CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Safety and Welfare of Children in School

Shernold fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection and takes regard of Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education practice as outlined in the Every Child Matters Policy January 2007. Our policies apply to all staff working in the School. This was updated in Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with Children and Young People in Education Settings. March 2009. This states that:

' All adults who come into contact with pupils in their work have a duty of care to safeguard and promote their welfare.'

The Children Act 2004, 'through the Stay Safe outcome of the Every Child Matters Change for Children programme, places a duty on schools/services to safeguard and promote the well-being of pupils. This includes the need to ensure that all adults who work with or on behalf of pupils are competent, confident and safe to do so.'

Policy Elements

	Safer recruitment
	Raising awareness of child protection issues with staff through meetings and courses where necessary
	Raising awareness of child protection issues with children through PHSE
	Procedures for the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse cases
	Supporting children who are victim of abuse
	Procedures where staff are accused of abuse
	Provision of a safe environment for learning and playing

Procedures where staff are accused of abuse
Where an adult or child accuses a member of staff or a volunteer of abuse, that member of staff/volunteer will be interviewed and suspended immediately pending investigation when they will be advised to seek support from any suitable body e.g. a union. This is not to prejudice the outcome of the investigation but to protect the member of staff in case of false accusation and to protect the child in case of true accusation.

The child will be interviewed with his/her parents immediately and notes will be taken of the interview. These should be agreed and countersigned by the Headteacher and parents. It is anticipated that a resolution of the issue will be reached quickly and in not more than 2 weeks. Should there be a case to answer then the guidance in Chapter 5 of Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment January 2007 will be followed.

In the case there is an accusation of abuse against the Headteacher an immediate investigation will be held. He/she will be automatically suspended until the investigation can be concluded. This investigation will be carried out as with any other member of staff. The child interview will be carried out with parents present and conducted by CPO, Bursar/Proprietor and appropriate members of staff.

Miss Ceri Waite, Assistant Bursar, is the designated Child Protection Officer unless he/she nominates another.

Raising awareness of child protection issues with staff through meetings and courses where necessary.
The Child Protection officer completes the DCPO course every 2 years.

Staff meetings held daily during term time are used to continue any training elements required e.g. updating on any changes in requirements. For non-teaching staff this will be done when necessary during term times; for larger updates or changes the staff meetings on the Inset Days provide the ideal forum.

Raising awareness of child protection issues with children through PHSCE
The PHSCE scheme of work provides opportunities for children to understand that they have rights. It ensures that children feel that they can talk to a member of staff when necessary, that the School provides a safe environment for them to talk and that they develop skills to keep them safe. In key stage 2 classes V and VI are made aware of current affairs, news items and Childline.

Staff are encouraged to comment on child protection issues and arrangements. Every opportunity is taken to identify weaknesses or deficiencies and to remedy them without delay. Discussions to raise awareness of children's issues take place informally, formally in staff meetings daily and are focussed on at Friday staff meetings when individual children are discussed by the staff. Any issues surrounding procedures are also raised at these times. Should a concern be raised about procedures the Headteacher agrees a plan of action with the Governor for Child Protection and implements that within 48 hours.

All policies and procedures, including the Child Protection Policy are reviewed annually by the Headteacher, the staff, as they read all the policies and feedback. Monitoring of the policy and its effectiveness is carried out by the Governor for Child Protection who checks that adequate training is carried out and that staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

EYFS
The EYFs unit, Kindergarten, take regard of the School policies. There CPO is Maureen Shepherd. They liaise directly with the CPO who is then responsible for liaising with any appropriate outside agency.

Should there be any suspicion of serious harm or abuse the DCPO, the Headteacher, will inform Ofsted of any such allegations that have taken place on the premises and of any action taken in respect of these allegations.

Ofsted will be informed as above within 14 days but as soon as reasonably practical.

Procedures for the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse cases.
Due to the day to day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe any signs of abuse. Signs of abuse and how to deal with it is covered in the document 'Child protection policy Guidelines'.

The Assistant Bursar is the designated Child Protection Officer unless he/she nominates another. All staff have responsibilities towards the children and need to be alert for any signs of abuse. In the case of concern the staff member should inform the CPO as soon as possible. Written records are always kept of any concern. These records are kept securely. Staff should be cognisant with the child protection.

Should the concern warrant it, the matter is referred to the local social services immediately. An unexplained absence of 5 or more days is also referred.

Supporting children who are victim of abuse
In the case that a child has suffered some form of abuse, the School will ensure that the child receives as much support as possible. The School will also liaise with the relevant agencies and provide information to them and to any school the pupil transfers to.

Procedure for dealing with abuse of a pupil by another pupil.
The 'Policy Guidelines' are still followed and the 'Bullying Policy' is implemented. In case of severe immediate threat pupils will be separated and protected until suitable parental supervision can be arranged. The matter will then be resolved using the procedures as set out in the Bullying Policy.

Reporting arrangements
The School will report any incidents of abuse to the appropriate Social Service Dept within 24 hours and inform Ofsted of this.

Social services Dept	Child & Family Therapy Unit
KCC	Gatland House
County Hall	Maidstone
Maidstone	Kent ME16 8PG
Kent ME14 1XQ	01622 723600
08458 247247

Guidance for Staff
Staff, teaching and non-teaching, are trained regularly with regard to ensuring that their behaviour and actions do not place pupils or themselves at risk of harm or of allegations of harm to a pupil. This covers ensuring that staff do not leave themselves with any child on a one to one basis when teaching, in transporting to matches and in sports coaching without permission from the Headteacher. Electronic communication with a pupil is not considered appropriate at any time.

Advanced CRB checks are applied to all staff who work with the children whether employed by ourselves or another organisation. Staff at outside agencies where children may go for outings are asked for assurances that they have the appropriate child protection checks in place.

Should any member of staff leave the School and it is thought that they may be unsuitable to work with children the ISA independent Safeguarding Authority will be informed within 1 month of leaving.