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| Child Protection |
Everyone who has contact with children has responsibility to protect them from harm. Monty’s Montessori school has a professional duty to protect every child’s safety and welfare and to follow legal school procedures and those of the Islington child protection committee.
We provide a safe and secure community where children feel confident to approach adults both at home and at school and share their difficulties, however minor or major. Parents/carers have primary responsibility for their children, and we aim to build a strong partnership to promote every child’s welfare and development.
The school environment has been carefully laid out so that children can be supervised at all times. The classroom is open plan and all door policies and procedures have been designed so that each child’s entrance and exit to the building can be individually monitored. The school door will only be opened to parents and prospective parents by appointment only during school hours. Children may only be collected by their parents and authorised persons or those listed in their emergency files.
Contractors and trades people will be checked for identification upon entry and will be scheduled to work on the school premises after school hours where possible. All visitors will sign the visitor’s book and be escorted whilst in the school building.
Any suspicion of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or neglect) is immediately and appropriately responded to. It is our hope that we would be able to work openly and honestly with families and through a strong partnership, address the individual circumstances that cause concern. On issues of child protection we are legally bound to work together with other agencies, but confidentiality will be maintained by those professionally involved. These agencies include, social services, Ofsted, Islington education committee and the police.
Named Persons and Their Roles
Every nursery has a named person (and deputy) who has special responsibility for child protection. At Monty’s Montessori School the named person is the principal, Carole Montana and the deputy named person is Lucy Haughian, deputy manager. They are available to give advice and support to any staff or family member who has concerns.
The Principal’s role is to ensure that both herself and the deputy receive child protection training every two years and to keep up to date with current legislation, policies and procedures. She must also ensure that all other members of staff, teaching and non-teaching receive child protection training every three years. It is also her responsibility to take all new staff through the induction process related to child protection so that all members of staff are able to recognise signs and indicators of child abuse. It is the responsibility of the principal that the policies and procedures are being adhered to by every member of staff at all times.
The principal must also be able to deduce when it is appropriate to make a referral when a concern arises. Once a child is on the child protection register and a protection plan has been implemented, the principal must continue to monitor the attendance and development of the children and families concerned. The principal’s responsibility is to release information deemed necessary to relevant members of staff with in the school regarding each case. Children’s social services will be informed by the principal if a change of school is proposed for children on the child protection register.
The principal must ensure that accurate and secure records are maintained at all times. All staff must be aware of the importance and the need to record concerns about children and know how to do this with confidence. She will also be responsible for the transfer of all records to the child’s new school.
Staff Members
Should a staff member be accused or reported abusing a child’s rights. The following procedures will be enforced.
If there is indisputable evidence, Ofsted and social services will be informed and the police will be called immediately. The staff member will be escorted off the premises and suspended until further inquiry.
If a case is reported and there is no substantial evidence, Ofsted and social services will be informed, the accusation logged and the circumstances investigated. If the staff member is found not guilty, the case will be closed. If found guilty legal action will be taken and the person in question dismissed.
Child Protection Policy
The full child protection policy is kept in the policies and procedures hand book, which is displayed in the school cloakroom and is freely available to all parents/carers and staff. There will also be a copy in the welcome pack, which is handed out to parents at the school’s induction day. |
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