Child Protection and Anti-Bullying

It is the aim of Moorfield School to ensure that all the children are happy, self-motivated, well adjusted and confident. We have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. Within this section you will be able to find our latest policies from Child Protection to Anti-Bullying.

Child Protection Policy

May 2010
Governing Body Review May 2010

Our full Child Protection Policy is also available to view here. Child Protection

Moorfield is committed to the development of good practice and sound procedures. This ensures that child protection concerns and referrals may be handled sensitively, professionally and in ways which support the needs of the child.

There are three main elements to our Child Protection policy:

  • Prevention: e.g. positive school atmosphere, teaching and pastoral, support to pupils.
  • Protection: by following agreed procedures, ensuring staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to Child Protection concerns.
  • Support: to pupils and school staff and to children who may have been abused.

We recognise that for children, high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and clear lines of communication with a trusted adult helps prevention.

We will therefore:

  • Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
  • Ensure that children know that there are adults in the school who they can approach if they are worried or are in difficulty.
  • Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities for PSHE which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse and develop realistic attitudes to life.
  • Ensure that wherever possible every effort will be made to establish effective working relationships with parents and colleagues from other agencies.
  • Child Protection - named person Headmistress, Mrs Jessica Crossley

All adults working with or on behalf of children have a responsibility to protect children. There are, however, key people within schools and the Local Education Authority who have specific responsibilities under Child Protection procedures. The names and contact details of those carrying these responsibilities for the current year are listed at the back of this document and in the staff room.

The named person is Jessica Crossley, the Governor with special responsibility is Mr Geoff Thompson. The Governing Body will conduct an annual review of both the policy and the child protection arrangements. Any deficiencies shall be remedied without delay.

We will follow the procedures set out in the document produced by the Safeguarding Group.

Parents will be informed of the school's duties and responsibilities under the Child Protection procedures by the appropriate handbook.

The only purpose of confidentiality in this respect is to benefit the child. Advice may be sought from Social Services in this regard as required. A teacher, however, must never guarantee confidentiality to a child, but inform the child that the Headmistress has to be told.

Any Child Protection procedural information will only be transferred to a named person when a child leaves Moorfield School.

Well-kept records are essential to good child protection practice. All information must be as contemporaneous as possible, include full names, times, dates, exact words used.

Child Protection records are kept by the Headmistress and not in the child's file. All records must be kept until any child involved reaches twenty-five years of age. Documents may be retained at eleven+ or subsequently be transferred to Social Services in Bradford.

Moorfield recognises that children who are abused or who witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth and to view the world in a positive way. This school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. Whilst at school, behaviour may still be challenging and defiant and there may even be moves to consider suspension from school.

It is also recognised that some children who have experience abuse may in turn abuse others. This requires a considered, sensitive approach in order that the child can receive appropriate help and support.

Moorfield will endeavour to support pupils through:

  • the curriculum to encourage self-esteem and self-motivation.
  • the school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and which give all pupils and adults a sense of being respected and valued.
  • a consistent approach, which recognises and separates the cause of behaviour from that which the child displays.
  • regular liaison with other professionals and agencies.

This policy should be considered alongside other related policies and documents available in school, e.g. Behaviour, Bullying, Special Educational Needs.

Our policies are available here. Behaviour and Discipline Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy.