Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people 4

The importance for children and young people to be protected from harm in the work setting

When pupils arrive to the school premises, teaching staff is taking over responsibility from the parents in taking care of all the needs of the children. Teachers are acting “in loco parentis” during the day and it is their paramount duty to ensure children’s safety and well-being.

Possible risks include physical harm, either from accidents and falls during play, or due to bullying and physical abuse by peers. If a member of staff notices any suspicious injuries on a child, they have to make the necessary steps to investigate the case and prevent it from happening again. Safeguarding has to cover issues of mental harm too; therefore teachers and teaching assistants have to be alert to signs of emotional problems and behavioural issues. Stress at school and home, emotional abuse or neglect in the family, or peers picking on a certain child can all be causes of this situation. Signs of possible sexual abuse have also be recognised right away by teaching staff, and whether it has been committed by family members, school peers or teachers, immediate action is crucial.

Children are incredibly exposed to different kinds of harm therefore teaching staff has to do their outmost to protect them from any risks while pupils are in their care in the school setting.

Policies and procedures in place to protect children and young people and the adults who work with them

Each school has a set of policies and procedures regarding the protection and safeguarding of children and place the duty of care on the teachers.

Teaching staff has to be careful when establishing physical contact with the pupils so that they do not cross the line from caring to abuse. This applies more to male staff and also depends on the child’s age. Younger children might need more physical contact especially when they fall on the playground, get injured and get scared, but even in such a case a reassuring hug should not last longer than necessary. Teachers and teaching assistants can protect themselves against accusations of abuse by working transparently, i.e. by not staying alone with a pupil in a room behind closed doors (unless talking about a confidential matter). If everybody in the staff knows what you are doing and why you cannot fall victim of false charges. It is a legal requirement that any photographs and videos are to be made about the pupils only with the consent of the parents. Last but not least, if we have any concerns about a colleague behaving inappropriately with a pupil, we have to report it immediately. A child’s mental health and development is much more important than a friendship with a co-worker. The first step is to talk to our line manager and tell them that we have seen something we do not like. If it is the line manager we are suspicious of, we have to go to the next level, to the head teacher or head governors. It is useful to have a look at the school’s whistle blowing policy to see the exact procedure. If we are making a complaint like this we are protected by law against any future disadvantages. The teacher’s union can also provide advice about the relevant policies and the rights of those involved.

The children’s safety and healthy development is the paramount concern in a school setting, therefore whether we are being accused or are suspicious about a co-worker of being abusive, we have deal with the situation in a professional way and follow the relevant procedures in order to clear up the situation.

Steps practitioners can take to protect themselves within their everyday practice in the work setting and off site visits

As a teacher or a teaching assistant it is important that we prevent any suspicious situations and protect ourselves from the possibility of any false accusations by being careful in our relationships with the pupils.

We have to work in an open way, which means that whatever we are doing have to have a reason why we are doing it. We have to be clear about our choices and action, e.g. why we are choosing a particular pupil to carry out a nice task. Our colleagues might have a look if we chose the same child last year, or in similar cases. There are always favourites and children that we do not like that much, but we have to be professional about it and treat the pupil in a fair way. If we ensure that we are not left alone with a pupil or if so, we leave the doors open, we can prevent nasty rumours or any cause for concern from our colleagues. It is also important that we keep other staff informed about any concerns we might have. For example, if we notice that a pupil has feelings for a teacher it is better to let the colleague in question know about it. This way they can do their best not to further encourage the child by being careful how they behave with them. If we are taking our class to trip or visit outside the school, it is advised to be prepared for any incidents. A written consent from the parents is essential in order to take the children anywhere outside the school setting. Also, we can prepare for unexpected situations by writing a list of necessary equipment, compile a risk assessment and an action plan in case any hazard occurs, e.g. a child falls and gets injured. This way there is evidence for any future investigation showing that the teacher did their outmost to eliminate the risks and also to deal with the unfortunate situation.

Local Authorities and Governing Bodies can support the teaching staff by providing relevant policies and procedures as a guide. Children are also being protected by the safe teacher recruitment procedures that include a full CRB check. Schools are also required to appoint a Designated Teacher in Child Protection (DTCP) who always have an up to date training in child protection issues, can train the rest of the staff and offer help and support to colleagues who have concerns.