Scottish Government

PROTECTING CHILDREN - A SHARED RESPONSIBIITY

Guidance for Education Authorities, Independent Schools, School Staff
and all others working with children in an education context in Scotland

This document is also available in pdf format (180k)

Contents

Ministerial Preface
Chapter 1: Background
Children (Scotland) Act 1995
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Child Protection Procedures
Chapter 2: Education links with other child protection agencies
Child Protection Committees
Social Work
Police
Reporters
Procurators Fiscal
Health Professions
Voluntary Agencies
Confidentiality
Chapter 3: Roles and responsibilities of Education staff
Local Authority Department with responsibility for Education
Head of School or Centre
Child Protection Co-ordinator
Primary Class Teacher /Secondary Guidance Teacher/ Learning and Behaviour Support Teacher
Teaching Staff
Ancillary Staff
School Nurses
Home School Link Workers
Educational Psychologists
Governors of Independent School
Chapter 4: Suspected Child Abuse and the role of Education staff in the process of protection
Identification of concerns
Internal discussion
Liaison with Parents
Gathering and Recording Evidence
School plan
Exclusion
Planning for children who have transferred schools
School / Education Authority powers
Inter -Agency Working: Contribution to Child Protection
Investigation, Case Conference, Child Protection Plan
Children's Hearings
Maintaining Records
Chapter 5: Staff Issues
Support for staff
Staff Training
Historic Abuse
Allegations against staff
Minimising Risk
Recruitment of staff and use of volunteers
Chapter 6: Education for child protection
Personal safety education
Personal Development - Cross curricular and informal curricular initiatives
Childcare and parenting
Chapter 7: Guidance on Special Issues
Boarding Schools or Hostels
Residential Visits
Community service and Volunteering
Children whose parents are in the armed forces
Children and young people from Ethnic minorities
Refugees and asylum seekers
Traveller Children
Very young children
Bullying and Young Abusers
Children and Young People with Special Needs
Computer Safety
Under age sex
Forced Marriages
Appendix 1: Descriptions of categories of abuse and how they may be recognised
Appendix 2: Child Protection Committees -Circular SWSG 14/97
Appendix 3: Schedule 2 of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003
Appendix 4: Reducing the risk - Improving the Response to Sex Offending: relevant recommendations
Appendix 5: Arrangements for Child Protection in the Armed Services
Appendix 6: Potential indicators of involvement in sexual exploitation and prostitution
Appendix 7: Forced Marriages Abroad - Your Right to Choose (FCO Guidance)
Appendix 8: Sample Statement on Confidentiality for Pupils
Appendix 9: Checklist for responding when a child discloses abuse
Appendix 10: Principles and Aims of Sex Education
Further Reading