South Shields Community School has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people, from any form or neglect or maltreatment that attend the school. 

This duty and responsibility necessitates the school having a Child Protection Policy and procedures that must be followed at all times where child safeguarding is an issue. 

If a child makes a disclosure or allegation that their wellbeing or another child’s wellbeing is being threatened, the school must act to safeguard the child or young person concerned.

This action will include the following: 

• Share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare; 
• Discuss any concerns about a child’s welfare with parents / carers and, where possible seeking your agreement to make referrals to children’s social care.  However this will only be done where it does not place a child at increased risk of significant harm.  
• Will consider the child’s and young person’s views when deciding whether to inform the family in some circumstances, particularly where the child is sufficiently mature to make informed judgments about the issues, and about consenting to that. 
• Not involve a child’s family where there are doubts or reservations about involving them; 
• Clarifying with the statutory agencies, whether, and if so when and by whom, the parents should be told about the referral. 

South Shields Community School  has identified a designated person to be responsible to the Headteacher for Child Protection issues.  Where appropriate, the CPO will help parents understand that a referral is in the interests of the child and what this referral will involve.

http://www.stscb.org.uk/