Introduction
The Angmering School is an inclusive school, committed to the care and well-being of all of its students so that they may grow and learn in a safe, secure environment. The school community holds to the equal value principle (see below) underpinning its policies.
The Child Protection Policy guides staff, students, parents and the wider
community who work together, taking action to safeguard children and promote
their welfare.
Equal Value Principle
Each student at the Angmering School has equal value. The policy of equality of opportunity in diversity is based on the principle of respect for the individual. The school is an integrated whole, inclusive of the students with physical or sensory impairments, communication, learning, social, emotional or behavioural difficulties. It addresses each person's unique needs, intellectual, physical, spiritual, emotional or social.
All members of the school community work together to create an atmosphere
in which each member can grow and flourish regardless of race, class, colour,
creed, sex, sexuality, age or ability. Positive interpersonal relationships
are fostered in a climate of high expectations and respect for individual
achievement.
All students experience a community of diversity in which they value
and celebrate the unique contribution that each individual makes. They
learn to respect the rights not only of each other but also of groups
in the local and wider community.
The language used in the school community, spoken or written fosters a positive attitude to each person whatever her/his race, class, colour, creed, sex, sexuality, age or ability.
Students have full and open access to a broad and balanced curriculum and to a range of extra-curricular experiences. Attention is given to adequate resources and the development of an appropriate environment to meet the needs of individual students and groups within the school community.
Every area of school life reflects this attention to individual needs
and rights, as all school policies are founded on these basic principles,
which are embodied in the school aims and values.
Requirements on Schools
All schools are required to have a policy on Child Protection. The Angmering School recognises and has regard to its legal duty under sections 175/157 of the Education Act 2002 to work with other agencies in safeguarding children and promoting their welfare as defined by the Department for Education and Skills Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education 2007 and the Pan-Sussex Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures 2006. It has regard to the Children Act 2004.
Statement of Intent
The Angmering School recognises that the welfare of the child is paramount and that each one has the right to be protected from harm. The school produces guidelines on Child Protection for all staff, which have been agreed with Social Care colleagues.
In harmony with the Equal Value Principle, all members of staff seek to adopt an open and accepting attitude towards children and young people in all aspects of school life as part of their pastoral responsibility. The safeguarding of children and the promotion of their welfare is implicit in all policy statements issued by the school.
The school adheres to the Every Child Matters: Change for Children National Framework to support the joining up of services so that every child can achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes. These are:
? Be Healthy
? Stay Safe
? Enjoy and Achieve
? Make a positive Contribution
? Achieve Economic Well-being
Parents will normally be consulted and their consent obtained before any referral is made to an agency outside the school under the local “children in need” procedures. However, staff cannot guarantee to consult parents first, or to keep children’s concerns confidential if referral must be made to appropriate agencies in order to safeguard a child’s welfare.
Staff who observe injuries which appear to be non-accidental, or who are told anything significant by a child, report this immediately to the designated member of staff who is, in turn, required to discuss with outside agencies responsible for making enquiries into concerns which may indicate:
? Physical abuse
? Emotional abuse
? Sexual abuse
? Neglect
School staff do not carry out investigation or enquiries, nor decide whether children have been abused. This is a matter for the specialist agencies.
Role of Key Personnel
Governors
Governors in the Student Support Committee agree and monitor the
policy on behalf of the full board. They review it annually.
Governors operate safe recruitment procedures and ensure that checks
are carried out on staff and guidance is followed.
The Chair of Governors acts as the designated governor for Child Protection
who liaises with the LA (lead officer, Mr Neil Holden) and the Head teacher’s
designated member of staff, Ms Geraldine Tisdall as appropriate.
Nominate a Governor (Mrs Anne Prior, the Chair) to liaise with Neil
Holden in the unlikely event of an allegation against the Headteacher.
The Headship Team
The Head teacher monitors the work of the designated member of staff; he
supports the work and covers for the designated member of staff as required.
He manages allegations against members of staff and liaises immediately with
Neil Holden on this or on any information that suggests that a member of
staff or a volunteer is unsuitable to work with children.
The Headship Team ensures that:
Each one in the team is able to cover as necessary for the designated
member of staff.
The designated member of staff has access to refresher training at two
yearly intervals and that all members of staff who work with children undertake
refresher training at 3 yearly intervals.
Temporary staff and volunteers are made aware of the school’s arrangements
for child protection and their responsibilities.
All policies have regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children.
All Staff
Contribute to creating an open, safe environment within which parents
and children feel free to talk about concerns and worries.
Are familiar with and keep to the Guidelines issued in the staff diary,
ensuring that children have the confidence to approach them, be treated
with respect and be taken seriously.
Are aware that they must make an immediate written record of their
part in any child protection incidents.
Take part in refresher training at regular intervals.
May, with support and/or training, attend case conferences on behalf
of the school.
Ensure that safe practices are observed and risk assessments carried
out as appropriate.
Refer any issues in respect of colleagues directly to the designated
member of staff (Geraldine Tisdall).
The Designated person
The Designated member of staff (Geraldine Tisdall) acts as a source of support, advice and expertise when deciding whether to make a referral. Members of staff will normally consult a line manager but may go directly to this member of staff or another member of the Headship Team in cases of suspected abuse or a disclosure. She deputises for the Headteacher, carrying out all of his functions described above, as appropriate. In cases where there is information regarding another colleague, staff must go directly to the designated member of staff or to the Headteacher.
The designated member of staff:
Refers or oversees the referral of cases of suspected abuse or allegations
to the relevant investigating agencies.
Liaises with and informs the Head teacher of any issues and ongoing investigations
and ensures there is always cover for this role.
Recognises how to identify signs of abuse and when it is appropriate
to take advice from or make a referral to another agency
Attends and contributes to Child Protection conferences effectively when
required or delegates appropriately trained staff to do so.
Ensures each member of staff has access to and understands the school’s
Child Protection Policy Guidelines.
Ensures the staff development Coordinator provides induction and other
training covering child protection.
Reminds staff to keep detailed accurate secure written records of referrals/concerns.
Attends any relevant or refresher training courses every two years.
Works with Governors on the Student Support Committee, liaising with
them and ensuring that practice and policy are updated and reviewed
annually.
Places a copy of the policy on the website to ensure that parents
are aware of it and of the fact that referrals may be made so as to
avoid
possible conflict.
Implements the practice when children leave the school, of ensuring
that their child protection file is copied for new establishment as
soon as
possible but transferred separately from main student file.