CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
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We promote well being of children and their development; we encourage active participation and respect their freedom of expression and communication.
CHILD ABUSE:
“Child abuse” or “maltreatment” constitutes ‘ all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power. “Cruelty to children” or “child abuse” as’ behavior that causes significant harm to a child. It also includes when someone knowingly fails to prevent serious harm to a child. All forms of cruelty are damaging –it can be harder to recover from the emotional impact than from the physical effects.
Four types of cruelty are defined as:
- Physical abuse: including hurting or injuring a child, inflicting pain, poisoning, drowning, or smothering.
- Sexual abuse: including direct or indirect sexual exploitation or corruption of children by involving them (or threatening to involve them) in inappropriate sexual activities.
- Emotional abuse: repeatedly rejecting children, humiliating them or denying their worth and rights as human beings.
- Neglect: the persistent lack of appropriate care of children, including love, stimulation, safety, nourishment, warmth, education, and medical attention.
- A child who is being abused may experience more than one type of cruelty.
- Discrimination, harassment, is also abusive and can harm a child, both physically and emotionally.
Children’s participation– a space and a voice: We create a space to children to speak out about abuse.
ANTI-BULLYING GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS:
- Bullying is abuse of physical, Verbal, emotional, which students may encounter.
- Physical – Pushing, Kicking, hitting, pinching and other kinds of violent touch.
- Verbal – Name calling, Spreading rumor, teasing and black mailing.
- Emotion – Excluding, neglecting, tormenting and ridiculous humiliation.
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If you are being bullied
- Do not hesitate or keep quiet
- If anybody force you to indulge in bullying, be strong enough to refuse and walk away, do not stand still to listen, do not react.
- You have to immediately inform you class teacher, counselor, student council members, Coordinators /VP or Principal.
- Inform the truth without diluting the fact or exaggerating.
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- These abuse done or inflicted by a student and others become a part of it by joining as witness or active participating is stated as equally involved and are liable to be punished.
- Bullying of any kind which harms the self esteem of a child or a staff is not tolerated. Everyone is expected to ensure that it does not happen and has the responsibility to tell – this is not telling tales.
- Strict warning followed by serious disciplinary action will be employed after investigation.
- If found guilty, parents will be called for meeting for finding a way to correct and to be advised.
- Repetition of such bullying will be taken up seriously with CBSE and disciplinary action including suspension and dismissal from the school will be decided according to nature of bullying.
- Harming property of the school or other students, littering etc will also be dealt as serious and punishable offense.
- Creating disturbance to others in class, assembly or play ground will be dealt seriously.
Anti bullying guidance is given to individual classes to apprise what bullying or abuse and that these offences are punishable.
Safe and supportive environment is maintained under supervision of the concerned staff.
- Children should be treated with love and respect by staff and vice versa
- All children are supervised by adults at all times, whilst allowing for the free movement of children and adults within the setting
- Whenever children are on the premises at least two adults are present.
- Safe and supportive environment is maintained under strict vigil of supportive staff and student’s council representative.
- Well defined code of conduct is informed and practiced – rights, responsibility and behavioral expectation. Any breach of rules by student or staff is dealt with strict adherence to rules and regulations stipulated by depts. (discipline committee take care).
- Complain of grievance and matter of concern of parent student and staff is looked after with responsibility.
- Security system is well developed and regular check of building, evacuation drill is well practiced. Under regular supervision and guidelines and equipped to face/manage any real factors encountered
- Pastoral care: Counseling is arranged for behavioral and support for weak learners in site and off site hours.
Maintenance of positive Ethos
- Opportunities are open for students for the development of their mental, physical and emotional well being for overall development.
- Open arena to exhibit talent (morning assembly, participate in internal activities, external activities competitions, celebrations of diversity, Science / Art exhibitions, teachers’ day, annual day. All these help to groom a vibrant teaching Community within which all participants have opportunity and support. Well awarded for proficiency/literary/sport and any outstanding performance. Cash award/gold medal/trophies and certificates are awarded with due respect in a formal function.
Role of Staff:
- If any member of staff has grounds for concern, then he/she is required to report these grounds to the Head immediately. Staff must ensure that any ongoing involvement is in the child’s best interest. They must not wait to gather evidence, nor agree to keep information secret, nor discuss the matter with others.
- Staff must follow any guidance given by the Head in relation to recording any concerns, supporting the child and cooperating with subsequent actions to investigate the grounds of concern and to protect the child or children concerned.
Role of Head
For the purposes of these procedures the Head may indicate the Assistant Head.
The Head will treat the grounds of concern as reported by a member of staff as a priority for action and in so doing
Consider the immediate needs of all children involved
- Take emergency action if required
- Gather information and if appropriate seek clarification
- Ask staff to record relevant information
- Store all information in a confidential Incident File.
- Immediately report to the student counselor all cases where there are grounds for concern about child abuse. Discuss with the student counselor the action to be taken, including when and by whom parents will be informed and the child or children interviewed.
- Immediately report a medical emergency to the medical services and administer first aid if needed before reporting to the student counselor.
- In urgent circumstances seek help from the police. E.g. Immediate avoidance of further abuse, immediate pursuit of an alleged abuser, avoidance of destruction of evidence.
- If a member of staff is alleged to be involved in child abuse, then contact will be made with the chairperson of the Board Managers and with the provision as per affiliation by laws of CBSE. Decisions will then be made regarding appropriate action and the involvement of other agencies.
- Record (on the same day) the grounds for concern and action taken using the Referral form, and send the form to the relevant Departments. Keep a copy of the information, signed and dated, in the Incident file.
- Co-operate fully with all concerned Departments who may become involved.
- Support the child or children as necessary and appropriate.
The responsibilities of the child protection coordinators are to:
- Be conversant with the information mentioned in the Policy.
- Support the Head in the development of policy, practice and staff development.
- Attend child protection training and co-coordinator’s meetings
- Support the Head in ensuring that Child Protection Guidelines are brought to the attention of entire staff annually and that they have access to the guidelines.
- Co-ordinate support within the school for children with Child Protection Support Plans.
- Co-operate on behalf of the school with concerned Departments Child Protection Support Plans.
- Liaise with relevant establishments and community police.
- Be responsible for regularly updating the Child Protection Department Contact List.
