St.Thomas' Preschool Playgroup
Child Protection Policy
Staff will always listen to the children and believe what they are told.
Any
information given by a child which staff feel indicates abuse either through
neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse they should report to the
Information must be written down in as much detail and with as much accuracy as possible within 24hours. Notes must be made immediately after speaking with the child.
All written records must have the time, date, the circumstances in which the information was gained (where, who was present/heard etc.), the signatures of everyone who heard the child and the Pre-school manager’s signature.
Staff must never promise to keep a child’s secrets.
If a member of staff has concerns about a child the concerns should be recorded in as much detail as possible in the Incident Book (kept in the cupboard with the First Aid Book). Entries must be dated and signed by the member of staff and the manager.
The Incident Book will not be shown to Parents/carers.
All concerns must (by Law) be reported to the Hertfordshire’s Safeguarding Childrens Board.
Other than the Hertfordshire’s Safeguarding Childrens Board, the Police, or any Child Protection Agency and the Pre-school Staff no one will see entries in the Incident Book. Students will only see entries if they are directly involved with an Incident.
If a child is thought to be in immediate danger the Duty Officer at the Hertfordshire’s Safeguarding Childrens Board will be contacted by the manager. Messages will not be left under these circumstances and the Duty Social Worker must be spoken to.
Students/volunteers or anyone else who has not been police checked will not take children to the toilet without another member of staff present.
Staff will never take children out of the Pre-school for intimate care.
If an allegation is made against a member of staff they will be suspended immediately, this does not imply any guilt.
No member of staff will take the children out of the Pre-school without another adult present, e.g. on a walk to the post box.
All staff will attend Child Protection training every three years.
Any concerns should be referred to Sue Hutchings and Sue Kendrick who have received advanced training in child protection.
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