Child Protection Policy

January 2005
(Updated: December 2005)

Review Date: September 2006

Regina Coeli Catholic Primary school fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection. Our Policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school.

There are five main elements to our Policy:

Ensuring we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of all staff and all volunteers to work with children.
Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.
Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

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, and 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 EPR/PHSE curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.

We follow the procedures set out in the Pan London Child Protection Code and take into account guidance issues by the Department of Education & Skills to:

Ensure we have a designated teacher for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role.
Ensure we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection.
Ensure every member of staff, volunteer and governor knows the name of the designated teacher responsible for child protection and their role.
Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated teacher responsible for child protection.
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.
Notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on the child protection register.
Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences.
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 and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
Ensure safe recruitment.

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 or defiant or they may appear withdrawn. Regina Coeli 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 the pupils a sense of being valued.
The School Good Behaviour and Discipline Policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school. We will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but that 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 support agencies and Child and Adult Mental Health 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.

Referral of Disclosures / Allegations

Why Refer:

Children have a right to be safe.
Adults have a responsibility to protect.
Abuse and neglect are damaging.
Child abuse and neglect continue because of the secrecy and silen which surround them.
You only have one small piece of the jigsaw.
Children rarely lie about abuse.
An abuser may well abuse many other children who also have a right to protection.

Under legislation the Social Services has power of action under the following sections of the Childrens’ Act:

Child Protection (Section 47)
Child in Need (Section 17)

Child Protection

The welfare of the child is paramount if a Child Protection need arises.

It is the duty of the Headteacher or Named Person to pass to Social Services allegations of or disclosures around or concerns with the following areas:

Injury caused by parent/carer, sibling or another person.
(Unexplained bruises, welts, human bite marks, unexplained burns, unexplained fractures, lacerations or abrasions0
Allegations of Sexual Abuse
Significant Neglect (Housing, Eating, Clothing, Attendance, Level of Care, Discipline, Cleanliness)
Emotional Abuse

Under statutory powers it is for Social Services to decide if the threshold standard for a Child Protection enquiry is met. It does NOT require parental consent for a referral to be made to Social Services.

Child in Need

This is if there is a general concern around care for the child. This referral requires parental consent before a referral is made. Failure to do this may result in litigation arising from the Human Rights act Section 9 (‘the right of the individual to have a private life’). Issues are at a lower level (lower than CP Threshold) but may still be important for the child’s welfare.

REGINA COELI SCHOOL PROCEDURES – Child Protection

The following procedural guidance is in place at Regina Coeli School.

When a disclosure or allegation from a child comes staff MUST:

Inform the Named Teacher.
Write down what was said (verbatim if possible). This could be later presented if an enquiry takes place.

The allegation or disclosure WILL be passed to Social Services by the Named Teacher and Social Services will initiate an investigation. They then are in control of the investigation and will decide the appropriate action and who to involve i.e. Police etc.

An enquiry may lead to:

Parent Interview
Doctor Interview
Police Interview
Legal Proceedings.

When an allegation or disclosure is made staff MUST NOT:

Interview the child (This could compromise a future legal action)
Decide what to do next and contact Social Services themselves.
Photograph the child or their injury.
Undress the pupil – this must be done by a medically trained person.
Touch the child.

At Regina Coeli School:

There is a named adult. It is: Mr Donal McCarthy, Headteacher
(In the absence of Mr McCarthy, Mrs O’Callaghan, Deputy Headteacher will assume the role of Named Teacher. In the absence of both HT and DHT a member of the SLT will contact the Headteacher in order that a decision can be made).
There is a nominated Governor. She is: Mrs Maureen Postans (Foundation Governor)
A statement outlining key principles are contained in the School Prospectus
Staff are updated termly on issues of Child Protection

Staff, Governors and volunteers are subject to an ENHANCED CRB check before or shortly after commencement of duties. This applies to all volunteers who support pupil learning – on site and off-site.

Students, music teachers, instructors and work experience students will be asked to provide evidence that they have had an appropriate CRB check.

Our Child Protection Policy is a public document and available upon request.

Regina Coeli School takes issues of child welfare seriously and will pass information to appropriate authorities.

Our commitment to child safety and welfare is contained in the School Prospectus. Parents will be reminded regularly through the School Newsletter

Staff will use Staff Meeting time to update, at least annually, on issues of Child Protection & Pupil Welfare