I. INTRODUCTION

Everyone in school is entitled to an enjoyable and safe environment. Rizal Central School has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that, when given responsibility. For children, staff and volunteers provide them with the highest possible standard of care.

Rizal Central School is committed to devising and implementing policies so that everyone accepts his/her responsibilities to safeguard children from harm and abuse. This means to follow procedures to protect children and report any concerns about their welfare to appropriate authorities.

The aim of the policy is to promise good practice, providing children and young people with appropriate safety/protection while in the care of the school and to allow staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

II. OBJECTIVES

Rizal Central school promotes a zero-tolerance policy for any act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other forms of abuse.

It is recognize that because of the day to day contact with children, school staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The school will therefore:

. Established and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talked, and are listened to.

. Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried.

. Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsible for child protection register.

. Notify social services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on the child protection register.

. Develop effective links with relevant agencies and cooperate as required with their inquiries regarding child protection matters.

. Keep written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.

. Ensure all records are kept securely; separate from the main pupil file, and in locked locations.

PRINCIPLES

The school is also committed to adhere to the following Deped Principles on Child Protection

1. The school shall be conducive to learning and children shall have the right to Education free from fear;

2. All children shall be protected from all forms of abuse and bullying to develop self-esteem and self confidence;

3. The school shall advocate a positive and non-violent mode of disciplining children to foster self-discipline and to improve self-esteem;

4. Corporal punishment shall not be imposed on any child in school for the purpose of discipline, training or control;

5. The school head shall take steps to prevent bullying and ensure that the appropriate interventions, counselling and other services, are provided for the victims of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination and bullying;

6. Pupils or learners shall respect the rights of the others and refrain from commiting acts of bullying and peer violence

7. Parents shall be actively involved in all school activities or events that raised bullying;

8. Visitors and guests shall be oriented on the child protection policy.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Principal

The Principal must ensure that:

. Child Protection Policy is strictly implemented

. That a designated teacher/guidance counsellor is appointed

. That all staff receive child protection training

. That all necessary referrals are taken forward in the appropriate manner

. That the school Child Protection Policy is reviewed annually and that parents and pupils receive a copy of this policy at least once a year.

. That confidentially is paramount, information should only be passed to the child Protection Committee on a need to know basis.

The Designated Teacher/Guidance Counselor

. Avail of training so that they are aware of duties, responsibilities and role

. Organize training for all staff whole school training

. Lead in the development of the school’s Child Protection Policy

. Act as a point of contract for staff (and parents)

. Assist in the drafting and issuing of the summary of our Child Protection arrangements for parents

. Make referrals to Social Public Protection Unit where appropriate

. Maintain records of all child protection concerns

. Keep the School Principal informed

. Provide an annual report as to the implementation of Child Protection Policy

The Teachers

Teachers see children over long periods and can notice physical, behavioural and emotional indicators and hear allegations of abuse.

The teacher must:

. refer concerns to the Designated Guidance teacher for Child Protection;

. listen to what is being said and support the child

. act promptly

. make a concise written record of a child’s disclosure using the actual words of the child

. keep the parents informed through written and verbally about poor attendance and punctually, poor presentation, changed or unusual behaviour, deterioration in educational progress, discussions of parents about concerns relating to their child, concerns about pupil abuse or serious bullying, concerns about home conditions.

. Avail of whole school training and other relevant training regarding safeguarding children.

The Parents

Parents should play their path in Child Protection by:

. Calling the child’s teacher or write a letter with regards to their child’s absence, or sending in a note on the child’s return to school, so as the school is reassured as to the child’s situation;

. Attending all parent-teacher conference schedule including school activities;

. Familiarizing themselves with the Child Protection Policies of the school;

. Reporting to the office when they visit the school

. Raising concerns thay have in relation to their child with the school.

What School Personnel Should Do

. Read and follow the school’s protection procedures

. Record in writing in relevant incidents

. Work in an open transparent way

. Discuss and report any raised any incidents of concern or that might lead to concerns being raised about your conduct towards a child

. Dress appropriately for your role

. Only use e-mail contact with pupils via the school’s system

. Avoid unnecessary physical contact with children

. Ensure you understand the rules concerning physical restraint

. Where physical is essential for educational or safety reasons, gain pupil’s permission for that contact wherever possible

. Allow children to change clothes with clothes with levels of respect and privacy appropriate to their age, gender, culture and circumstances

. Avoid working in one-to-one situations with children

. Avoid volunteering to house children overnight

. Ensure that areas of the curriculum that may involve sexually explicit information are taught in accordance with school policies

. Be careful about recording images of children and do this only when it is an approved educational activity

. Fully co-operate with any investigation into child protection issues in the school. Listen to pupils when they express concern (rumours) about staff which might appear to be just, and check facts

DON’Ts”

. Take any action that would lead a reasonable person to question your motivation and/or intentions

. Misuse in any way your position of power and influence over children

. Use any confidential information about a child to intimidate, humiliate or embarrass a child

. Engage in activities out of school that might compromise your position within school

. Establish or seek to establish social contact with pupils outside of school

. Accept regular gifts from children

. Give personal gifts to children

. Communicate with e-mails in inappropriate ways, including personal e-mails and mobile telephones

. Pass your home address, phone number, e-mail address or other personal details to pupils/children

. Make physical contact secretive

. Arrange to meet with pupils in close room without adults being made aware of this in advance

. Use physical punishments of any kind

. Confer special attentions on one child unless this is part of an agreed school plan or policy

. Transport in your own vehicle without prior management approval

. Take, publish, or share images of pupils or other children without their parents’ permission

. Access abuse images (sometimes referred to as child pornography) and other inappropriate material

. Abuse your position of trust with pupils

. Allow boundaries to be unsafe in more informal settings such as trips out, out of school activities etc.

The following are guidelines for use by staff should a child disclose concerns of a child protection nature.

Do’s Don’ts

Do listen to what the child says. Don’t ask leading questions.

Do assure the child they are not at fault. Don’t put words into the child’s mouth.

Do explain to the child that you cannot keep it a secret. Don’t ignore the child’s behaviour.

Do document exactly what she says, Don’t remove any clothing.

Using his/her exact words.

Do remember not to promise the child confidentiality.

Do’s Don’ts

. Stay calm Panic

. Listen Promise to keep secrets

. Accept Ask leading questions

. Reassure Make the child repeat the story unnecessary

. Explain what you are going to do Delay

. Record accurately Start to investigate

. Seek support for yourself Do nothing

Declaration

We the undersigned members of the Child Protection Committee will oversee the implementation of the Child Protection Policy and take all necessary steps to ensure as it is adhered to.

JUNABEL S. MACALINGAY MARGITA A. MAMAUAG

Principal III/Chairman Master Teacher II/Vice Chairman

09171871072 09755406751

DEBBIE P. DELOS SANTOS DIANA ASCO

Teacher III/Teacher Representative GPTA Representative

09951006246 09453089499

ARRIANE DELIGHT A. TUGADE NAPOLEON DIRECTO JR.

SPGO President Barangay Kagawad Poblacion

09361309566 09362168216