SCHOOL-BASED CHILD PROTECTION & ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

SCHOOL-BASED CHILD PROTECTION &

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

I. INTRODUCTION

This policy aims to provide all members of staff, students and stakeholders with a clear and secure framework for ensuring that all students in Anselmo A. Sandoval Memorial National High School are protected from harm, both while at school and when off the school premises.  They have the right to go about their daily lives without the fear of being threatened, assaulted or harassed.  No one should underestimate the impact that child abuse and bullying can have on a person’s life.  This will often lead to depression, self-esteem problems and self-destructive behavior for the victim and the psychological effects can last a lifetime.  Thus, the school together with the committee on Child Protection through the leadership of the Principal ensures a stable and sheltered learning environment which is an essential requirement to achieve an Education For All Students.

II. POLICY STATEMENT

            Anselmo A. Sandoval Memorial National High School is committed to the following:

•             The welfare of the students is utmost important

•             Working in partnership with parents  is essential for the protection of students

•             Taking all reasonable steps to protect students from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment and to respect their rights  and feelings

•             All students, whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity should be able to experience fun and safe environment.

•             All uncertainties and allegations will be taken seriously and responded to properly and promptly involving and including the whole school community in preventing and responding to bullying and abuse.

III. POLICY OBJECTIVES

•             To develop student’s self-esteem, assertiveness and self-protective skills

•             To give students the necessary skills to enable them to recognize and resist abuse, bullying, discrimination, exploitation, and violence

•             To teach students that they should always tell an adult about any situation which they find unsafe, upsetting, threatening, dangerous or abusive.

IV. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Child/Young Person	Defined as a person under the age of 18 (Children’s Act 1989)
Abuse	Any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to injury or harm, it commonly occurs within a relationship of trust or responsibility and is an abuse of power or a breach of trust
Bullying	An act of aggression, causing embarrassment, pain or discomfort to someone
Discrimination	The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex
Exploitation	The action or act of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work
Violence	Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something

V. FORMS OF BULLYING

Cyber	Targeting individuals on instant messenger, abusive websites or text messages
Physical	Hitting, kicking, taking, harassment, damaging personal property
Psychological	Threats, intimidation, spreading nasty rumors, exclusion from social groups
Verbal	Name calling, insulting, making offensive remarks or writing offensive writings

VI. FORMS OF ABUSE

Emotional	Refers to the psychological and social aspects of child abuse; It is the most common form of child abuse.
Neglect	Refers to a range of circumstances in which a parent or guardian fails to adequately provide for a child’s needs
Physical	Physical assaults that would be serious criminal offences if committed by one man against another – for instance, hitting, slapping, or striking with an object – have  been legally and socially sanctioned when committed by a  man against his wife and child, or by parents against their children
Sexual	Describes any incident in an adult engages a minor in a sexual act, or exposes the minor to inappropriate sexual behavior or material.  Sexual abuse also describes any incident in which a child is coerced into sexual activity by another child. A person may sexually abuse a child using threats and physical force, but sexual abuse often involves subtle forms of manipulation, in which the child is coerced into believing that the activity is an expression of love, or that the child bought the abuse upon themselves.  Sexual abuse involves contact and non-contact offences

 

VII. THE IMPACT OF BULLYING AND CHILD ABUSE ON STUDENTS

Victims:  May become unhappy and distressed.  Their self-image is damaged and they may feel anxious and insecure.  They may view themselves as failures. 

Academic Attainment and Attendance:  Child Abuse, Violence, Exploitation, Discrimination and Bullying impact negatively on the achievement of individuals in school and consequently on the achievement of the school as a whole.  Students who do not feel safe at school are unlikely to perform to the best of their ability academically and commonly lack confidence, concentration and motivation.

VIII. SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS

Guidance Counselor will play a vital role in counseling students who are victim of child abuse and bullying.  There is a great need to raise their self-esteem and improve their social interaction so as not to attract unfair attention. 

IX. HOW TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF ABUSER OR BULLIES

AASMNHS through the unified efforts of the guidance counselor, prefect of discipline and the advisers headed by the principal will use the counseling skills and mediation between the bullies and the bullied or the abused and the abuser as well as the parents of both parties to get the problem fixed sooner rather than later. 

Parental involvement is important in both making the bullied/abused student feel appreciated and safe while also improving the issues that are causing the bully/abuser to act out against others.  It is often the key to a successful child protection initiatives.

X. ACTIONS TO MAKE IF STUDENTS TALK ABOUT ABUSE OR BULLYING

            It is possible that a student may seek his adviser, guidance counselor, prefect of discipline or principal to share information about bullying or abuse.  In this situation, these authorities must:

•             Listen carefully to the student.

•             Give the student proper time and attention.

•             Allow the student to give spontaneous information.

•             Make an accurate record of the information.

•             Reassure the student that you are glad they have come and told you and that they have not done anything wrong and everything will soon be all right.

•             Solve/Help solve the problem right away.

XI. IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ENSURE CHILD’S SAFETY

            Immediate action may be necessary at any stage in involvement with students and families. Thus, in all cases it is important to take whatever action is needed to protect the students like:

•             If the student suffered from bullying or any form of abuse, entrust, consult or ask help from the adviser, Guidance Counselor, Prefect of Discipline or direct at the Principal’s Office.

•             Contact parents/guardians of concerned students in the incident

•             Guidance and Counseling

•             If emergency, medical attention is required.  This can be secured by going to the Clinic or by calling the student’s parents/guardian especially if there’s a need for the student to take into the nearest hospital.

•             If a child is in immediate danger, the police will be contacted for they alone have the power to remove a student immediately if protection is necessary, via Police Protection Order.  But this will always be with the knowledge of the parents/guardians of the concerned student.

XII. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE

The designated Child Protection Committee takes the lead responsibility for child protection, including support for other staff and information sharing with other agencies.  Usually, the designated child protection committee is also the named person who responds to allegations made against members of staff.

•             Develop and update the Child Protection Policies, ensuring that staff, students and parents/guardians are aware of them.

•             Provide support and advice to all members of staff within the setting regarding child protection and anti-bullying concerns.

•             Keep every member of the committee especially the School Head be informed about any issue that arise.

•             Ensure that the students file is secured and separate from other students’ record.

•             Cooperate with the parents/guardians and with the local authority if necessary.

Other Staff’s Responsibility:

•             It is the responsibility of all the members of the school to ensure that all safeguarding concerns, both serious and minor, are reported to the designated child protection committee.

XIII. IMPLEMENTATION AND DISSEMINATION

•             This policy is reviewed annually by the Designated Child Committee.

•             All students and their families will be made read and agree to the policy before enrolment.  It is very important for the families to be aware of the actions of the school if there are any concerns for the student’s safety.  Knowing about Child Protection Policy ahead of time helps parents to engage better in the process.

•             Copies of this policy are easily accessible in the Principal’s Office and Guidance Office.

XIV. CONFIDENTIALITY

            AASMNHS ensure that any records made in relation to a referral are kept confidentially and in a secure place.  Thus, information in relation to child protection concerns are handled and disseminated on a “need to know” basis only.  This includes the following:

•             The Principal

•             The Guidance Counselor

•             The Prefect of Discipline

•             The Adviser

•             The Person Making the Allegation

•             The Parents/Guardian of the Student (Victim)

•             The Alleged Abuser/Bully

•             The Parents of the Alleged Abuser/Bully

                                                                                    Prepared by:

                                                                                                              __________________

                                                                                                            SHIRLYN V. MORENO

                                                                                                            Guidance Counselor

Noted:

                         _____________________

                        GABRIEL R. ROCO, Ed.D.

                                    Principal IV