Safeguarding Children & Child Protection Policy

Education Act 2002

Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 requires local education authorities and governing bodies of maintained schools and FE colleges to make arrangements to ensure that their functions are carried out with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.  In addition, those bodies must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State in considering what arrangements they need to make for the purpose of that section.  (Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education. ECM 2006).

All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential.  The five outcomes that are key to children’s and young people’s wellbeing are:

• Stay safe
• Be healthy
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic wellbeing

The school should give effect to their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils (students under the age of 18 years of age) under the Education Act 2002 and , where appropriate, under the Children Act 1989 by:

• Creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for children and young people.
• Identifying where there are child welfare concerns and taking action to address them in partnership with other organisations where appropriate.

(Working Together to Safeguard Children – ECM 2006 page 66)

The Designated Person

Schools should have a senior member of staff who is designated to take lead responsibility for dealing with child protection issues, providing advice and support to other staff, liaising with the Authority and working with other organisations as necessary and should remedy without delay any deficiencies or weaknesses in its arrangements for safeguarding and promoting welfare that are brought to its attention.

The Designated Person for this school is Mrs Sue Gilbertson.

Information for Parents

Internet and e-mail

Our policy on children’s use of the internet is available on request. Please read it and discuss this with your child.

Use of children’s names and images in the local press and on our school website

A letter is issued every September where parents/guardians who do not want their child’s name or image to be used in this way are given the opportunity to advise us of this

Complaints procedure

If you are concerned about anything relating to your child’s education and welfare, the first person you should speak to is always his/her class teacher.  Having done this, you may decide that certain concerns need to be brought to the attention of the Headteacher.

It might be necessary for you to contact the Chair of Governors and, ultimately, Children’s Services at Bootle Town Hall.