Hurtwood House School

Hurtwood House fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection.
Our policy applies to all staff, Partners and any volunteers working in the school. There are five main elements to our policy:

1. Ensuring we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
2. Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.
3. Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
4. Supporting students who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
5. Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

We recognise that because of the day to day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The school will therefore:

• Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to.
• Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried.
• Include opportunities in the PSHE curriculum (Enigma) for children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse.

We will follow the procedures set out by the Area Child Protection Committee or Local Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to:

• Ensure we have a designated senior person for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role. 
• Ensure every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) and partners know the name of the designated senior person responsible for child protection and their role.
• Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated senior person responsible for child protection (or to Ofsted).
• Ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school and staff for child protection by setting out its obligations in the school prospectus.
• Notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a student who is on the child protection register.
• Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences.
• Keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.
• Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file, and in locked locations.
• Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
• Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.

We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. The school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk.  When at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The school will endeavour to support the student through:

• The content of the curriculum.
• The school ethos which promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment and gives pupils a sense of being valued.
• The school behaviour policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the  school.  The school will ensure that the pupil knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.
• Liaison with other agencies that support the pupil such as social services, Child and Adult Mental Health Service, education welfare service and educational psychology service.
• Ensuring that, where a student on the child protection register leaves, their information is transferred to the new school immediately and that the child's social worker is informed.

In addition, in compliance with Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education, an annual review is conducted to satisfy the proprietor and the partners that the school’s child protection policies and procedures are discharge efficiently and to identify areas for improvement.  This review is filed with the CPLO.

The term "child abuse" is taken to include physical injury, neglect (including emotional neglect), continued ill-treatment and sexual abuse.  It should be recognised that it can occur either whilst at home or away from the school, or within the school itself, by staff, other adults (including parents) and other children.  All staff must be aware of behavioural and physical indicators that may draw attention to the possibility of abuse.  All staff must also be fully familiar with the procedure associated with suspected or actual child abuse.

General Behavioural Indicators

• Sudden change in mood/behaviour
• Changes in eating habits
• Severe sleep disturbances
• Lack of trust in familiar adults
• Withdrawn/depressed
• Self-mutilation
• Aggression, attention-seeking, anxiety

Physical Abuse Indicators

• Black eyes - especially two and no bruising around the nose/forehead
• Bruised ears
• Bruised abdomen
• Belt/strap marks

Sexual Abuse Indicators

• Anxieties regarding pregnancy, STD’s
• Marked fear of men (or women)
• A fear of undressing
• Sexually precocious

Procedure (as laid down by the Area Child Protection Committee)

1. In all cases where a member of staff considers that they have good cause to suspect abuse they must report their suspicions to the designated Child Protection Liaison OfficerSteve Crowley, or in his absence (or if he is the suspected abuser), David Broome.

The same procedure should be followed when information about abuse is volunteered to a member of staff by the student concerned.  When information is offered in confidence, the member of staff will need tact and sensitivity in responding to the disclosure.  The member of staff will need to reassure the student, and retain his or her trust, while explaining the need for action, which will necessarily involve other adults being informed.

2. Having been informed, the Child Protection Liaison Officer will inform the Headmaster and contact the Social Services Locality Case Manager within 24 hours (in writing or with written confirmation of a telephone referral) who will discuss and advise on the next step/s to be taken.

Application

 If, after the interview and after visiting other colleges, parents decide that they would like their son or daughter to be considered for selection at Hurtwood House, they should write to us enclosing the application form and the registration payment.  Some unlucky students will be told immediately that they have not been accepted, in which case the registration payment will be returned immediately; a few exceptional students will be offered an immediate place, subject to reference; and the remainder of applicants can, if the parents so wish, be placed into a “pool” of potential students for selection later in the year.  (We prefer not to discuss the situation at interview in front of the student, particularly if there is any doubt in our minds about their suitability). 

Selection 

There are about 150 vacancies each year, 75 for boys and 75 for girls, and there is strong competition for places.  Selection is based very largely on the impressions we form at interview.  In general, we have to feel that the college can provide the student with exactly what they need and that in turn they are going to respond positively and take advantage of everything that we have to offer.  Obviously, the academic record is important, and we have high academic standards to maintain, but work is not the only criterion for selection.  We are looking for students who are going to make a positive contribution to our community.  Character, personality, willingness, cheerfulness, liveliness, helpfulness, maturity, a sense of responsibility and a strong sense of purpose are all qualities that we are looking for. 

The Reference 

It is a standard courtesy that a written reference from the student’s previous school is obtained before a definite place can be offered at another school.  As well as ensuring that everyone concerned is kept in the picture about potential student moves, from our point of view it also serves to confirm or contradict the impressions that have been gained at the interview stage, and reassures us that there are no “skeletons in the cupboard”.  It will usually be requested at the same time as a completed application form is received by us, but it can be delayed until parents have informed the school directly of their intention to move their child.   (Parents must notify us in writing at the time of making the application if they would like us to delay writing for the reference).

Examination Results

Places are not dependent on GCSE results, but obviously students cannot proceed to A-levels until they have proved that they have the necessary ability.  If they do not do well with their GCSE’s, they do not forfeit their place at Hurtwood House, but they have either to do re-takes or take up new subjects at GCSE level.  All GCSE’s, whether re-takes or new subjects, are done on a one-year basis here at Hurtwood.