Child Protection Policy

Designated Child Protection Co-ordinator: The Deputy Principal (or in his absence the Mrs S Hill) is responsible for child protection matters within our school.

This policy is available to parents and staff in the parents section of our website www.stratfordprep.co.uk and also to prospective parents on request.

This policy accords with the inter-agency procedure of the Warwickshire Local Safeguarding Children Board and the DSCF guidance on Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education. This policy should be read alongside those procedures and guidance. The above procedures and guidance shall prevail in the event of a conflict between them and this policy.

Introduction

Stratford Preparatory School fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection. The health, safety and well-being of our pupils are of paramount importance to everyone that works in our school.

Designated Child Protection Co-ordinator

The Deputy Head will:

Keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.
Ensure all records are kept securely; separate from the main pupil file, and in locked locations.
Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences.

What is abuse?

Abuse includes but is not limited to the following (a) behaving in a way which has or could harm a child; (b) committing a criminal offence against or in relation to children; and (c) behaving towards a child in a way that indicates that a person is unsuitable to work with children. It should be remembered that abuse can also refer to one child's behaviour to another. It should be remembered that abuse can also refer to one child's behaviour to another. All such allegations are reported by the Deputy Principal to the designated officer at Warwickshire Local Educational Authority responsible for providing advice and overseeing allegations of child abuse, and if appropriate to the police. Their contact details are:

JOHN SULLIVAN (01926) 742526

Education Safeguarding Children Manager

Children in Need Department

Safeguarding Children Board

Children, young people and families directorate Warwickshire County Council (formed from old Warwickshire LEA and Social Services Department)

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR NIGEL JONES (01926) 415000

Head of Child Protection

Warwickshire Police

Please also refer to the signs and symptoms of abuse appendix (below).

What to do if you suspect abuse?

If a member of staff suspects that a pupil may be the subject of abuse or has any related concerns then he/she should inform the Deputy Principal of that suspicion immediately. Do not hesitate to make a report to the Deputy Principal.

What to do if a child tells you about abuse:

Stay calm and be reassuring.
Find a quiet place to talk.
Believe in what you are being told.
Listen, but do no press for information.
Do not ask the child leading questions.
Do not make promises you can’t keep such as promising to keep the information the child has told you a secret.
Say that you are glad that the child told you.
Inform the Deputy Principal / Principal immediately.
Prepare a written summary of your conversation with the child and give that summary to the Deputy Principal / Principal (they will place the note in a file which will be stored securely and separately to the child’s main school file).

Remember that it is not a member of staff’s responsibility to investigate an allegation of abuse further once they have reported it to the appropriate person.

Ensure that your behaviour does not place pupil or yourself at risk of harm or of allegations of harm. e.g. Never work alone in a room with the door closed.

The school may report an allegation of abuse to the Safeguarding Children Board (above) or the Police without first consulting the child’s parents, dependant on the circumstances surrounding and the nature of the allegation.

Creating the right Environment

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 PSHE curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.

Supporting Children

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 pupil through:

The content of the curriculum.
The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives pupils a sense of being valued.
The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school. The school will ensure that the pupil 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 pupil such as social services, Child and Adult Mental Health Service, education welfare service and educational psychology service.
Ensuring that, where a pupil on the child protection register leaves, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and that the child's social worker is informed.

Allegations of abuse made by one pupil against another

If one pupil makes an allegation of abuse against another, or where more than two pupils are involved:

bring the allegation of abuse to the attention of the Deputy Principal immediately;
the Deputy Principal will decide whether the matter should be dealt with under this policy or our bullying/discipline policies (if the conduct does not constitute abuse);
the Deputy Principal will inform the parents of each of the pupils involved within one day of the allegation being made;
the Deputy Principal will speak to each of the pupils involved with their parents present or to the parents by themselves if appropriate – never the pupils by themselves;
the Deputy Principal will liaise with the designated officer at Warwickshire Local Educational Authority as to how the allegation should be handled.

Allegations of abuse made against Staff / Volunteers

Any allegation of abuse must be brought to the attention of the Deputy Principal immediately. If the allegation of abuse is made against the Deputy Principal then immediately bring the accusation to the attention of the Principal (and vice versa).

If there is any allegation of abuse made against our Principal the Deputy Principal will immediately inform the designated officer at Warwickshire Local Educational Authority responsible for providing advice and overseeing allegations of child abuse (contact details above) irrespective of whether the Deputy Principal believes the allegation to be true or not.

Our first duty is to the children, not to the school or it members of staff.

Procedure

All allegations of abuse made against one of our members of staff or a volunteer will be dealt with in accordance with Chapter 5 of the DSCF guidance on Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education.

If a member of staff’s employment is terminated (or their services are no longer required) because they are considered unsuitable to work with children, the school will within one month of such termination send a report of the termination to the Secretary of State via the DCSF regarding the reason for the termination.

Minimising the risk

Staff are reminded that simple steps can be taken to minimise the risk that they will be the subject to unfounded allegations of abuse.

Do not spend unnecessary periods of time alone with pupils;
do not close the door to your class room when speaking to a pupil alone;
be particularly aware of child protection issues when tutoring children one-to-one, sports coaching – especially when the children are changing and conveying pupils by car; and
speak to the Deputy Head for advice as often as you like.

Safe Recruitment

Our school operates a safe recruitment policy in accordance with the DSCF guidance on Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education and Standard 4 of the Independent School Standards Regulations. The Principal has undertaken a 'Safer Recruiting' course.

Child Protection Training

We provide training on child protection to ensure that all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the Deputy Principal.

Our Principal and Deputy Principal receive training (which is updated at least every two years) in child-protection and inter-agency working.

All other staff receive training in respect of child protection at least every three years.

Part time and voluntary staff are made aware of our child protection arrangements during their induction.

Every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) are provided with a copy of this policy and informed that the Deputy Principal is our child protection co-ordinator.

Updating this policy

Where any member of staff identifies a weakness or deficiency in our child protection policy or arrangements they must immediately bring this to the attention of the Deputy Principal, who will remedy the weakness or deficiency without delay – including amending this policy where necessary.

The Principal (as proprietor) will review this policy and arrangements annually, including the manner and effectiveness of their implementation. The Principal pays particular attention to our safe recruitment practices during this review.

Appendix - Signs and Symptoms of Child Abuse

Although these signs do not necessarily indicate that a child has been abused, they may help you to recognise that something is wrong. The possibility of abuse should be investigated if a child shows a number of these symptoms, or any of them to a marked degree:

Sexual Abuse

• Being overly affectionate or knowledgeable in a sexual way inappropriate to the child's age

• Medical problems such as chronic itching, pain in the genitals, venereal diseases

• Personality changes such as becoming insecure or clinging

• Regressing to younger behaviour patterns such as thumb sucking or bringing out discarded cuddly toys

• Sudden loss of appetite or compulsive eating

• Being isolated or withdrawn

• Inability to concentrate

• Lack of trust or fear of someone they know well, such as not wanting to be alone with a babysitter or child minder

• Starting to wet again, day or night/nightmares

• Become worried about clothing being removed

• Suddenly drawing sexually explicit pictures

• Trying to be 'ultra-good' or perfect; overreacting to criticism

Physical Abuse

• Unexplained recurrent injuries or burns

• Improbable excuses or refusal to explain injuries

• Wearing clothes to cover injuries, even in hot weather

• Refusal to undress for gym

• Bald patches

• Chronic running away

• Fear of medical help or examination

• Self-destructive tendencies

• Aggression towards others

• Fear of physical contact - shrinking back if touched

• Admitting that they are punished, but the punishment is excessive (such as a child being beaten every night to 'make him study')

• Fear of suspected abuser being contacted

Emotional Abuse

• Physical, mental and emotional development lags

• Sudden speech disorders

• Continual self-depreciation ('I'm stupid, ugly, worthless, etc')

• Overreaction to mistakes

• Extreme fear of any new situation

• Inappropriate response to pain ('I deserve this')

• Neurotic behaviour (rocking, hair twisting, self-mutilation)

• Extremes of passivity or aggression

Neglect

• Constant hunger

• Poor personal hygiene

• Constant tiredness

• Poor state of clothing

• Emaciation

• Untreated medical problems

• No social relationships

• Compulsive scavenging

• Destructive tendencies

Note: A child may be subjected to a combination of different kinds of abuse.

It is also possible that a child may show no outward signs and hide what is happening from everyone

Unexplained Absence

We notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on the child protection register.