Rationale
Machrie Nursery School recognises the need to have a co-ordinated team approach to Child Protection. We understand everyone has a fundamental duty to the care, welfare and safety of all children.
We strive to develop trusting relationships with children and families and create environments where children feel safe, valued, listened to and respected.
Aims
ensure all practitioners follow and understand Glasgow City Council’s Management Circular 57.
work in partnership with each other, parent/carers and agency partners to promote the protection of children
build relationships of trust and support
create an atmosphere where children, parents and staff can raise concerns regarding safety and welfare in the knowledge the disclosure will be managed sensitively and confidentially
adults must know their related responsibilities and keep up to date with local and National Policy. This includes National Guidance for Child Protection for Scotland 2021 (last update 2024), Getting it Right for Every Child, Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024
Objectives
Machrie Nursery recognises its legal duty to collaborate with agencies to protect children from harm.
To ensure all staff and students are aware of and understand MC57 and other key documents (some listed above).
Training for all staff must be undertaken at least on an annual basis. All practitioners must ensure their training is kept up to date.
Copies of MC57 can be found in the staff room, Head of Nursery office or on Glasgow online.
Appendix is on public display and inserted into our handbook.
The appointed child protection co-ordinator is the Head of Nursery and The Team Leader is the Deputy Co-ordinator.
The reception and each playroom have a notice with the Child Protection Co-ordinators name and photograph displayed.
Visitors are informed who the Child Protection Co-ordinators are, and their names and photographs are on the back of our visitor badges.
It is the obligation of all staff to report suspicion of abuse to the Child Protection Co-ordinator (Head of Nursery/Team Leader).
Parents/carers are informed of the policies and procedures relating to Child Protection at induction.
We actively involve the child/children & parents/carers as appropriate when arrangements relating to their care and support are being considered in line with Glasgow City Councils Child Protection Management Circular 57.
Where members of staff have concerns about any child which may indicate physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect they are required to report those concerns in writing, using the appropriate Appendix 3 Record of concern or Appendix 5 Intimation of NOC to the Child Protection Co-ordinator (Head of Nursery or Team Leader) immediately.
Child Protection and Vulnerable Case Files for open cases are stored in the filing cabinet in The Head of Nursery’s office.
Responding To A Disclosure
Listen with care
Reassure the child
Do not show disbelief or anger
Do not give a guarantee of confidentiality
Take the allegation seriously
Affirm the child’s feelings as expressed
Do not be judgemental about the information given by the child
Do not speculate or accuse anybody
Record in detail what you have seen/heard, this must be facts not what you think.
Report to Management
Signs To Look For
To respond to and prevent the abuse of children, we need to understand the nature of child abuse and what words relating to abuse mean.
Child abuse can be defined under 5 main categories.
Sexual Abuse.
Any child below the age of 16 may be deemed to have been sexually abused when any person(s), by design or neglect exploits the child, directly or indirectly, with any activity intended to lead to the sexual arousal or other forms of gratification of that person or any other person(s) including organised networks.
In some cases, a young person who is sexually abused may not realise that what is happening is wrong and may in fact feel that they’re part of a special, secret relationship with a person who they perceive as influential or powerful. The results of sexual abuse can cause emotional damage to the individual, potentially resulting in lifelong difficulties with future relationships and a feeling of low self-worth.
Emotional Abuse.
Failure to provide for the child’s basic emotional needs such as to have a severe effect on the behaviour and development of the child.
Emotional abuse is the persistent and deliberate failure to show a child love and affection.
Non-Organic Failure To Thrive.
Children who significantly fail to reach normal growth and developmental milestones (i.e. physical growth, weight, motor skills and organic reasons) have been medically eliminated and a diagnosis of non-organic failure to thrive has been established.
It is essentially the withholding of food (or appropriate food) from a child. It is most found in very young infants and can have serious repercussions on the child’s health and development. Medical assessment and intervention are crucial in identifying and diagnosing non-organic failure to thrive.
Physical Neglect.
This occurs when a child’s essential needs are not met and this is likely to cause impairment to physical health and development. Such needs include food, clothes, cleanliness, shelter and warmth. A lack of appropriate care results in persistent or severe exposure, through negligence, to circumstances which endanger the child.
There is often a link between physical neglect and the impact of parent alcohol/drug misuse. The physical neglect of children can also be related to mental health difficulties of parents. The following indicators, singly or in combination, should alert workers to the possibility that the child may have been abused. It can be the result of a specific incident, an accumulation of concerns or deterioration in a child’s physical presentation.
Physical Injury.
Actual or attempted physical injury to a child, under the age of 16 where there is definite knowledge, or reasonable suspicion that the injury was inflicted or knowingly not prevented.
Most physical injuries that you might observe in children will be accidental and it’s essential not to jump to conclusions. Being aware of the common site of accidental and non accidental injury will help you differentiate between the innocent bumps and bruises which children often appear with and deliberately inflicted injury.
Being observant during routine activities and being sensitive to behavioural changes in children will help you to be aware of patterns of small injuries, which could point to systematic physical abuse. If these are accompanied by inconsistent or unlikely explanations from prime carers, then this would give cause for significant concern.
Success Criteria
That all suspected or actual CP incidents are managed timeously, appropriately, and in line with GCC MC57 guidelines.
That any children, families, or staff who are impacted or affected by any CP incidents are supported and consulted (where appropriate).
That all agencies involved in CP incidents are well informed, consulted, accountable, and contactable from the moment any incident occurs.
That any audit or scrutiny of our CP procedures demonstrates that they are robust, effective, proportionate, & legal.
Drafted Jan 2017 Angela O’Hear Hodos
Reviewed Jan 2020 Angela O’Hear Hodos
Mar ’23 Angela O’Hear Hodos
Redrafted 20/10/25 Stephanie Glen, Acting Head of Nursery