Harrow Tamil School Association fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection.

Our policy applies to all Teachers, Board of Administrators and Volunteers working in the school. The five main elements to our policy are to:

1. Ensure we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children
2. Raise awareness of child protection issues and equip children with the skills needed to keep them safe
3. Develop and implement procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse
4. Support pupils who have been abused in accordance with the agreed child protection plan
5. Establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop

We recognise that, because of their day-to-day contact with children, Teachers, Board of Administrators and Volunteers are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The school will therefore:

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

We will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to:

1. Ensure we have a designated senior person for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role
2. Ensure we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection
3. Ensure every member of staff (including volunteers) and governing body knows the name of the designated senior person responsible for child protection and their role
4. 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
5. 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
6. Notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on the child protection register
7. Develop effective links with relevant agencies and cooperate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters, including attendance at case conferences
8. Keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately
9. Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file, and in locked locations
10. Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer
11. Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed