St FidelisChild Friendly Child Safe Policy

2020 Leaders1.0

IntroductionOur school is responsible for all students care, safety and wellbeing.

● We have a Child Safe Policy so that everyone is respected and feels safe.

● It is important that all students are listened to and have the opportunity to share thoughts and opinions

PurposeThe purpose of this policy is to make sure that all students at our school feel comfortable with the people around them.This means that students at our school feel safe and not worried or scared that something bad will happen to them.

Our teachers care about us and also make sure that we feel safe when we are at school, excursions and on camps.The teachers and staff at our school know what to do if a student says that they feel unsafe.

Rights and ResponsibilitiesAt St Fidelis

● We have the right to be safe

● We have the right to be respected

● We have the right to learn

Commitment to child safety

All students and young people attending St Fidelis Primary School have the right to feel safe.

The school tolerates no bullying or any kind of unsafe behaviour.

Managing risksSt Fidelis Primary School knows that it is important to keep our school safe.

The school keeps us safe by-● closing the gates● teachers on yard duty who wear bright vests.● ‘children only’ toilets-adults at our school must use adult/staff toilets.● Before every event, excursion or camp our teachers think about how to avoid situations that might be dangerous or might hurt us.● Looking for problems or things that might be unsafe and then fixing them.

We should always tell someone if we see a risk.

Visitors must sign in at the officeAll adults in our school need to sign in to the office.

If you see an adult without a school lanyard/name badge, you should let a teacher/ staff member know so they can take that person back to the office to sign in to our visitor’s register.This includes:

❏ Parent helpers

❏ Visitors

❏ Maintenance people like electricians, plumbers and builders

Code of conductOur school makes sure there is a Code of Conduct for all teachers, helpers,receptionists, priests, Casual Relief Teachers, parent helpers, othervolunteers and workers that describeshow they should behave.

Just like we have expectations for students, the Code of Conduct is theexpectation for adults.

This Code of Conduct is available on the school website and in the office.

Hiring staff & staff trainingBefore employing staff and helpers, St Fidelis Primary School checks the background to see if person is suitable to work with children.

Some of the things the school does to make sure they are right for the school are:● Check if there is a police criminal record● Make sure that they sign the Code of Conduct● Make sure they follow the rules● Check that they have a Working with Children Check● See what they did for their last job● Mrs Watson talks to the people that worked with them last to see if they’re

safe people.

Once they have settled into St Fidelis Primary School they get more information and training about child safety.

Inclusion & empowerment of all studentsSt Fidelis Primary School works with students to-

● Ensure that they are empowered to understand their rights

● recognise what abuse is and

● encourage them to speak up when they feel uncomfortable or afraid

● lead with or without the badge

Valuing differencesSt Fidelis Primary School values differences and does not put up with any kind ofteasing because people are different.

The school helps and looks after ALL students;

● students with different backgrounds● students who look different● students with different beliefs● students that like different things● older and younger● students who have different abilities

Responding & reportingOur teachers as well as other

adults will listen to our problems

on the yard, in the classroom and

if we are having an issue at

home. If it is a big problem

sometimes other people are called

in to help us solve the problem

If i don’t feel safe Who do i tell?If you don’t feel safe out of school you can....

❏ Talk to one or both of your parents/ carers

❏ Tell a trusted adult on your safety network

❏ Call the Kids Helpline

❏ Tell a staff member at school

❏ Tell a buddy