LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION (SAFEGUARDING) POLICY.
1. AIMS
Longridge Towers School recognises its responsibilities for child protection. Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the School, including those in the EYFS setting.
1.1 There five main aims of our policy are:
1.1.1 To establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop;
1.1.2 To ensure we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children, including enhanced CRB checks and compliance with Independent School Standards regulations;
1.1.3 To raise awareness of child protection issues and to equip children with the skills needed to keep them safe;
1.1.4 To develop and implement procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse;
1.1.5 To support pupils who have been abused.
1.2 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:
1.2.1 Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to;
1.2.2 Ensure children know there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried;
1.2.3 Include opportunities in the PSHE curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.
In formulating this policy the School has had due regard for the guidance entitled ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education' published by the DfES, which came into force 1 January 2007, and ‘Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with Children and Young People 2007' together with the Boarding Schools National Minimum Standards. In addition we have consulted ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children' (2006).
2. MEANS
The means by which the School seeks to meet the aims set out above include:
2.1 a child protection policy approved by the Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board which is based at the Children's Safeguarding Unit, 163 Langdale Drive, Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 8EH (Tel: 01670 714411; Fax: 733861)
2.2 rigorous recruitment procedures to ensure that all appropriate checks are carried out on new staff and volunteers who work with children, including Criminal Record Bureau and List 99 checks;
2.3 procedures for dealing with cases of reported or suspected abuse (which are detailed in Appendix I and form part of this policy);
2.4 procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against a member of staff and volunteers (which are detailed as Appendix II and form part of this policy);
2.5 a designated senior member of staff (Mr Tim Manning, Headmaster) to take lead responsibility at Longridge Towers School in dealing with child protection issues, including those affecting pupils in the EYFS setting in the Reception Class, and liasing with other agencies where necessary (and in his absence the Head will take lead responsibility). The outside agencies most likely to be involved is the Children's Safeguarding Unit, 163 Langdale Drive, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 8EH (Tel: 01670 714411; Fax: 01670 733861);
2.6 training to equip staff who work with children with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out their responsibilitiesfor child protection, including alertness to the signs of abuse and awareness of pupils' vulnerability and the risk of harm;training includes refresher training at least every two years for the designated member of staff and at least every three years for all members of staff.; and all temporary staff and volunteers who work with children are made aware of the School's arrangements for child protection and their responsibilities;
2.7 staff awareness of and access to the School's Child Protection Policy and all recent DfES guidance referenced in this policy;
2.8 any deficiencies, however identified, in this policy and its procedures being remedied without delay;
2.9 School governors undertaking an annual review of this policy, its procedure and the efficiency of their implementation.
In addition to the matters already mentioned, the School makes every effort to ensure that:
2.10 pupils feel valued, respected and part of an environment which promotes the development of self-esteem;
2.11 there is an openness (within the structures of the Law and when it is not counter to the interests of the child) on the part of the School with families, the wider community, and agencies responsible for safeguarding and promoting a child's welfare;
2.12 reflects and day pupils in positions of responsibility are briefed by the Deputy Head to be alert to any signs of abuse or unhappiness in pupils and immediately to report any such concerns to a member of staff;
2.13 all pupils have access to an Independent Listener/Person and are made aware of the help on offer from independent services such as Childline;
2.14 accessible complaints procedures are in place which are clear, effective and child friendly;
2.15 there is respect for race, culture, religion, gender, sexuality, age and disability within the ethos of the School.
School policies on Anti-Bullying, Equal Opportunities, Discipline, Special Educational Needs, Disability and Health and Safety are set out in the Staff Handbook and are available to parents on request.
Revised: December 2009