aware that they may be asked to support social workers to take decisions about individual children.

(Keeping Children Safe in Education, DfE July 2015)

ETHOS

Whitehall Nursery and Infant School strives to educate all its pupils within a happy, caring and safeenvironment that promotes the development of the spiritual, moral, physical and emotional well-being of each pupil. The pupils will be encouraged to behave in a responsible manner, both to themselves and others, showing respect, courtesy and consideration at all times following the fundamental British values of democracy. They will also be encouraged to respect the views of others and to obey the rules which will be drawn up to ensure the good behaviour, safety and well-being of all pupils. Consequently the overall aim of this policy is to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children in our care (in situations where child abuse is suspected, our paramount responsibility is to the child).

This will be achieved by:

  • Continuing to develop awareness in all staff of the need for Child Protection(particular care should be taken with children with disabilities and SEN) andtheir responsibilities in identifying abuse. This awareness will be received through annual level 1 safeguarding training delivered by the Deputy Safeguarding Lead. The DSL, Deputy DSL, PSA and SLT will receive advanced CP training every 2 years through the Local Authority.
  • Ensuring that all staff are aware of recording information and referral procedures within the school and are familiar with the Child Protection and Safeguarding policies.
  • Monitoring children who have been identified as 'at risk' and be involved in the implementation of plans or assessments where necessary.
  • Ensuring that outside agencies are involved where appropriate.
  • Ensuring that key concepts of Child protection are integrated within thecurriculum, especially via PSHE, to enable the children to keep themselves safe.
  • Ensuring a whole school approach to safeguarding where all policies which address issues of power and potential harm are linked and respect and dignity are taught through actions.
  • Create an environment where children feel secure, havetheir viewpointsvalued, are encouraged to talk and are listened to.

SCHOOL PROCEDURES

Key Processes

All staff and volunteers should be aware of the function of referral pathways in Walsall including single and multi agency Early Help offers as defined in Walsall Safeguarding Children Boards Threshold guidance (

Dealing with concerns and disclosures – Roles and Responsibilities

All staff and volunteers should be concerned about children and young people when:-

  • a child may disclose something that has upset or harmed them
  • someone else might report something that a child has told them, or that they believe that a child has been or is being harmed
  • a child might show signs of physical injury for which there appears to be no explanation
  • a child's behaviour may suggest he or she is being abused
  • the behaviour or attitude of one of the workers towards a child may cause concern
  • a child demonstrates worrying behaviour towards other children.

For types of Child Abuse and their symptoms please refer to Appendix B, which includes concerns regarding parental responses.

All staff should consult with your Designated Senior Person for child protection but this does not mean a referral has been made. This decision is the responsibility of the Designated Senior Person for child protection who will contact the appropriate agency as and when required. If you are unhappy about the response you receive from your Designated Senior Person for child protection contact the Local Authority Childrens Services.

The school will always discuss concerns with parents/carers unless to do so would:

  • place the child at risk of significant harm or further risk of significant harm.
  • place a vulnerable adult at risk of harm
  • compromise and enquiries that need to be undertaken by children’s social care or the police

The school will endeavour to ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibilities placed on the school and staff for safeguarding children.

Under no circumstances should staff or parents leave school without discussing their concerns with someone.

Only a minority of children actively disclose abuse. Most child abuse is disclosed accidently or though observation by an adult of a child’s behaviour, words and physical appearance.

When a child does disclose abuse, this needs to be taken very seriously. It is important that any disclosure is dealt with appropriately, both for the wellbeing of the child and also to ensure that your actions do not jeopardise and legal action against the abuser.

For more information see appendix C – Responding to a Concern The “6 Rs Response”

Procedures for when someone is concerned about a child or young person

  • all concerns for children and young people should be recorded on the standard yellow pro forma available in the school office.
  • all concerns should be recorded as soon as possible (and within one hour) giving as much information as possible.
  • all concerns should be referred to the designated safeguarding lead – Headteacher or Inclusion Manager.
  • all concerns of significant harm should be referred to the Walsall Childrens Services without delay(see appendix D).
  • all concerns shared with the designated safeguarding manager should be considered for Walsall’s Safeguarding Children’s Board Multi Agency thresholds (child protection, Early Help offer)
  • all concerns of allegations in relation to staff and volunteers harmful behaviour should be referred to the headteacher (if the concern is in relation to the headteacher the chair of governor should be informed without delay)

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SCHOOL STAFF

Teachers must protect themselves especially when meeting on a one to one basis with students and staff should bear in mind that even perfectly innocent actions can sometimes be misconstrued (please refer to the Schools Restraint Policy). Teachers who hear an allegation of abuse from a child against another member of staff should report the matter immediately to the Headteacher or other designated person so that the MASH and LADO assessments can take place (see appendix E). If the allegation is against the Headteacher it should be taken directly to theChair of Governors.

Governor for safeguarding: Miss K. Croddock

Chair of governors: Mrs. W. Middleton

MONITORING AND RECORD KEEPING

It is essential that accurate records be kept where there are concerns about the welfare of a child. These records should then be kept in secure confidential files, which are separate from the child's school records. It is important to recognise that regulations published in 1989 do not authorise or require the disclosure to parents of any written information relating to Chile Protection. However, the preferred practice is for parents to be informed of any referral being made (unless we are advised otherwise by MASH).

Staff must keep the Headteacher informed of:

  • poor attendance punctuality
  • concerns about appearance and dress
  • changed or unusual behaviour
  • concerns about health and emotional well being
  • deterioration in educational progress
  • discussions with parents about concerns relating to their child
  • concerns about home conditions or situations
  • concerns about pupil on pupil abuse (including serious bullying)

When there is suspicion of significant harm to a child and a referral is made, as much information as possible should be given (see appendix F)

Use of previous records (if available) may prove to be particularly useful in this respect. Staff will keep their class well-being records up to date.

NOTE

Any referral to Social Services by telephone must be confirmed with thespecified written form (WSCB 1)and a copy kept on the confidential schoolfile. A note must be made of the Duty Social Worker and the time atwhich the call is made.

If parents have not been informed about (or if they have agreed to) thereferral being made this must be reported to Social Services.

Reports may be needed for Child Protection Case conferences or the criminal/civil courts. Consequently records and reports should be:

  • factual (no opinions)
  • non-judgemental (no assumptions)
  • clear
  • accurate
  • relevant

THE ROLE OF THE DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead on our Senior Management team is Mrs Susan Speed. In her absence responsibility is placed on Lyndsey Mason, Inclusion Manager. The broad areas of responsibility for the designated safeguarding lead are:

  • Refer all cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care and:-

The designated officer(s) for child protection concerns (all cases which concern a staff member),

Disclosure and Barring Service (cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child); and/or

Police (cases where a crime may have been committed).

  • Refer all cases where an adult in a position of trust is suspected of abusing a child to the Local Authority Designated Officer ( LADO)
  • Liaise with the chair or governors to inform her of issues especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations/coordinating child protection activity.
  • Act as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies.
  • Ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the school’s child protection policy and procedures including WSCB guidelines, especially new and part time staff.
  • Be alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers.
  • Ensure the school child protection policy is reviewed annually and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with governing bodies or proprietors regarding this.
  • Ensure the child protection policy is available publicly and parents are aware of the fact that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the school or college in this.
  • Where children leave the school or college ensure their child protection file is transferred to the new school or college as soon as possible. This should be transferred separately from the main pupil file, ensuring secure transit and confirmation of receipt should be obtained.
  • When a Designated Safeguarding Lead resigns their post or no longer has child protection responsibility; there should be a face to face handover/exchange of information with the new post holder wherever possible.
  • Encourage a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings, among all staff, in any measures the school or college may put in place to protect them.
  • To attend case conferences or nominate an appropriate member of staff to attend on his/her behalf.
  • Maintain records of case conferences and other sensitive information in a secure confidential file and to disseminate information about the child only on a "need to know basis".
  • To report regularly to the nominated safeguarding child governor (for role and responsibility see ‘role of GB + it’s committees).
  • To ensure the school adopts safer recruitment practices, ensuring that at least the HT, DHT, chair or vice chair of governing body and admin manager have undertaken training.

If the Designated Safeguarding Lead is not available staff must refer concerns to the PSA or Inclusion Manager.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERING BODY

The Governing Body are the accountable body for ensuring the safety of the school.

The governing body will ensure that:

  • The school has a safeguarding policy in accordance with the procedures of Walsall Safeguarding Children Board;
  • The school operates, “safer recruitment” procedures and ensures that appropriate checks are carried out on all new staff and relevant volunteers;
  • At least one senior member of the school’s leadership team acts as a Designated Safeguarding Lead;
  • The Designated Safeguarding Lead attends appropriate refresher training every two years;
  • The Head Teacher and all other staff who work with children undertake training at three yearly intervals;
  • Temporary staff and volunteers are made aware of the school’s arrangements for child protection and their

responsibilities;

  • The school remedies any deficiencies or weaknesses brought to its attention without delay; and
  • The school has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff/volunteers.

The governing body reviews its policies/procedures annually

The Nominated Governor for child protection at the school is Katie Craddock. The Nominated Governor is responsible for liaising with the Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead over all matters regarding child protection issues. The role is strategic rather than operational – they will not be involved in concerns about individual pupils.

The Nominated Governor will liaise with the Head Teacher and the Designated Safeguarding Lead to produce an annual report for governors and the local authority (s175/s157).

Wendy Middleton (Chair of Governors) is nominated to be responsible for liaising with the local authority and other partner agencies in the event of allegations of abuse being made against the Head Teacher.

APPENDIX A

CHILDREN ACT 2004-EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS