Child Protection in Schools

Durham County Council supports the Government's aim for every child to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, and achieve economic well-being. In our Child Protection Policy, we have, as our underlying purpose, strategies to promote and safeguard the welfare of children who are at risk, and those who are felt to be at risk, of significant harm. The policy offers guidance to schools and other education services in terms of procedures, roles and responsibilities, and advocates effective working partnerships, especially between those constituent agencies of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

We recognise that, because of their day-to-day contact with individual children, teachers and other staff working in schools in Education Services are particularly well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour or failure to develop. We acknowledge the need to support our schools and other staff in carrying out their responsibilities in connection with child protection.

The Pupil Services Officers within the Safeguarding Children in Education Team offer training in awareness-raising, procedures, risk assessment and policy to schools and service staff. In addition they give support and guidance on individual cases where children may be considered to be at risk of significant harm.

Email us at: Child Protection - Education