Child Protection Policy

It may be helpful for parents to know that the law requires all staff to pass on information which raises concern that a child may be at risk from non-accidental injury, neglect, emotional or sexual abuse.

The goal of a shared approach to child wellbeing is for all children to be healthy, happy and safe and to be able to grow up belonging in families and communities where they have the opportunities to reach their full potential. This responsibility rest firmly with parents, members of community and those who work with children.
It is therefore important that children who are considered at risk of significant harm receive early intervention and support to achieve positive outcome.

Definitions

For child protection purposes this policy refers to any child the care of Bedayati Nursery.

Parent or Guardian: Parent is defined as a person having the parental responsibility for the child or young person. This may therefore apply to persons other than the biological parent – such as person exercising parental responsibility within the kinship group of the child or young person.

Guardian: these people have none specific parental responsibilities but nonetheless
have a duty of care to the child. This is inclusive of all Bedayati Nursery staff.

Harm: physical and/or psychological damage or injury experienced by a child or young
person as a consequence of one or more of physical, psychological or sexual abuse, ill-treatment or neglected.

What is significant is not minor or trivial and may reasonably be expected to produce a
substantial impact on the child’s or young person’s safety, welfare of wellbeing.

Types of Abuse

What is child abuse? Child abuse is the term used to describe ways in which children are intentionally or inadvertently harmed and placed at risk of harm, usually by adults, and often by people that they trust.

Categories of abuse:

• Physical injury: This is defined as any injury inflicted or knowingly mot
  prevented by any person having custody or care of a child. Physical abuse is
  often defined by injuries that cannot be explained by the normal activities of a
  child, and is defined as hitting or hurting a child on purpose.
• Neglect: This is defined as the willful failure to meet the basic needs of a child, for
  example, not clothing, feeding or caring of child adequately and leaving them
  without adequate supervision.
• Emotional abuse: This is defined as any abuse or torment which would have an
  effect on the mental health and wellbeing of a child. Most commonly emotional
  abuse is categorized as shouting at a child, making a child feel worthless,
  exposing a child to inappropriate and never punishment and inconsistency of
  behavior towards a child.
• Sexual Abuse: This is defined as the exploitation of children in order to meets the
  demands of adults or other children. Sexual abuse may include: involvement of
  children in masturbation, involvement of children in pornographic activity, including
  pornographic photographs and involving children in watching and viewing
  pornographic materials, involvement of children in sexual activity, including: rape,
  sodomy, oral sex and sexual intercourse with the child, even with their consent.
• Bullying: Bullying is defined as any form of abuse in a child which is inflicted upon
  them by their peers, these abuse can be subtle, including teasing, being ignored or
  left out, being pushed or pulled about, or having, money or possessions taken.

Recognition of Child Abuse

It is not the intention of members of staff at Bedayati Nursery to identify the specific
category of abuse that a child maybe experiencing but rather to highlight any causes for
concern to the appropriate person and organizations. The following lists although not
exhaustive may be indicate of some of the signs and symptoms of child abuse, it should
be noted that some children may display some of these signs in times of stress; it does
not necessarily that they are being abused.

Indicator of Abuse

• Injuries to the child that tis not consistent with the normal play activities of a
  child, either in position or type.
• Inconsistent and unreasonable explanation of an injury by a child, parent or
  carer.
• Inconsistent and inappropriate behavior such as sexually explicit remarks or
  action, mood swings, uncharacteristically quiet/aggressive, severe tantrums.
• Becoming isolated socially.
• Overeating, loss or appetite, weight loss, weight gain.
• Inappropriately dressed or ill-kept and/or dirty.
• Self-inflicting injury.
• Open distrust of, or discomfort with, parent or carer.
• Delayed social development, poor language and speech.
• Excessive nervous behavior, such as rocking or hair twisting.
• Low self-esteem general indicators of abuse, though often typical sexual abuse.
• Recurring abdominal pain.
• Reluctance to go home.
• Flinching when approached or touched.
• Recurring headaches.

Recording and Reporting of an Incident – Suspicions of abuse

All staff should be aware that any incidents must be recorded. It is also very important
for staff to communicate about matters of this kind.

If a member of staff suspects that a child is under threat, there are number of steps that
must be taken.

1. Inform the manager or the (name) person responsible for Child protection in the
   setting.
2. Report the specific concerns that you have to the manager or the person
   responsible for child protection for the setting.
3. Record your suspicions and give them to the manager or the person responsible
   for the child protection for the setting, records of suspicions must include the
   following information.
   • The nature of the suspicion
   • Details of an injury
   • Times, dates and any other relevant information.
   • Dates, times and names of other adult involved with the child who may
   substantiate the suspicion.

Disclosure of abuse

If a child discloses to you that they have been abused, the member of staff should: listen
to the child and note down what they say to you in their own words. It is important that
this stage that you do not interrupt the child and you do not ask questions. Report
disclosure to the manager or person responsible for the child protection in the setting.

If the manager or the member of staff dealing with the situation at the time thinks that
the case is serious enough, please contact the relevant authorities. In addition to this if
a member of staff observes another member of staff harming a child they should report
this to the nursery manager immediately.

Responding to a child who confines in you:

• Stay calm
• Do not make promises you cannot keep
• Offer reassurance and support
• Immediately tell the nursery manager
• Records the facts and discussion in the child’s own words and give a copy to the
  nursery manager
• Do not take control of the situation yourself
• Maintain confidentiality
• Keep record
  Talk to the right people

The safety and wellbeing of the child must always be the first consideration. Bedayati
has a duty to report any suspicions of abuse and neglect. All staff have a duty to
investigate such matters.