Introduction
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020 states that ‘Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure there are appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure appropriate action is taken in a timely manner to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
These should include individual schools and colleges having: • an effective child protection policy which:
Our staff have an awareness of safeguarding issues that can put children at risk of harm. Behaviours linked to issues such as drug taking, alcohol abuse, deliberately missing education and sexting (also known as youth produced sexual imagery) put children in danger.
Our staff are aware that safeguarding issues can manifest themselves via peer on peer abuse. This is most likely to include, but may not be limited to:
All staff should be aware that children can abuse other children (often referred to as peer on peer abuse). This is most likely to include, but may not be limited to:
(KCSIE 2020)
At The Link School we are committed to the prevention, early identification and appropriate management of peer on peer abuse. We continue to ensure that any form of abuse or harmful behaviour is dealt with immediately and consistently to reduce the extent of harm to the young person, with full consideration to impact on that individual child’s emotional and mental health and well-being.
Our policy includes a clear and comprehensive strategy taking a contextual whole-school approach to preventing and responding to peer on peer abuse, which includes a clear understanding to staff, children and young people and their parents about everyone’s responsibility in managing any peer on peer abuse incidents. This will include both our prevention measures as well as our response to any incidents of harm.
Purpose and Aim
Children and young people may be harmful to one another in a number of ways which would be classified as peer on peer abuse. The purpose of this policy is to explore the many forms of peer on peer abuse and include a planned and supportive response to the issues.
At The Link School we have the following policies in place that should be read in conjunction with this policy:
Child Protection Policy
Anti-Bullying Policy
Online Safety Policy
Children Missing from Education Policy
Behaviour and Positive Handling Policy
Framework and Legislation
This policy is supported by the key principles of the Children’s Act 1989 that the child’s welfare is paramount. Another key document that focuses adult thinking towards the views of the child is Working Together 2018, highlighting that every assessment of a child, should ‘reflect the unique characteristics of the child within their family and community context’ (Working Together, 2018:28). This is clearly echoed by Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 through ensuring procedures are in place in schools and settings to hear the voice of the child and to be mindful of the contexts children live in.
You can read our full Peer on Peer Abuse Policy by downloading the PDF below.
Link School Springwell Dene
Swindon Road, Springwell, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR3 4EE
Tel: 0191 561 5777
Email: caroline.granton@schools.sunderland.gov.uk
Link School Pallion
Waverley Terrace, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR4 6TA
Tel: 0191 561 4777
Email: anita.blakeman@schools.sunderland.gov.uk