1. ST. ANNE’S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
with Business & Enterprise Status
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY 2013 - 14
_____________________________________________________________________
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012

2. CONTENTS
PAGE
Mission Statement
3
Responsibilities for Child Protection
4
Confidentiality
6
1:1 Working with Students Good Practice
6
Communication to Students and Parent/Carers
7
Use of digital images - photography and video
7
Supporting Staff
8
Allegations Against Staff
8
Whistleblowing
8
Physical Intervention
9
Bullying
9
Health and Safety
9
e-Safety
9
Child Protection Practice
9
Advice to Staff
10
Student Confidentiality
10
Appendix A: Glossary
10
Appendix B: The principles and parameters
of a good assessment
13
Arrangements for Monitoring and Evaluation
14
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
2

3. Mission Statement
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls will offer a positive presence in
Enfield with a comprehensive curriculum delivered in modern facilities,
equipping students with the ability to meet the challenges of the 21 st
Century confidently, and with high spiritual and moral standards.
We recognise that students, parents, staff and governors make up the
school’s community which will continually self evaluate to improve itself
effectively and efficiently in all aspects of its growth.
We are a fully inclusive, Roman Catholic girls’ secondary school
meeting high academic standards, promoting spirituality, pastoral care
and the Roman Catholic community.
We recognise in all our relationships the dignity and value of each
person showing one another mutual acceptance and respect.
Send us your Holy Spirit Lord,
To guide us in our work and play
As we grow up may we remain
Near to you at all times and
Never go astray so that
Each day we may increase in love of you and others.
AMEN
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
3

4. Safeguarding children - the action we take to promote the welfare
of children and protect them from harm - is everyone’s
responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children
and families has a role to play. (Working Together to Safeguard
Children - A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and
promote the welfare of children, March 2013)
Responsibilities for Child Protection
St. Anne’s 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:
•
•
•
•
•
Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of
staff and volunteers to work with children (this includes the
management of the Single Central Register and ensuring that relevant
staff have attended and refreshed as guided safer recruitment training.
Raising awareness of child protection issues and educating students
with the skills needed to keep them safe.
Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and
reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
Supporting students in accordance with support plans written by
children’s social care services.
Establishing a safe environment in which our students can learn and
develop.
We recognise that through the day to day contact with children, adults in
school are well placed to observe signs of abuse.
We recognise that children who are a Child Protection concern may find it
difficult to develop a sense of self -worth and that school may be the only
stable, secure and predictable environment in the lives of children at risk.
When at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or
withdrawn.
The school will therefore:
•
•
•
Maintain an environment where our students feel secure, are
encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
Ensure that our students know that all adults in the school can be
approached if they feel they or another child may be at risk of harm.
Include opportunities in the curriculum for our students to develop the
skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.
We follow the procedures set out by:
Working Together to Safeguard Children - A guide to inter-agency working to
safeguard and promote the welfare of children, March 2013, which is used by
the London Borough of Enfield, Local Safeguarding Children’s’ Board.
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
4

5. Jennifer Gumbrell, Deputy Headteacher is the designated senior person for
child protection and has completed the London Borough of Enfield bi-annual
training for this role. Katherine Hyland, Assistant Headteacher responsibility for
maintaining staff training records relating to Child Protection and for coordinating staff induction.
Our KS 3,4 and 5 Achievement Leaders also complete the London Borough of
Enfield bi-annual training to support their role and associated responsibilities.
•
Gwen Fisher is our nominated
safeguarding and child protection.
child
protection
governor
•
We ensure that every member of staff and all school Governor’s know
the name of the Designated Senior Person, and others with specific
responsibilities for child protection.
•
We ensure that all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities
in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any
concerns to the designated senior person responsible for child
protection.
•
All staff in school receive Child Protection training once every 3 years
(which is of approximately 3 hours of content).
•
All staff have annual Child Protection updating in relation to roles and
responsibilities in school. All staff joining the school receive Child
protection information as part of their induction training.
•
Following annual Child Protection updating all staff sign a confirmation
sheet that they have heard/read and understand their responsibilities
relating to Child Protection Practice.
•
To ‘quality assure’ the impact of our Child Protection training we take
the opportunity of using INSET days and other staff forums to revisit
aspects of Child Protection.
•
Display in school for colleagues and students includes named
designated staff for Child Protection.
•
We ensure that parents, carers and visitors have an understanding of
the responsibility placed on the school and staff for child protection
through communication at transition evenings. Our CP policy is
available to view on our school website.
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
for
5

6. •
We have a Visitors Child Protection Statement which is given to visitors
on arrival to the school.
•
We develop and maintain effective links with relevant agencies and
co-operate as required with child protection related matters, including
‘hypothetical’ conversation, referrals to children’s social care,
attendance to case conferences and report and information sharing.
•
We maintain written records relating to child protection.
•
We ensure all records are kept secure, separate from the main student
file, and in locked locations.
•
We follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member
of staff or volunteer.
•
We ensure that safe recruitment practices are followed in line with the
London Borough of Enfield Safer Recruitment Training and Guidance.
•
We ensure that transition information for students is sought and
transferred effectively.
Confidentiality
•
•
•
We recognise the necessity for confidentiality relating to Child
Protection.
Information shared inside school and with external agencies will be on a
need to know basis and appropriate to the role of the adult.
All staff will be made aware of their individual role in relation to student
confidentiality and the sharing of concerns and information.
1:1 Working with Students Good Practice
All colleagues should be very aware of their behaviour, words and body
language when working with or having a conversation with a student in a
1:1environment. It is very important that colleagues do not place themselves
in a situation which could make them and/or a student vulnerable and which
could lead to misunderstanding or allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
If a colleague is with a student in a 1:1 situation in an office there should be a
window in the door. This also applies to a classroom environment. If a
classroom does not have a window then the door should be open and the
student and adult clearly visible.
*
We currently have some areas of the school in which students and
colleagues work in a 1:1 situation of which there is not a window in the door.
This is an area of school improvement that we are working towards achieving.
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
6

7. Communication to Students and Parent/Carers
Students are informed at the beginning of each school year which staff
member is responsible for overseeing Child Protection Concerns for their year
group. They are also informed of the staff member(s) with whole school
responsibility. Students are advised to speak to an appropriate adult in school
if they have a concern, but also that it could be an adult that is not directly
responsible for Child Protection but who they trust in school.
There is information displayed for students to see in school and for parents in
school and on our school website which supports this.
Use of digital images - photography and video
The information below is sent to all new parent/carers when their daughter
joins the school with confirmation returned in the form of an agreement slip
signed by the parent/carer.
To comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, we need your permission before
we can photograph or make recordings of your daughter.
We follow the following rules for any external use of digital images:
If the student is named, we avoid using their photograph.
If their photograph is used, we avoid naming the student.
Where showcasing examples of students work we only use their first names,
rather than their full names.
If showcasing digital video work to an external audience, we take care to
ensure that students aren't referred to by name on the video, and that
students’ full names aren't given in credits at the end of the film.
Only images of students in suitable dress are used.
Staff should not allowed to take photographs or videos on their personal
equipment.
Examples of how digital photography and video may be used include:
•
Your child being photographed (by the classroom teacher, teaching
assistant or another child) as part of a learning activity; e.g.
photographing children at work and then sharing the pictures on the
Interactive whiteboard in the classroom allowing the children to see
their work and make improvements.
•
Your child’s image for presentation purposes around the school; e.g. in
school wall displays and PowerPoint presentations to capture images
around the school or in the local area as part of a project or lesson.
•
Your child’s image being used in a presentation about the school and its
work in order to share its good practice and celebrate its achievements,
which is shown to other parents, schools or educators; e.g. within a
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
7

8. CDROM / DVD or a document sharing good practice; in our school
prospectus or on our school website. In rare events, your child’s could
appear in the media if a newspaper photographer or television film
crew attend an event.
Note: If we, or you, actually wanted your child’s image linked to their name
we would contact you separately for permission, e.g. if your child won a
national competition and wanted to be named in local or government
literature.
Further information for parents on e-Safety can be found at:
http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/usingcomputersandtheinternet/linksbytopic/
Supporting Staff
We recognise that staff working in the school who have been involved with a
student who has suffered harm, or appears to be likely to suffer harm may find
the situation stressful and upsetting. We will support staff by providing an
opportunity to talk with the Child Protection lead professional in regards to
their own feelings, or signpost to appropriate counselling services. This is
communicated to all staff annually and in relation to situations when they
occur.
Allegations Against Staff
The school will follow: Working Together to Safeguard Children - A guide to
inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children,
March 2013,
•
If an allegation is made, the member of staff receiving the allegation will
immediately inform the Child Protection lead professional and
Headteacher who will on all such occasions discuss the content of the
allegation with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
•
If the allegation made to a member of staff concerns the Headteacher,
the Child Protection lead professional will immediately inform the Chair
of Governors who will consult with the Local Authority Designated Officer
(LADO).
Whistleblowing
We recognise that children cannot be expected to raise concerns in an
environment in which staff fail to do so.
All staff should be aware of their duty to raise concerns, where they exist,
about the attitude or actions of colleagues. This duty is emphasised as part of
staff induction training and as an annual CP briefing to all staff; as well as in
Child Protection Training.
This policy clearly outlines the staff members in school to whom colleagues
can speak to with concerns. In addition to this there is also a school
Whistleblowing Policy and Guidance which colleagues can refer to if they do
not feel that a concern has not been adequately listened to or acted upon in
school.
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
8

9. Physical Intervention
•
•
Policy on physical intervention by staff is set out in a separate policy and
acknowledges that staff must only ever use physical intervention as a
last resort, and that at all times it must be the minimal force necessary to
prevent injury to another person.
We understand that physical intervention of a nature which causes injury
or distress to a child may be considered under child protection or
disciplinary procedures.
Bullying
Anti-Bullying policy and practice acknowledges that to allow or condone
bullying may lead to consideration under child protection procedures.
Health & Safety
Health & Safety and Trips and Visits policy reflects the consideration we give
to the protection of our children both within and outside of the school
environment.
e-Safety
e-Safety policy and practice relating to Child Protection is outlined in our
separate school safety policy.
Child Protection Practice
Jennifer Gumbrell is the senior designated lead professional with whole school
responsibility for Child Protection. Her role is to oversee and ensure that the
co-ordination of school action follows stated policy and practice.
We are aware of the London Borough of Enfield Guidance that all school staff
should receive 3 yearly INSET relating to Child Protection of 3 hours content.
This training is taking place in February 2012.
Each Achievement Leader is responsible for the CP caseload and related
matters for the students in their year group. Our Key Stage Achievement
Leaders attend the London Borough of Enfield Bi-annual Child Protection
Training. This ensures that there is always a colleague with this level of
expertise on each site (we are a split site school).
Our school Inclusion Manager is involved in Child Protection concern and
action in relation to students who are on the school SEN register and for
Children Looked After (CLA).
Colleagues liaise and plan with the senior delegated lead professional for
Child Protection to ensure a consistent whole school approach in the
safeguarding of our students.
Confidential information relating to Child protection concerns, referrals,
reports and actions is stored separately from main student files in locked
accommodation on our lower and upper site.
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
9

10. The lead professional for Child Protection ensures that information held for
students is transferred from lower to upper site as students move from year 910.
Advice to Staff regarding any CP concerns:
The advice given to all staff annually is:
If you are in any way concerned about a conversation that you have had or
an observation that you have made with a student or parent/carer that you
feel might be a Child Protection concern you must act on it:
Trust your feelings.
Speak to the appropriate Achievement leader or Senco initially.
If they (or you) continue to have concern complete a CP concern form. This
can be found in a clearly labelled drawer in both staffrooms. Forward the
form in a confidential way to the relevant Achievement Leader, Inclusion
Manager or Jennifer Gumbrell.
The CP concern form does not replace a conversation but is necessary in
terms of maintaining student records and vital if a referral to social services is
going to be made as result of the concern.
Student Confidentiality
Do not offer student confidentiality. You will not be able to do this and
perform your part in safeguarding our students and being professional (and
the student is likely to feel further down the line that you have betrayed her!)
You could say something like: ‘I can’t promise you that I won’t speak to
anyone else about this; but I do promise that I will only tell the people who
need to be told’.
The following terms of reference and information are from: Working Together
to Safeguard Children - A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and
promote the welfare of children, March 2013
Appendix A: Glossary
Children
Anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday.
The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is
in further education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital or in
custody in the secure estate, does not change his/her status or entitlements
to services or protection.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
Defined for the purposes of this guidance as:
 protecting children from maltreatment;
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
10

11.  preventing impairment of children's health or development;
 ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the
provision of safe and effective care; and
 taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.
Child protection
Part of safeguarding and promoting welfare.
This refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who
are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.
Abuse
A form of maltreatment of a child.
Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to
act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional
or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others (e.g.
via the internet). They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child
or children.
Physical abuse
A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning,
burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm
to a child.
Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the
symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.
Emotional abuse
The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and
persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved,
inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.
It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views,
deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they
communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate
expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that
are beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection
and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child
participating in normal social interaction.
It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve
serious bullying (including cyber bullying), causing children frequently to feel
frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some
level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child,
though it may occur alone.
Sexual abuse
Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual
activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the
child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical
contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or
non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
11

12. outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as
involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images,
watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually
inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including
via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males.
Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
Neglect
The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological
needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or
development.
Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance
abuse.
Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:
 provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from
home or abandonment);
 protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger;
 ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers);
or
 ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also
include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Young carers
Are children and young persons under 18 who provide or intend to provide
care assistance or support to another family member.
They carry out on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks and
assume a level of responsibility, which would usually be associated with an
adult.
The person receiving care is often a parent but can be a sibling, grandparent
or other relative who is disabled, has some chronic illness, mental health
problem or other condition connected with a need for care support or
supervision.
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
12

13. Appendix B:
The principles and parameters of a good assessment
From: Working Together to Safeguard Children - A guide to inter-agency
working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, March 2013
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
13

14. ARRANGEMENTS FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION:
DATE ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNING BODY: (ADOPTED)
Annual
October 2008
DATE REVIEWED
Sep 2013
DATE OF NEXT REVIEW
Sep 2014
RESPONSIBILITY
Designated Child Protection Lead
St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls – Child Protection Policy – Reviewed March 2012
14