The school has a Safeguarding Children policy which is in accordance with Bromley Safeguarding Children Board, Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Educations.

The school has a Safeguarding Children policy which is in accordance with  Safeguarding Children Board, Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Educations.The policy is reviewed annually as required.
The school has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff and supply staff that complies with guidance from the Bromley Safeguarding Children Board.
The Principal is designated to take lead responsibility for in-house Safeguarding Children training.
All staff undertakes appropriate Safeguarding of Children training.
Any deficiencies or weakness in the Safeguarding Children arrangements are remedied immediately.
The Principal is nominated to be responsible for liaising with the appropriate authorities.

Dealing with the Safeguarding of Children issues in accordance with this policy.Briefing the school staff on the relevant contents of the guidance and procedures the school follows as specified in this policy – including the briefing of new staff as part of their induction at the school.
Ensuring that appropriate training and support are given to all staff. A number of our staff has also received Level 3 Safeguarding Children training.
Developing effective working relationships with other agencies and services.
Sufficient resources and time are allocated to enable the designated person and other staff to discharge their responsibilities.
Receiving reports of alleged or suspected abuse within the school, or reported by a pupil relating to incidents at home and/or outside the school.
Liaising with Safeguarding Children Board
Ensuring that accurate records relating to individuals are kept in a secure place and marked “Strictly Confidential”
Ensuring the school effectively monitors, if any, Â children who have been identified as “at risk”
Providing guidance to parents, children and staff about obtaining suitable help.
The school understands the importance of sharing appropriate information with the agencies i.e. Bromley Children’s Social Care.

Every new member of staff, including part-timers and temporary working in Boarding and other teaching and non-teaching staff will receive Basic training every three years on their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and bullying and on the procedures for recording and referring any concerns to the Child Protection Officer.   Safeguarding Children training is also given to Trustees at Level 3 every 2 years. Everyone attends refresher training at least every three years.

The staff handbook is also reviewed and updated as required.  This code also contains guidance in the event that a child, a member of staff or a parent has reason for concern about a member of staff.

Assemblies and RE are used to promote tolerance, mutual respect and understanding. We use opportunities, such as the annual National Anti-Bullying week and the annual Safer Internet Day to teach about the unacceptability of bullying and abusive behaviour and to promote the safe use of the internet and mobile phones, inside and outside of school

All pupils know that there are staff members and senior students to whom they can turn to if they are worried.
All pupils have access to a telephone helpline, enabling them to call for support in private known as independent listeners (Moulana Yasar Zaman)
Information display board with relevant numbers for support

See our Anti Bullying Policy for more information.

Frequently is dirty, hungry or inadequately dressed
Left in unsafe situations, or without medical attention

Constantly “put down,” insulted, sworn at or humiliated
Seems afraid of parents or carers
Severely bruised or injured
Displays sexual behaviour which doesn’t seem appropriate for their age
Growing up in a home where there is domestic violence
These examples do not necessarily cover every aspect of child abuse.

SIGNS

Some of the signs and behaviours which may indicate that a child is being abused: repeated minor injuriesb children who are dirty, smelly, poorly clothed or who appear underfed children who have lingering illnesses which are not attended to, deterioration in school work, or significant changes in behaviour, aggressive behaviour, severe tantrums an air of ‘detachment’ or ‘don’t care’ attitude overly compliant behaviour a ‘watchful attitude’ does not trust adults, particularly those who are close ‘tummy pains’ with no medical reason eating problems, including over-eating, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, nightmares, bed wetting, running away from home, suicide attempts, self inflicted wounds, reverting to younger behaviour, depression, withdrawal, Relationships between child and adults which are secretive and exclude others.

These signs are not evidence themselves; but may be a warning, particularly if a child exhibits several of them or a pattern emerges. It is important to remember that there may be other explanations for a child showing such signs. Abuse is not easy to diagnose, even for experts.

1. Physical abuse
2. Emotional Abuse
3. Sexual Abuse
4. Neglec

Restraint that leads to bruising or injury
Idiosyncratic punishments that cause injury
Bullying that leads to physical assault
Over-chastisement/excessive discipline
Corporal punishment causing actual bodily harm

Terrorising, teasing, tormenting a child
Withdrawing/withholding attention, affection, emotional care
Persistently blaming, rejecting and isolating a child
Derogatory remarks about a person’s race, gender, physical characteristics, names and academic or sporting abilities or lack of ability
Breaking confidentiality/using pupils’ problems as gossip or humour
Systematically denying a child privacy or access to needed emotional support
Ascribing nicknames that are offensive or derogatory and unwanted by the child
Shunning, rubbishing or publicising concerns of the child
Persistently ignoring the child.

Genital and sexual contact between a child and an adult/another person
Genital exposure
Exposing children to pornographic materials
Any act where the child is the object of another’s sexual gratification
Note; It is well recognised that children find it hard to tell, and that adults find it hard to hear and believe allegations of sexual abuse.

Children who are  left alone inappropriately
Children who are  abandoned
Children who are  inappropriately supervised
Children who are  left with inappropriate carers
Children who are  punitively or carelessly deprived of food
Children from whom necessary medical attention is withheld or omitted.

Any member of staff or volunteer, who learns that a child has been physically or sexually assaulted, should immediately inform the designated Child Protection Officer.

Work in an open and transparent way.
Take advice from school management over any incident which may give rise to concern.
Record any incidents or decisions made.
Apply the same professional standards regardless.
Be aware that breaches of the law and other professional guidelines could result in criminal or disciplinary action being taken against them.

Dealing with abuse against another pupil;

Know that there is a designated member of staff who is responsible for Safeguarding Children.
Know that there are many trusted people to whom they can talk.
Know that they will be listened to and heard.
Know what steps can be taken to keep them safe.

Any physical restraint is only permissible when a child is in imminent danger of inflicting an injury on herself or on another, and then only as a last resort, when all efforts to diffuse the situation have failed.  Another member of staff should, if possible, be present to act as a witness. All incidents of the use of physical restraint should be recorded in writing and reported immediately to the Child Protection Officer or in his absence the Head of Care who will decide what to do next.

Confidentiality is covered by Data Protection Act and all records of confidential or personal nature are kept securely with the Principal office.

Record keeping is essential for the monitoring of pupils and is a good safeguarding practice. Safeguarding Children records are kept securely and are separate from progress and administration records.

Any suspicion that a child is injured marked or bruised in any way which is not readily attributed to the normal knocks or scrapes received in play.

Any explanation which appears suspicious.
Any concerns that a child may be suffering from inadequate care, ill treatment or emotional maltreatment.
Any behaviour which give rise to suspicions that a child may have suffered harm (e.g. worrying drawings or play)
Any hint or disclosure of abuse from any person.
Any concerns that a child is presenting signs or symptoms of abuse or neglect.
Any significant changes in a child’s presentation, including non-attendance.

Any urgent medical needs of the child.
Making an enquiry to Bromley Children’s Social Care Services.
Discussing the matter with other agencies involved with the family.
Consulting with other appropriate persons
Then Decide

Wherever possible, to talk to parents (unless to do so may place a child at risk of significant harm, impede any police investigation and/or place a member of staff at risk).

Whether to make a Child Protection referral to Social Services because a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm and if this needs to be undertaken immediately
Not to make a referral at this stage.
If further monitoring is necessary.
If it would be appropriate to undertaken an assessment and/ or make a referral for other services.

Designated Child Protection officer. In his absence all concerns should be raised with the Head of Care who is also equally qualified in level 3 Safeguarding of Children.

Staff will immediately report to the Child Protection Officer if there is:
Any suspicion that a child is injured marked or bruised in any way which is not readily attributed to the normal knocks or scrapes received in play.

Any explanation which appears suspicious.
Any concerns that a child may be suffering from inadequate care, ill treatment or emotional maltreatment.
Any behaviour which give rise to suspicions that a child may have suffered harm (e.g. worrying drawings or play)
Any hint or disclosure of abuse from any person.
Any concerns that a child is presenting signs or symptoms of abuse or neglect.
Any significant changes in a child’s presentation, including non-attendance.

The designated child protection officer, Dawood Khan will:
Make regular contact with Lorrisa Webber  in Bromley Council and/or Bromley children social care services
Wherever possible, contribute to the strategy discussion.

If the child or children has a Child Protection plan, contribute to the plan by attending child protection meetings, core group and review meetings.

Where a disagreement with a decision that has been made, the local authorities escalation of concerns procedure will be followed.
Where a child at risk has moved to another school, the child protection officer will forward the details of this change to Bromley children social care and the child’s new local authority and other relevant stakeholders.

Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to child.
Behaved towards a child in a way that indicates that he is unsuitable to work with the children.
Initial Action once allegation made against member of staff
Who receives the allegation, or witness an event will immediately inform Dawood Khan and make a record of the event.
The Child Protection Officer will take steps, where necessary, to secure the immediate safety of children and any urgent medical need.

If the allegation is made against any staff member, then the matter will be reported to the Principal and if against him then unto the trustees.

The member of staff will not be approached at this stage unless it is necessary to ensure the immediate safety of children
The Principal may need to clarify any information regarding the allegation; however no person will be interviewed at this stage.
The Principal will consult the lead officer for education safeguarding (LADO) to determine if it is appropriate for the allegation to be dealt with by school or by the local authority.

Consideration will be given throughout to the support staff and information needs of pupil, parents and staff.
The Principal will inform the board of Trustees of any allegation.

If there is an allegation, the Principal will contact the LADO in the Bromley Safeguarding Children Board within 24hours of the allegation. If the allegation is about a member of staff, FRMS Academy will take advice from the LADO and then the child protection officer / principal will contact the parents. Ofsted will also be notified within 14 days of the allegation against a member of staff.

The independent Safeguarding Authority will be notified within one month of leaving the school of any such person whose services are no longer used because they are considered unsuitable to work with pupils.