Colebrook Infant School
Child Protection Policy
Introduction
1. The health, safety and well-being of all our children are of paramount importance to all the adults who work in
our school. Our children have the right to protection, regardless of age, gender, race, culture or disability. They have a
right to be safe in our school.
2. In our school we respect our children. The atmosphere within our school is one that encourages all children to do
their best. We provide opportunities that enable our children to take and make decisions for themselves.
3. Our teaching of personal, social and health education as part of the National Curriculum, helps to develop appropriate
attitudes in our children and makes them aware of the impact of their decisions on others. We also teach them how to recognise
different risks in different situations, and how to behave in response to them.
Aims and objectives
4. This policy ensures that all staff and helpers in our school are clear about the actions necessary with regard to
a child protection issue. Its aims are:
· to raise the awareness of all staff and identify responsibility in reporting
possible cases of abuse;
· to ensure effective communication between all staff when dealing with
child protection issues;
· to lay down the correct procedures for those who encounter an issue of
child protection.
Procedures
5. There is a named person in our school who is the Child Protection Co-ordinator. This is Mrs Carvey. When she is
absent the roll is delegated to Mrs Cleary and then Mrs Brown.
6. If any teacher suspects that a child in their class may be a victim of abuse, they immediately inform the named
person about their concerns. Abuse can be of a sexual, emotional or physical nature. It can also be the result of neglect.
7. Any action that the named person takes when dealing with an issue of child protection must be in line with the procedures
outlined in the LA Child Protection guidelines.
8. The school’s named co-ordinator works closely with the Social Services department when investigating any allegations
of abuse. All parties involved handle such investigations in a sensitive manner, but the interest of the child is of paramount
importance.
9. If a child alleges abuse, the child protection co-ordinator will make a referral, informing parents first if she
feels that the child is not at risk of suffering further harm.
10. We regard all information relating to individual child protection issues as confidential, and we treat this accordingly.
We only pass information on to appropriate persons. We inform the child at all stages of who is involved, and what information
we have given them.
11. We require all adults employed in school to submit to a CRB check in order to ensure that there is no evidence
of offences involving children or abuse.
12. There may be times when adults in our school, in the course of their duty, use physical intervention to restrain
children. All such incidents should be reported to the head teacher and physical restraint form must be completed. See policy on restraint
13. All adults in the school receive training to raise their awareness of abuse and their knowledge of agreed local
child protection procedures.
Monitoring and review
This policy is reviewed annually by the governing body.
September 2008
