Introduction
Tottington High School is concerned that all pupils remain safe, free from harm and is committed to playing a full and active part in the multi-agency response to child protection concerns. Additionally, the school has a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to have a child protection policy to meet Department for Education and Skills and Department of Health requirements.
Through their day to day contact with pupils, and direct work with families, education staff have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect. Parents should be aware therefore that where it appears to a member of staff that a child may have been abused, the school is required, as part of the local child protection procedures to report their concern to Social Care immediately. To avoid any misunderstandings therefore, parents of children who sustain accidental injuries which result in cuts/bruises/fractures should inform the school without delay.
Principles
Children have a right to be safe.
Parents have a right to be informed.
Children are best protected when parents and school can work together.
Partnership
School will inform parents of any concerns about their children (providing it does not compromise the pupil’s safety) and will help and support them as necessary.
Prevention
School will take positive action to prevent children suffering abuse and neglect through the development of an open culture that informs children of their rights and encourages them to speak about any concerns. The school will also address the issue of children’s safety through the curriculum.
Responding to Concerns
School will refer all allegations or concerns that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected to Social Care within the Children’s Services Department. School will consult with other agencies when it has concerns that a child may have been abused or neglected. School will discuss with parents any concerns they have about children. Parents will be kept informed of what has happened.
Child/Child Abuse
Physical and emotional abuse of children by other children will be dealt with through the school’s anti-bullying policy. Parents will be kept informed. All concerns about possible sexual abuse will be referred to Social Care.
Child Protection Conferences
School will attend conferences and provide information about children and families. This information will be shared with parents beforehand. School will keep confidential child protection records separately from a pupil’s academic and other school records.
Confidentiality
Information from parents about possible child abuse cannot be kept confidential. Information and records about children on the Child Protection Register will be given only to those people who need it and will be kept strictly confidential by them.
Please see the Safeguarding Policy available below:
Safeguarding Children & Encompass
BURY ENCOMPASS COMMITMENT
As part of Tottington High School’s commitment to keeping children safe we have signed up to implement the principles and aims of the Encompass Model.
In signing up to Encompass the Governing Body and Senior Leadership Team:
- Endorse the Encompass Model and support the Key Adults in our school to fulfil the requirements of the Bury Encompass Protocol.
- Promote and implement Bury Encompass processes and use these in accordance with internal safeguarding children processes.
- Recognise the sensitive nature of the information provided and ensure that this is retained in accordance with the principles of data protection.
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
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