Child Safe

Commitment to Child Safe

EHPS is committed to child safety. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers.
We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.
We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.
EHPS is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks.
EHPS has robust human resources and recruitment practices for all staff and volunteers.
EHPS is committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.

We have specific policies, procedures and training in place that support our leadership team, staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments.

Essex Heights’ Principles for Child Safety
In its planning, decision-making and operations Essex Heights Primary School will:

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;

2. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;

3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children

4. Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;

5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;

6. Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;

7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;

8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;

9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and

10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.

Child Safe Code of Conduct

All staff, volunteers and board members of Essex Heights Primary School (EHPS) are required to observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards and in the company of children.

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