Sir Harry Smith Community College fully recognises the responsibility it has under section 175/176 of the Education Act 2002 to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.

Through their day-to-day contact with students and direct work with families, staff at the College have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect and referring them to the appropriate agency, normally the appropriate Child and Family Team (Social Services).

The school will be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LCSB) procedure to ensure that the children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.

Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy sets out how the College’s Governing Body discharges its statutory responsibilities relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are students at the College.

There are four main elements to our policy:

• PREVENTION through the teaching and pastoral support offered to students and the creation and maintenance of a whole College protective ethos
• PROCEDURES for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
• SUPPORT TO STUDENTS who may have been abused.
• PREVENTING UNSUITABLE PEOPLE WORKING WITH CHILDREN

Our policy applies to all staff and volunteers working in the College including community education staff and governors. Teaching assistants, mid-day supervisors, secretaries as well as teachers can be the first point of disclosure for young people. Concerned parents may also contact the College and its Governors.

Parents/carers should know that the law requires all college staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. It is the college’s duty make parents/carers aware that records of welfare concerns may be kept about their child. College staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies. However, in situations where the child is suspected to be at risk of harm, the law says that schools/colleges may take advice from other agencies without informing parents/carers.

In accordance with local Information Sharing Protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.

The college will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the college with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Person for Child Protection) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.

Schools will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents will appreciate that the designated person for child protection was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.

Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, schools or any person who has care of a child “may do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the police investigate any concerns further.

Click here for more information on E- Safetyhere

A full copy of the College Child Protection Policy is available on request or alternatively can  be downloaded here

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