• A trained Designated Teacher for Child Protection. (Where a designated teacher is not appointed, the head teacher is required to take on that role)
• Arrangements to ensure that all school staff should be aware of the Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) Procedures.
• A set of internal procedures for handling suspected cases of abuse in line with ACPC/LEA Procedures.
• A Child Protection Policy which is known to parents. (I..e. in the school brochure).

The LEA is required to:

• Identify a Designated Teacher for Child Protection.
• Keep a record of all Designated Teachers.
• Work within the ACPC Procedures and to provide detailed LEA procedures.
• Establish recognised training for Designated Teachers.
• Provide financial assistance for teacher cover to enable a school representative to attend a child protection conference in respect of a child in their school.

This paper covers the following as a guidance to schools.

• A Statement for the school brochure/prospectus.
• School Policy.
• Staff Handbook.
• The Child Protection Conference.
• Children on the Child Protection Register.
• Child Protection Assessments.
• The School Curriculum.
• Record Keeping
• The Designated Teacher
• Funding
• School Inspection
• Allegations against School Staff
• Designated Teacher training.

One way of informing all parents/carers of pupils in the school would be to make a statement in the school prospectus. The following is an example in line with "Working Together".

SCHOOL POLICY (see examples)

A school policy needs to incorporate the following:

• Acknowledgement and acceptance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the principles of the Children Act (1989) and Human Rights Act.
• Adherence to the Norfolk Area Child Protection Committee Procedures.
• Acquisition of relevant information skills and attitudes to help pupils, through the curriculum and pastoral system, to resist abuse and prepare for the responsibilities of adult life.

The handbook should give clear guidance to all staff, include non teaching staff what to do should a child disclosure abuse or the member of staff suspect abuse.

A checklist for school guidelines need to stress the following:

• Be alert to signs of abuse and act immediately in the child’s best interest.
• Remember the priority is to protect the child.
• Never promise to keep secrets/confidentiality.
• Receive the child’s story. Listen without judging.
• Limit questioning.
• Take action – consult Designated Teacher for Child Protection (NAME). (Don’t keep things to yourself).
• Familiarise yourself with the role of the Designated Teacher and the Area Child Protection Committee Procedures.
• Remember the context of the Area Child Protection Committee (see Blue Book).
• The Designate Teacher should:-
• Be fully conversant with the Area Child Protection Committee Procedures.( see Norfolk County Council website : http://www.norfolk.gov.uk)
• Consult and refer cases to Social Services Department emphasising that the referral is Child Protection/Child in Need.
• Organise training on Child Protection within the School.
• Ensure that all staff know about and have access to the Area Child Protection Committee Procedures.
• Attend Local Authority training.
• Keep the Head informed (if appropriate).
• Be aware of the role of other agencies.
• Ensure representation/reports to Child Protection Conferences and keep appropriate records.
• Support staff.
• Ensure children on the Child Protection Register are known and that protection plans are followed and feedback given.
• Advise the Headteacher about curriculum issues.
• Monitor and evaluate Child Protection work in the school.

A Child Protection Conference is called when there has been a Child Protection Investigation (section 47). It is not a forum for a formal decision that a person has abused a child. That is a matter for the courts. However, conferences must identify those adults who present, or are thought to present risks to the child in order that these risks may be addressed within the Child Protection Plan (pages 27 –30 in ACPC Blue Book).

• Representatives from Social Services, Health, Police, Education (usually School and Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service where appropriate), Parent/Carer and other professional personnel as invited by the Chairperson.
• A representative from the child’s school will be required to attend and submit a report.

Child Protection Conferences are chaired by an independent Chairperson who has received training to undertake this task. The Chairperson will write to all representatives inviting them to the conference. Each agency will be required to complete a report on the relevant form whether they attend or not and share with Parents/Carers where possible before the conference.

At the conference, facts from each agency will be shared along with information from Parents/Carers. The professional agency representatives will be asked for their views as to whether the child’s name should be placed on the Child Protection Register.

The outcome of a Child Protection Conference is to decide whether the child’s name is placed on the Child Protection Register. This will be the case if the conference decides "the child is at continuing risk of significant harm" (page 28).

If the decision is to place the child’s name on the Register, then a Child Protection Plan will be made. This will include the school that the child attends (page 30).

Before attending you should prepare yourself by collecting the following:-

• Complete the Child Protection Report Form (see record keeping).
• Discuss any difficulties you may have with the Education Social Worker allocated to your school or Sue Bessey, Senior Education Social Worker.
• Collect "factual" information about the pupil.
• Decide (if you are not the Headteacher) how the school can help or contribute to a Child Protection Plan, should the conference decide to place the child’s name on the Child Protection Register.

• Area Child Protection Committee/LEA procedures.
• Your Education Social Worker or Sue Bessey.

A Child Protection Register is maintained by Social Services Department on behalf of the Area Child Protection Committee. The Register holds the names of children and young people in Norfolk who are considered to be at continuing risk of significant harm and in need of active safeguarding.

When school aged children are registered at a Child Protection Conference it is highly likely that schools will be involved in the resultant Child Protection Plan. The child’s key worker from Social Services should inform the school, if they did not attend the Child Protection Conference.

It is now extremely rare for a school not to be involved or know of a pupil in their school who is on the Child Protection Register. Where there is a concern about this matter, the school should contact the Social Services Department.

Deregistration can only take place at a subsequent Child Protection Review Conference to which the school is invited.

Monitoring could include the following;

Checking on attendance

Sudden changes in behaviour

Inability to learn/engage in education or classroom activities

Hygiene issues

Involvement/ non-involvement of parent/carer

Any information the child may give to the teacher

Other concerns such as marks and bruises

Answer to questions such as:

Does the child have school meals?

Who brings the child to school?

Schools can be requested to complete a Core Assessment on a child for the following reasons:

• As a result of an Initial Child Protection Conference – page 37.
• A direct request from the Courts – Children Act 1989 Section 37 Investigation.
• In connection with Private Law – Children Act 1989 Section 7.

In general terms schools are required to use PSE and health education to integrate child protection issues into the curriculum.

There are many resources and publications available to assist in the process, i.e. Kidscape, NSPCC packs.

The Education (School Records) Regulations 1989 exempt information relating to child protection/abuse from the requirement of disclosure. However, in cases of alleged child abuse which come to court, the court may require the school to provide its child protection records. It is therefore very important that staff distinguish between fact, observation, allegation and opinion.

• All staff are required to record accurately information that may be required in respect of child protection.
• Information should distinguish between fact and opinion.
• This information should be kept separate from the child educational records.
• The records should include precise details of date, event, action taken and be signed by the person making the record.
• When a report is required for a Child Protection Conference this should focus on the child’s educational progress and achievements, attendance, behaviour, participation, relations with other children and, where appropriate, his or her appearance. If the school has had contact with the parent, this information is also useful.
• Where a Child Protection Assessment has been commissioned the appropriate format should be used.

One of the Designated Teacher’s duties is to ensure that full and accurate records are kept and move "with the child" on transfer to another school.

Where a forwarding school it not known, the school should notify the Education Social Worker without delay.

When a child dies, the Local Education Authority may be required to carry out a Section 8 Review under the Children Act 1989. This is a multi-agency investigation to ensure that everything possible has been done to prevent the death and to ensure that each agency takes account of any lessons learned so that their procedures can be changed to help avoid any future tragedy.

The report on behalf of the Education Department is usually compiled by the Head of Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service who will require access to all school records relevant to the child in question. Schools need to remember therefore that all school records must be kept in these circumstances. Only copies of education attainment can be given to parents.

• Schools must have a named Designated Teacher.
• Where a Designated Teacher is not appointed, the Headteacher must assume this role.
• Schools are responsible for advising the Head of Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service/LEA of named Designated Teacher and any changes.
• Internally, the Designated Teacher must identify to whom referrals are made in his or her absence.

Funding for teacher cover when attending a Child Protection Conference is now available for LEA maintained schools through the LMS Scheme (Section 9.4).

Under the Education (School) Act 1992 (now the Education Act 1996) registered inspectors have to assess each school’s effectiveness in promoting the welfare, health and safety and guidance of its pupils. Inspectors will look at the school’s child protection policy and procedures as part of the process of evidence gathering for this requirement.

It is unrealistic to suggest that teachers should not touch pupils except in emergencies. Particularly with younger pupils, touching is inevitable and can give welcome reassurance. However, teachers and school staff must bear in mind that even perfectly innocent actions can sometimes be misconstrued. Children may find being touched uncomfortable or distressing for a variety of reasons. It is important for staff to be sensitive to a child’s reaction to physical contact and to act appropriately. It is important not to touch pupils however casually, in ways or on parts of the body that might be considered indecent.

Schools are reminded that in cases where a pupil makes an allegation against a member of staff, that the Area Child Protection Committee Procedures must be followed. This involves contacting the Head of Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service at County Hall in all cases. Please refer to MI sheets 74/97 & MI/42/98.

• The LEA runs a one day certificate course for Designated Teachers which is recognised by the Norfolk Area Child Protection Committee.
• Twilight sessions are arranged to cover additional information not covered in depth in the one day course.