3. What training do staff receive in child protection? What does this training cover and is it ongoing?

According to “Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education” (HMSO 2006), Governing bodies and proprietors of Independent Schools” should ensure that:

“the head teacher and all other staff who work with children undertake training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively, that is kept up to date by refresher training at three yearly intervals, and temporary staff and volunteers who work with children are made aware of the school’s arrangement for child protection and their responsibilities”. (s2.19 and 2.22).

In addition

“It is helpful if all members of governing bodies undertake training about child protection to ensure they have the knowledge and information needed to perform their functions and understand their responsibilities”. Some governing bodies have found it helpful for an individual member of the governing body to champion child protection issues within the school”. (s.2.18).

These arrangements are also endorsed in “Working Together to Safeguard Children” (HMSO 2004). Guidance document “What to do if you are worried a child is being abused” (HMSO 2006), clarifies that:

“All those who come into contact with children and families in their everyday work have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children”. (p.8).

As well as requiring that all such staff and volunteers be familiar with and follow their organisations procedures, this guidance also states that, if a member of staff has concerns about a child’s welfare, they should:

“Discuss your concern with your manager or designated member of staff. If you still have concerns, you or your manager could also, without necessarily identifying the child in question, discuss your concerns with senior colleagues in another agency if you consider the child is or may be in need, you should refer the child and family to children’s social care. This may include a child whom you believe is, or may be at risk of suffering significant harm”. (p. 11.1 and 11.2).