Safeguarding Children

All schools, music centres and residential settings have a designated member of staff with responsibility for child protection. The designated person is usually a senior member of staff. A deputy designated person will also be identified in order to cover the absence of the designated person. Individual boarding houses or Early Years Foundation Stage 1 settings may also have their own designated person. Both the designated person and their deputy will have attended mandated child protection training at specified intervals.

SCE schools and residential settings will contribute to the safeguarding and protection of children through the:

• provision of a safe environment for children and young people
• use of the curriculum to promote personal safety
• recognition of significant harm and possible offences against children or young people
• referral of all safeguarding and protection issues to the appropriate authority

SCE staff follow the Government’s statutory and non-statutory guidance as set out in “Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (2006) and in “What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused” (2006) respectively (and any subsequent revisions to these documents). SCE staff also follow procedures for the safeguarding of children set out in local Command instructions such as British Forces Germany Standing Order 3351. SCE policy and procedures for child protection are contained in Chap 3 of the SCE Management Handbook. In addition, all SCE Schools and Music Centres have their own child protection policies and procedures setting out the roles and responsibilities of staff regarding:

• child protection
• the use of force to control or restrain pupils
• identification and response to bullying
• intimate care

The designated member of staff is responsible for:

• keeping school policy and procedures on child protection up to date
• arranging training for colleagues
• keeping all staff updated with current procedures and inducting new and temporary staff and volunteers regarding child protection responsibilities and procedures
• referring any concerns as soon as they arise, to the appropriate authority
• monitoring the attendance and development of children or young people who are on the Child Protection Register and informing the appropriate authority of any proposed or actual change of school or circumstances
• maintaining accurate and secure child protection records

Bullying

Children, young people and those who work within SCE are entitled to be treated with respect and understanding, and to participate in any activity without fear. SCE is therefore committed to the elimination of all forms of unacceptable behaviour including bullying and harassment and to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all pupils and staff.

This commitment is set out and developed in the SCE Anti-bullying Policy Statement and the SCE Anti-bullying Policy and Guidance for Schools. As with all school policies, anti-bullying policies are presented to the school’s School Governance Committee for approval and review.