New Charter Academy fully recognizes 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 practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.
Ensuring that staff are aware of the procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse. These procedures are contained in Essential Guidance for all staff working within the Local Education Authority.
Supporting students 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 recognize 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 recognize and stay safe from abuse.
We will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board, contained in Child Protection - Essential Guidance for all staff working within the Local Education Authority and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Education and Skills to:
Ensure we have a designated Child Protection Liaison Person who has received appropriate training and support for this role. This training should be updated every two years as a minimum.
Ensure we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection and that the Governing Body receives training every three years as a minimum.
Ensure every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) and governing body knows the name of the Child Protection Liaison Person 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 Child Protection Liaison Person. Training should be updated every three years as a minimum.
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 Children's Services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a student who is on the child protection register.
Where another agency provides services within the grounds of this school, assurance will be sought that the agency concerned has appropriate policies and procedures in place for safeguarding and child protection.
Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences and core groups.
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 student file, and in locked locations.
Follow procedures contained in Essential Guidance for Staff working within the Education Authority where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.
Ensure child protection and safeguarding arrangements are in place for students not on the premises e.g. school trips and works experience placements.
We recognize 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 behavior may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The school will endeavor to support the student through:
The content of the curriculum.
The school ethos, which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives students a sense of being valued.
The school behavior policy, which is aimed at supporting vulnerable students in the school. The school will ensure that the student knows that some behavior is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.
Liaison with other agencies that support the student such as Children's Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Education Welfare Service and Educational Psychology Service.
Ensuring that, where a student on the child protection register leaves, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and that the child's social worker is informed.
The Governing Body will review this policy annually and its effectiveness will be evaluated through an annual audit.