Springfield School fully recognises 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:

• raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping 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.

• ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.

• establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

We recognise that, because of their 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 recognise dangers and stay safe from abuse.

We will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Board and the Local Authority and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to:

• ensure we have a designated person (DOSC) for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role.

• ensure every member of staff, volunteer and governor knows the name of the designated teacher responsible for child protection 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 designated teacher responsible for child protection.

• ensure that every member of staff, volunteer and Governor receives appropriate levels of training to fulfil their child protection responsibilities effectively.

• 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 Social Care if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who has a child protection plan.

• develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with

their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at Child Protection 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 and separately from the main pupil file and in locked locations.

• Follow LA procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.

• ensure safe selection and recruitment practices are always followed.

The school will endeavor to support all pupils through:

• the content of the curriculum.

• the school ethos, which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives pupils a sense of being valued.

• the 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.

• liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as social services, Adolescent Mental Health Service, Education Welfare Service and Educational Psychology Service.

• ensuring that child protection records and or records of concern are transferred accordingly (separately from pupil files) when a child leaves the school

• ensuring that, where a child who has a child protection plan leaves the school, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and that the child's social worker is informed.

Review date: Spring 2011