• Child Protection Policy
      • Prevention
      • Recognition
      • Response/Referral
      • Confidentiality
• Anti Bullying Policy
      • Code of Conduct
      • Disciplinary Steps
      • Responses and Sanctions


Child Protection Policy

As a staff in Portadown Integrated Primary school, we are aware of our pastoral responsibility towards the children in our care. These children have a fundamental right to be protected from harm. This Child Protection Policy is linked to our Pastoral Care Policy and reflects both legal and pastoral responsibilities. The policy will set out clearly the procedures to be followed in cases of suspected abuse. The purpose of the procedures in Child Protection is to protect our pupils by ensuring that everyone who works in the school- teachers, non-teaching staff and volunteers - has a clear guidance on the detection and inter agency management of situations where abuse or neglect is suspected.
The principles and philosophy that underpin our work with children are those set out in the “UN Convention on the Rights of the Child” (UK Agreement in 1991) and enshrined in the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (effective from November 1996) and Human Rights Act 1998. In particular the principle we support is that every child has the fundamental right to be safe from harm and with proper care given to their physical, emotional, spiritual well being, by those looking after them.

The following principle form the basis for effective child protection activity and
underpin the guidance which we follow:

1. The child’s welfare must always be paramount; this over-rides all other considerations. Where a child is disabled or has special needs these must be taken into consideration.
2. A proper balance must be struck between protecting children and respecting the rights and needs of parents and families; but where there is conflict, the child’s interests must always come first.
3. Children have a right to be heard, to be listened to and to be taken seriously. Taking account of their age and understanding, they should be consulted and involved in all matters and decisions which may affect their lives. Where a child has a disability, specialist assistance should be sought to achieve this.
4. Parents/carers have a right to respect and should be consulted and involved in matters that affect their family.

This ethos is reflected in all actions and decisions taken by staff as they follow the detailed guidance set out in the SELB Child Protection Procedures, DENI Circular 1999/10. Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 Guidance and the Southern Area Child Protection Committee Procedures.

Context
In line with advice from SELB, the school will ensure that specific procedures are followed in the event of a member of staff becoming concerned about the abuse of a child. Staff will not try to investigate, but will immediately inform the Designated teacher or deputy Designated teacher about their concerns. Staff will not keep to themselves any information about abuse that a child gives them; they are required by law to pass this information.
Any information gathered by the school itself will not be considered as proof of abuse.

Procedures
Portadown Integrated Primary School recognise their five main responsibilities in the areas of Child Protection. These are in the areas of prevention, recognition, response, referral and confidentiality/record keeping. Parents will be made aware our responsibilities and procedures and we hope they will support us in our practice.

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1.Prevention
We offer a supportive environment to children who are being abused, have been
abused and may be abused in the future. All young people are vulnerable.

The school has developed and provides a “child protection ethos” and a preventative curriculum. We offer children an alternative model to violent or abusive behaviour and alternative methods of responding. We aim to involve the whole school in creating a “listening school”.

The school offers protection on two levels:

1. Immediate protection – creating a listening environment that makes it easier for children to share their concerns
2. Long term protection, enhancing self-esteem and encourage social skills, breaking the cycle of abusive behaviour

PROGRAMME ON PERSONAL PROTECTION.

The Board of Governors ensures that the curriculum includes a programme for children on personal protection. Where it is appropriate to deliver sex education, management will ensure the programme is consistent with the Department of Education’s circular on this topic.

CODE OF CONDUCT
We ensure that persons beyond the school staff who are invited to be involved as helpers/leaders on educational visits, residential visits, or other out of school educational activities are subject to vetting procedures in keeping with current arrangements for the care and protection of children.

We will ensure that we will provide effective management for our staff through adequate training and supervision.

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2.Recognition
We use the following definitions for Child Abuse:

Neglect – the persistent or significant neglect of a child, or the failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger, including cold or starvation, or persistent failure to carry out important aspects of care, resulting in the significant impairment of the child’s health or development, including non-organic failure to thrive.

Physical - physical injury to a child, whether deliberately inflicted or knowingly not prevented.

Sexual – the sexual exploitation of a child for an adult’s or young person’s own sexual gratification; the involvement of children in sexual activities or any kind (including exposure to pornography) which they do not understand, to which they are unable to give informed consent or that violate normal family roles.

Emotional – persistent or significant emotional ill treatment or rejection, resulting in severe adverse effects on the emotional, physical and/or behavioural development of the child.

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3/4.Response / Referral
Procedures for reporting suspected (or disclosed) child abuse.

The designated member of staff for child protection is Miss Nicola Wright (Pastoral Care Teacher). In her absence, Mrs. Claire Newell will assume responsibility for child protection matters
   
In the event of an allegation of child abuse the member of staff will:

• Listen to the child and accept what is said
• Record statements
• Explain what they have to do next and to whom they have to talk to
• Reassure the child they have done the right thing to talk about it
• Refer information to the designated member of staff

• Member of staff and designated teacher will discuss the concern and make a written report
• The designated teacher, deputy designated teacher, Principal and/or Chair of the Board of Governors meet and plan an appropriate course of action. Advice may be sought from the many outside agencies
• Parents will be informed immediately unless there is concern that the parent is the abuser

One or more of the following actions will be affected as appropriate to the specific concerns

• The member of staff and/or Designated teacher will talk further with the child in an attempt to reassure the child and simply clarify and record what has happened (this will not involve detailed investigation or interpretation; no promise of confidentiality will be given)
• Where there are concerns about possible abuse, the matter will be referred to the SELB’s Designated Officer and to Social Services. The Care Unit of the PSNI will be contacted if there is suspicion of physical or sexual abuse.

Allegations against a Member of Staff
If a complaint about possible child abuse is made against a member of staff, the Principal (or the designated member of staff, if he is not available) must be informed immediately. The above procedures will apply. The chairperson of the Board of Governors will be informed immediately.

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Allegations against the Principal
If a complaint is made against the Principal, the designated teacher (or her deputy, if she is not available) must be informed immediately. She will inform the Chairperson of the Board of Governors and together they will ensure that the necessary action is taken.

Allegations against the Designated Teacher
Any complaints must be referred to the Principal.

Suspension from duties
Where the matter is referred to Social Services, the member of staff will be removed from duties involving direct contact with pupils, and may be suspended from duty as a precautionary measure pending investigation by Social Services.

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5.Confidentiality and Record Keeping
For reasons of confidentiality the only people who need to know are:

• Mr. Fergal Magee – Principal
• Miss. Nicola Wright – Designated Teacher
• Mrs. Claire Newell – Deputy Designated Teacher
• Mrs. Claire Martin – Chairperson of the Board of Governors

All records, information and confidential notes are kept in separate files in a locked cabinet. These only identify the child by their initials and date of birth. These records are kept separate from any other files, which is held on the child.

Where an allegation is made against a member of staff and is pursued either as a formal referral or under the school’s disciplinary procedures, a summary is entered on a Record of Abuse Complaints. This entry, which will contain details of the complaint, will be made available to the Board of Governors.

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CODE OF CONDUCT

Staff  In-Service
Portadown Integrated Primary School is committed to in-service training for all staff. Each member of staff will receive general training on Policy and Procedures and records kept of staff attendance at training. However, if any member of staff has concerns about a child or is unsure what to do they must contact the Designated teacher immediately.

Parent’s Role
Parents are very much part of the school and if they feel there is any cause for concern about their or another child they should follow the procedures below:

Monitoring and Evaluation
This Policy and Procedures will be updated in the light of any further guidance and legislation as necessary, and reviewed annually. Participation and consultation with children and parents will be undertaken and the Board of Governors will receive a termly report on the application of the Child Protection Procedures. On-going evaluation will ensure the effectiveness of the policy.

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Anti Bullying Policy

Mission Statement.

It is a primary aim at Portadown Integrated Primary School that every member of the school community feels valued and respected, and that each person is treated fairly and well. We are a caring community, whose values are built on mutual trust and respect for all. The school’s anti-bullying policy is therefore designed to support the way in which all members of the school can live and work together in a positive way. It aims to promote an environment where everyone feels happy, safe and secure.

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Evidence of Consultation

We believe that all people in the school community should be consulted whilst creating this policy. As part of the consultation a school survey was used and distributed to parents, all staff and children. This allowed everyone to feel respected and valued.
Outside agencies, i.e. Parent/Pupil Development Team and Class Acts were invited into school to work with the children in the form of workshops and drama. After discussions at a staff meeting the school held an anti-bullying week. Finally the Governors discussed the policy and any further ideas were included.

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Bullying takes on many different forms.

• Physical Attack: These would include pushing, hitting, hair pulling, spitting, tripping and fighting.
• Verbal Abuse: This would include name-calling, commenting on clothing, commenting on parents and family life, shouting insults, daring pupils or making threats etc.
• Looks: These would include threatening or menacing looks, daring looks.
• Exclusion: This would include the isolation of a pupil, turning others against a pupil or group of pupils, telling stories to effect relationships and spreading rumours.
• Extortion: This includes terrorising by demanding money, food etc
• E- Bullying: This includes nasty text messages and e-mails.

If unchecked, bullying can be profoundly damaging to the victim in both the short and longer term, emotionally, physically or both and can seriously disrupt or impair the capacity to learn and develop. Symptoms may include behaviour change such as withdrawal, lack of concentration, marked deterioration in schoolwork or absenteeism.

We will be particularly aware of complaints of bullying for a reason related to a child’s disability.

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Aims and objectives of our anti-bullying policy

We believe that all pupils have the right to learn in an environment which is free from intimidation and fear.

Accordingly, we will work to create an environment within which positive relationships will be fostered and violent behaviour of any sort will be unacceptable.

Within such an environment, bullying behaviour cannot be tolerated.

Should bullying occur, the needs of the victims of bullying will be paramount, and the school will take reasonable measures to ensure the situation is resolved and will not reoccur.

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Preventative strategies

As teachers, we have a responsibility to keep pupils safe from harm and provide a secure learning environment.  It is vital that we should act promptly and firmly to combat bullying whenever and wherever it occurs. We believe the implementation of preventative measure will help reduce the incidence of bullying behaviour. We will take the following steps:

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• Tell someone if they are being bullied, no one deserves to be bullied.
• Stay with a group of friends at break and dinnertime.
• If they don’t have anyone to play with children can go to a “Buddy Circle” and a Buddy will look after them.
• If something occurs on the playground they should confidently walk away and tell either a supervisory assistant or a teacher immediately.
• Children can raise issues of concern either through the Student council or by leaving a message in the “Anti - Bullying Box”
• Agree to Classroom and playground rules.

It is integral in our school policy that both pupils and parents should be made aware of how they bring their concerns about bullying to the attention of the staff in complete confidence.

Each incident will be taken seriously, carefully investigated and, if substantiated, acted upon.

The designated teacher/Principal should always report back to parents on the steps taken by the school in response to an expressed concern about bullying.

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Curriculum
The Curriculum can be used to raise awareness about bullying and the anti-bullying policy. It is essential that there is an increased understanding for victims and all staff will help to build an anti-bullying ethos within the school environment.  It is important that pupils are encouraged to cooperate and constructively manage their relationships with others in Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and other curricular activities, particularly in the upper primary.

Primary 7 children have the opportunity to avail of the Citizenship and Safety Education (CASE) Programme.

Assemblies will be used to reinforce the anti-bullying theme and outside agencies and support services may be invited to participate. 

Playtime provision
Teaching and Non – teaching staff promote positive play during break and dinnertime.  Playground toys and equipment are provided. A playground “Buddy” system has been established and any child who feels lonely or isolated can go to a “Buddy Circle” and a Buddy will come and help them.

All members of staff are fully aware of the strategies that are in place for dealing with incidents of bullying.

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Code of Conduct

Children
Children have an entitlement to be educated in an environment, which is safe, caring and respectful of their individual needs.
Children have a responsibility to treat all other children, teachers and other staff with respect. They have a responsibility to refrain from engaging in bullying behaviour and to report it if they are aware of it occurring.

Teachers will take everything seriously and will deal with bullies in a way which is hoped will end the bullying and will not make things worse.

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Parents/Guardians
Parents have an entitlement to expect that their child will be educated in an environment that is safe, caring and respectful of their individual needs. Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their child co-operates with teachers, other staff and other children. Parents have a responsibility to inform the school of any incidents of bullying which they are aware of. Every report will be dealt with individually, sensitively and in confidence. The school will take appropriate action in line with school policy.
Where bullying is suspected, parents are encouraged to work in partnership with the school and keep in regular contact regarding their child’s welfare.

Teachers and Other Staff
Teachers and other adults in the school community have an entitlement to work in an environment, which is characterised by respect and caring for all.
Teachers and other adults in the school community have a responsibility to contribute to the creation of such an environment and to work for the well being of all the pupils.
All adults will treat bullying as a serious offence and take every possible action to eradicate it from our school. Every complaint will be dealt with quickly, firmly and fairly.
All adults will maintain a firm but fair discipline structure with rules that are few, simple and easy to understand. Children will be encouraged to treat everyone with respect.

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Disciplinary Steps

1. Bullies will be warned officially to stop offending by the designated teacher, class teacher, supervisory assistant or principal and notified that a record has been made of the incident in the report file.

2. The parents/guardians of bullies will be informed if it is a persistent or serious matter.

3. If the problem persists, bullies may be withdrawn from peer contact at break/lunch time and will be placed under the supervision of a senior supervision, teacher or the principal.

4. Disciplinary procedures outlined in the Discipline Policy will be followed and may ultimately result in the suspension of the bully.

5. The Board of Governors will be informed and may consider more serious sanctions such as expulsion.

Advice and support may be sought at anytime from outside agencies, including the Education Welfare Officer, Behaviour Management Team, the Educational Psychology Service and Education Officer. In most cases, the school will seek to deal with the situation from within its own resources.

When a pupil’s bullying behaviour is persistent and defies attempts by the school to address it satisfactorily by behaviour management strategies or disciplinary methods within a reasonable time, the child protection procedures should be instigated. The victim’s needs should always be paramount.

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Responses and Sanctions

Each case of bullying will be dealt with individually and follow-up action will be tailored to meet the individual needs of the pupils involved. 

All staff have agreed the following steps

• Individual teachers record incidences of concern in “behaviour book”.
• Teachers regularly review behaviour book and report any issues of concern to management e.g. if a pattern of behaviour is developing.
• Serious incidences will be referred to the principal and the designated teacher immediately. Children involved will be interviewed and a record made using the Bullying Incident Report as in Appendix. Parents of all children involved will be informed of the schools action and will be kept informed of subsequent actions.
• The designated teacher in conjunction with the Principal, class teacher and children involved will agree a plan to resolve any bullying situation.  Support measures will be provided for the child/children involved and the situation will be monitored and reviewed within a given timescale.
• If parents raise a concern about bullying the class teacher will make a note and refer the matter to the principal and the designated teacher who will investigate further. Parents will be given a time and date when they can discuss matter with principal.
• Sanctions will be in line with school Discipline policy.  In the event of a serious incident sanctions, which are deemed, appropriate, will be applied immediately.

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Links with other policies.

Our Anti Bullying policy will be implemented in conjunction with other relevant school policies, in particular the Discipline, Pastoral Care and Child Protection policies. 

Monitoring and review of policy.

Implementation of the policy will be monitored by the principal and the designated teacher for child protection. This policy will be formally evaluated and reviewed at regular intervals.