Child Protection

Safeguarding student – Information for Parents

Our College feels it is of the utmost importance to have good systems for protecting students and safeguarding their welfare, throughout all the activities which the College undertakes. This means that staff and volunteers must be alert to possible concerns about every student, and to report these in the correct manner. The College has a safeguarding and child protection policy: parents may request a copy of this at any time.

It is important for parents to be aware that:

  • Staff and volunteers in the College have a duty to report concerns about a child, whether this means the child may be in need of additional support or help of some kind or whether it is thought that a child may have been abused or be at risk of abuse.
  • There are four categories of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, neglect.
  • In some cases the College is obliged to refer students to children’s social care staff, for students to be assessed for their needs or if an investigation into possible child abuse is required. In many cases there will already have been discussions between College staff and the parents of the child, and the situation and concerns will not be a surprise to the parents. However, parents may not be told that the College has referred their child to children’s social care if it is thought that this might put the child at risk.
  • Children’s social care tries to carry out its enquiries in a sensitive fashion. It has to gather information and generally it can be open with parents about the steps being taken.
  • If you think your child may have been abused you can contact the children’s social care office or the Local Authority’s Access & Welfare Service direct. If you think the abuse may have happened in College, contact the Headteacher or the Designated Senior Person for Child Protection. If you think your child has been hurt, arrange to visit your doctor. Comfort and reassure your child.
  • If College staff need to express concerns about a child or refer a child to children’s social care, it is understood that this can cause distress or anger for the child’s parents. It is important that all parties – parents and College staff – try to discuss these matters as calmly and sensibly as possible.

For parents’ enquiries please contact: Ms G. Underhill Designated Senior Person for Child Protection