School staff should listen to children who seek help and ensure there is private time and space for them to do so. Staff should respect student privacy but may discuss information with external agencies after getting parent permission, except in child protection cases where authorities will be contacted directly. While confidentiality is important, protecting students from abuse is the top priority so any risk must be reported to the head teacher.

1. Stronsay Junior High School
Nursery Policy
Head Teacher: Andrew King
Stronsay Junior High School, Stronsay, Orkney, KW17 2AE 01857 616 246
Confidentiality
If a child or young person seeks help, any member of staff that is approached should listen
and discuss how the school can help them in the best way. School staff should ensure
that there is time in the school day and private space within the school to enable and
encourage children and young people to approach staff about their concerns.
School staff can respect confidentiality in most situations when children and young people
seek support. Staff should be aware that pupils are entitled to their own privacy and
consider who information about the child is shared with. Volunteers to the nursery should
also respect the pupils privacy.
Information about children may be discussed with external agencies however permission
from the parents/ carers will be sought prior to these discussions occurring, the exception
to this being a child protection concern. The school in this instance may contact social
services and/or police directly in order to ensure the safety of the child.
If staff are not sure whether to keep a confidence, staff can approach the school’s Child
Protection Co-ordinator Andrew King (Head Teacher)/ Staff should explain their concern
initially without naming the child. Staff can then decide together whether the matter is a
child protection concern.
When a child or young person is at risk of abuse or neglect, confidentiality is not an
option. You must share information with the Child Protection Co-ordinator / Head
teacher, where this is necessary to protect a child or young person.
For further information see the Safe and Well resource:
http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/57346/0016229.pdf
Signed:
Date: