Child Protection Policy

(Senior, Preparatory and Early Years Foundation Stage)

 

ST CATHERINE’S SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
Our Vision

To be a school that lives the Gospel values, promotes the dignity of every individual and is committed to excellence. We are a Catholic school where every student, regardless of individual faith:

  • is valued
  • is a member of a thriving, happy community
  • is helped to achieve his/her personal best
  • is given a wide range of opportunities to develop his/her talents
  • is prepared for the challenges of adult life
  • is helped to understand and fulfil his/her responsibilities to self, family and society.

Policy Statement on Abuse

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Context

The welfare of our pupils is the School’s paramount concern. As a school we must do all we can to ensure that children are protected from harm both within the school and beyond our direct control. To that end we are committed to :

  • Establishing and maintaining an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk and are always listened to.
  • Ensuring that all children know there is an adult in the school whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty.
  • Including across the curriculum, including PSHE, opportunities which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from harm and to know to whom they should turn for help.

The school recognises the term ‘Harm’ to mean ‘ill treatment or the impairment of health, (or) development.’ – (Section 31 of the Children Act 1989)

It is the responsibility of all staff to be fully aware both of the London borough of Richmond Child Protection Manual (a copy is kept in the Deputy Head’s Office) and the school’s procedures in relation to child protection

This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989; and in line with government publications: “Working Together to Safeguard Children” March 2010, “Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families” 2000, “What to do if You are Worried a Child is Being Abused” 2003, Circular 10/95 DCSF, Independent Safeguarding Authority, “Safeguarding Children: Child Protection: Guidance about Child Protection Arrangements for the Education Service” 2004, and the London Borough of Richmond Child Protection Procedures.

The Governing body takes seriously its responsibility under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our school to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering harm.

We recognise that all adults, including temporary staff, volunteers and governors, have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm, and that the child’s welfare is our paramount concern.
As a school we believe that we should provide a caring, positive safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child.

Aims/Objectives

  • To support the child’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence.
  • To provide an environment in which children and young people feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and feel confident, and know how to, approach adults if they are in difficulties believing they will be effectively listened to.
  • To raise the awareness of all teaching and non-teaching staff of the need to safeguard children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.
  • To provide a systematic means of monitoring children known or thought to be at risk of harm, and ensure we, the school, contribute to assessments of need and support packages for those children.
  • To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff.
  • To develop a structured procedure within the school which will be followed by all members of the school community in cases of suspected abuse.
  • To develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies, especially the Police and Social Services.
  • To ensure that all adults within our school who have substantial access to children have been checked as to their suitability.

Procedures

  • Procedures for safeguarding children will be in line with the Child Protection: Essential Guidance for Education Staff, and  London borough of Richmond ACPC procedures. 

Guidelines

  1. In the event of a pupil disclosing concerns to an adult, the procedure described in Flowchart A ‘Child Protection’ (Appendix 1.) should be followed.
  2. In the event that an allegation is made against a member of staff, the procedure in Flowchart B (Appendix 2) should be followed.

Who is Responsible?

Everyone who has contact with pupils is responsible for ensuring the information confided in them by a pupil or observed by them about a pupil is passed directly to the Deputy Head/ Head of Prep /Headmistress without delay.  The Deputy Head is the CPLO for the Senior School and the Head of Prep is the CPLO for the Prep Department and the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Success Criteria

We will have been successful when:

  1. Every pupil feels there is someone they can trust enough to talk to about something that is worrying them.
  2. Every pupil knows who they can go to in case of difficulty.
  3. Pupils are aware of what is appropriate behaviour in relation to themselves and others and what is not.
  4. Every member of staff, including the Head receives training on abuse awareness and procedures every three years.
  5. New members of staff are inducted immediately on abuse procedures.

*Headmistress/Deputy Head / Head of Prep should ensure that staff and pupils receive appropriate training in the above points.

Reviewed: November 2009
Reviewed: November 2010
Reviewed:  November 2011
Next review date:  November 2012

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