Trilliumcourt Montessori

Child Protection

Child Protection

August 23, 2017

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

TCM child protection policy aligns itself with ECM (Every Child Matters) which states that every child shall be: Safe, Healthy, Enjoy/Achieve, Economic, Positive contribution. (SHEEP)

TCM fully recognises its responsibilities towards child protection. Our policy applies to all staff, directors and volunteers working in the school. There are five main elements to our policy:

 

  • Safe recruitment – Persons (staff and volunteers) to be employed are checked by HR to ascertain their suitability before allowing them work with the children

 

  • Awareness – we are obligated to continuously raise awareness of child protection issues and to also teach and equip 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.

 

Due to their day to day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse.  The school will therefore do the following:

 

  • Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.

 

  • Impress on the children the availability of adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried. This can either be school appointed persons (who would have been trained and has the needed support for the role), head of departments or class teachers.

 

  • Incorporate opportunities in the curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.

 

  • Ensure we have a nominated person responsible for child protection (this person will be known to staff including temporary, supply staff and volunteers)

 

  • 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 person in charge of 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.

 

  • Contact parents 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.

 

 

Abused children or those that witnessed an abuse find it challenging to develop a sense of self-worth and will display unacceptable behaviour or attitude in school. To support and help them, the school shall:

 

  • Promote a school ethos that encourages positive attitude with a supportive and secure environment that gives pupils a sense of being valued.

 

  • A school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school. The school will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred. The policy will also encourage them to be a better version of themselves always.

 

TCM Child Protection policy and its implementation pays particular attention to the following ECM Standards:

 

  • An effective system of pastoral care exists to support the well – being and learning of children and young people

 

  • Children and adults ensure that the safety of others and themselves is always a priority

 

  • Children feel safe and secure in reporting bullying, discrimination, and any incidents of dangerous behavior

 

  • An ethos of trust ensures which children are free from bullying and discrimination

 

  • An open ethos enables the views of children, parents/carers, staff and other partner/service providers to be valued, respected and acted upon

 

  • A welcoming ethos which ensures that children, parents/ carers are able to approach staff for advice and guidance to support their decision making about future opportunities and life chance.

 

  • Children know who to go to and where to seek further help from when faced with potential danger, conflict or problems that create barriers to learning.

 

  • Staff participates in relevant on-going training related to child protection and safe guarding children.