Child Protection Ethos  

We in Kesh Primary School and Kesh Community Nursery have a responsibility for the Pastoral Care, general welfare and safety of the children in our care and we will carry out this duty by providing a caring, supportive and safe environment, where each child is valued for his or her unique talents and abilities, and in which all our young people can learn and develop to their full potential.

All staff, teaching and non-teaching should be alert to the signs of possible abuse and should know the procedures to be followed. 

Any safeguarding concerns/queries should be directed to the Designated Teacher via email dirvine719@c2ken.net

Principles

The general principles, which underpin our work, are those set out in:

• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
• The Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003
• The Department of Education (Northern Ireland) guidance  “Safeguarding and Child Protection in Schools 2017”
• The Area Child Protection Committees’ Regional Policy and Procedures (2005)
• Co- operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland (2016)
• Safeguarding Board Act Northern Ireland (2011)

The following principles form the basis of our Child Protection Policy.

• It is a child’s right to feel safe at all times, to be heard, listened to and taken seriously.

• We have a pastoral responsibility towards the children in our care and should take all reasonable steps to ensure their welfare is safeguarded and their safety is preserved.
• In any incident the child’s welfare must be paramount, this overrides all other considerations.
• A proper balance must be struck between protecting children and respecting the rights and needs of parents and families; but where there is conflict the child’s interest must always come first.