1. education
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Bedford Nursery Schools Federation Policy Document SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY Reviewed by: Isabel Davis Jan 2012 Adopted by Governors: March 2014 To be reviewed: April 2015 RATIONALE: We believe that a caring school promotes the welfare, health, safety and guidance of every child. AIM: Our aim is to create a warm, supportive environment in which:‐ children feel safe and secure staff are willing to voice concerns if he/she suspects a case of safeguarding to the designated members of staff who will follow the LSCB Manual of Procedures - staff are knowledgeable and take part in in‐service training courses which lead to a greater understanding of the signs and symptoms of safeguarding - liaison with other agencies involved in the protection of children is vital. POLICY The Headteacher is the designated person responsible for co‐ordinating action within the school and liaising with other agencies. The designated governor for Safeguarding is Abigail Gosling(PPSW)/David Sunders(CT). All staff are familiar with Child Protection Procedures and all cases of child abuse are reported immediately to the Headteacher or Deputy Head Teacher or Assistant Head Teachers. The Borough guidelines are available in the school office and the staff room. The designated governor and the Governing Body will be informed by the Head Teacher of the number of families we are supporting as Child in Need or as part of a Child Protection plan, and ensure robust systems are in place for safeguarding procedures . They also monitor whole school training/designated personnel training. The approach of the School is: - To provide an ethos which builds on children’s self esteem, where children feel secure, where they are encouraged to talk and are listened to. - To raise children's awareness of their own safety and build confidence and skills which support them in taking care of themselves and each other. -
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To develop relationships with children built on trust and security To work with parents and families to ensure the welfare of all children. -
To ensure that parents are aware of the school’s responsibilities to children and the policy and procedures in relation to safeguarding. 1
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To ensure vigilance in all suspected safeguarding cases, recognising the signs and symptoms. To have clear procedures whereby teachers and support staff report such cases to the Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher or Assistant Head Teachers and are aware of local procedures so that information is effectively passed on to relevant professionals such as Social Workers. To ensure monitoring of children who have been identified as at risk, keeping records in a secure location (locked filing cabinet in school office). To provide safeguarding training termly to school staff and in particular to designated teachers to ensure that their skills and expertise are up to date. To contribute to an inter‐agency approach to safeguarding by developing effective and supportive liaison with other agencies. THE CHILDREN ACT The Children Act, which came into force in England and Wales in 2004 has the following implications for our school: - Being aware of children’s entitlement to being safe and being healthy, and to help them to positive well being - The Head Teacher clarifies a child's family history to establish who has parental responsibility for them and be aware of all those with parental responsibility. - School records must accurately reflect the home situation. - Consent must be obtained for school trips, medical attention etc from those with parental responsibility. - We have the right to do what is reasonable in all circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child's welfare. MONITORING AND RECORD KEEPING We play a vital role in helping children at risk and those who are suspected of being at risk, by monitoring and recording certain aspects of the child's progress and behaviour in school. Recording is necessary when: A. There is concern in school over: -
marks on a child's body unusual/different behaviour changes in class room functioning mood changes puzzling statements of stories from the child information from others. physical appearance signs of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) (see appendices attached) 2
B. Requested by another agency, for example following a case conference. Recording will be done by: -
teachers who are responsible for the children in their care or the Family Support Worker non‐ teaching staff involved with the child will report verbally to the teacher and follow instructions given Information recorded will be: -
patterns of attendance changes in mood changes in classroom functioning relationships with peers and adults behaviour statements made by the child, comments, stories, "news", drawings general demeanour and appearance parental interest about comments home/family changes medicals response to PE/sport injuries/marks, past and present. academic achievement any support/intervention already in place Information will be recorded in: ‐ A chronological expression of concern form and kept in a secure filing cabinet in the school office Factual non‐emotive, non‐judgemental terms, with notes of the time, date and context. - The file will be kept in the locked filing cabinet and confidentiality will be respected - The Head Teacher and Deputy Head Teacher will decide when to start and finish monitoring and decide on further action e.g. contact with parents/social worker etc. - The Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Head Teacher or Family Support Worker will complete a CAF as part of the referral process -
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CONFIDENTIALITY - All staff are aware that personal information about a child and his/her family is confidential and should only be given to an appropriate person. - If a member of staff is concerned, accurate information should be given only to the Head Teacher,Deputy Head Teacher or Assistant Head Teacher immediately. Other staff need know only enough to prepare them to act with sensitivity to a distressed child.
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The child, depending on age, should be kept informed of who knows and why they know. Staff should not remove a child's clothing other than for reasons of accident or illness e.g. wet, soiled clothing. If during this procedure any marks are noticed the designated member of staff should be called immediately if practical or another member of staff. They should only note those marks which they have noticed or which have been brought to their attention by the child. No further examination should be carried out.
If staff hear worrying information about children from other parents, neighbours or even other children, this should be passed on to the Head Teacher / Deputy Head Teacher/Assistant Head Teacher If a child's is subject to a Child Protection Plan, all staff may have to be alerted to observe for safeguarding concerns. In such circumstances the family will be informed of this monitoring arrangement. All staff follow the written protocols for ensuring continuity to safeguard themselves and other within the cultural environment. Please see Appendix A IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW - This policy will be made known to all staff, parents and governors. - The policy will be reviewed annually. - Reference to the policy will form part of the in service training programme. The school is adopting the LSCB Working Together to Safeguard Children document.(March 08) The school is adopting The Safer working practice for the protection of children and staff in education settings document (June 09) The school is adopting the Keeping Children safe in education document (April 2014) Revised June 2005
Reviewed Sept 07
Reviewed Sept 09
Reviewed and updated November 2011
Reviewed and updated April 2012
Reviewed and updated Nov 13
Reviewed March 2014
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Training since last update: Safeguarding Training: Designated personnel Lesley Boyle 16.11.10 – Safeguarding Children (2 day course) Isabel Davis 15.9.11 Safeguarding Children (2 day course) Marina Allen 15.9.11 Safeguarding Children (2 day course) Lesley Boyle 9.11.11 Supporting Families through integrated working (CAF) I Davis Safeguarding a Police Perspective K Dunn Safeguarding a Police Perspective Sandra Munday 3.11.11 Safeguarding a Police Perspective Clare Oliver 17.5.12 Safeguarding Children (2 day course) All staff 16.4.12 – Safeguarding Policy by Head Teacher All staff 01.9.13 – Safeguarding Policy by Head Teacher Julie Smith 2.5.14 ‐ Safeguarding Children (2 day course) Suzanne Hoefkens 13.2.14 ‐ Safeguarding Children (2 day course) All staff 2.9.14 ‐ Safeguarding Update half day Kirstie Lynn Sandra Munday July 2014 Basic Safeguarding online 5
Appendix A All staff are CRB checked. All students are CRB checked. Work experience students from Upper Schools are not left alone with children. Parents who are settling their child are not left alone with other children. One to One Working Where a member of staff is alone with a child they always tell another member of staff where they are. When possible they leave the door open. When it is an activity that requires the door to be closed they are aware that other staff may walk in at any time. Intimate Care Staff take it in turns to change, wash and support children with their personal care. Staff use the changing area in the nursery and let another member of staff know they are there. The door is pushed to for privacy for the child but staff may walk in to check everything is ok at any time. Use of internet, photography and mobile phones Staff and parents/visitors are not permitted to have phones or cameras in the nursery at any time. They can only be used in the staff room or office areas. The computers in school are formatted to use the Local Authority filters to block any access to inappropriate sites. The older children are taught about e‐safety 6