Childcare

Policies which safeguard

Schools must develop a range of policies which ensure the safety, security and well-being of their pupils. These will set out the responsibilities of staff and the procedures that they must follow. Policies may be separate or incorporated into one health and safety policy, but they must include sections which cover the following issues of:

● safeguarding and protecting, and procedures for reporting
● e-safety
● bullying, including cyber-bullying

All adults within the school have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children. There must also be a named member of staff with particular responsibilities for safeguarding children and for e-safety.

Schools have a responsibility to:

• develop children’s awareness and their knowledge of what is acceptable and not acceptable behaviour, including when using the Internet

• know, support and protect children who are identified as being at greater risk – that is, on the ‘at risk register’

• provide opportunities for professional training of all staff relating to Safeguarding

• put into place policies and security systems for e-learning activities, for example, provide training for children and use filtering software

• observe for signs that abuse may be happening, changes in children’s behaviour or failure to thrive, and refer any concerns

• monitor, keep records and share appropriate information with other agencies.

The Department for Education (DfE) provides guidance for local authorities including schools. Schools use this guidance to develop their own policy and procedures which must be followed. Two of these are listed below.

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006)

This is guidance which sets out the duties of organisations and how they must work together to safeguard children and young people.

What to do if you’re worried that a child is being abused (2006)

This is guidance to help those working with children safeguard and promote their...