Child protection standards
Rules for safe relationships, the procedure for responding to child abuse and how to report a worrying situation.
What the standards are
Child protection standards are rules and procedures that every school is required to adopt and follow. They set out how adults behave towards children, how we respond to suspected abuse and whom you can turn to.
The standards apply to all adults at the school: teachers, administrative and support staff, people running extra activities, trainees, volunteers and people working at the school under contract.
We make the document available in two versions: a full one and a short one written in language children can understand. The full version can be downloaded on this page. The children's version hangs in every classroom and in the after-school club, and form teachers discuss it in form periods. Its most important rules are given below, in the box for students.
Rules for safe relationships
Respect and boundaries. An adult addresses a child by their first name, does not ridicule them and does not comment on their appearance. They do not use physical or humiliating punishments.
Physical contact. It is acceptable only when it is necessary and appropriate to the situation and the child's age. For example when giving first aid, spotting during exercises or helping the youngest children get dressed.
One-to-one conversations. We hold them on school premises, during working hours, with the door ajar or in a place visible to others. An adult does not invite a child to private places.
Contact outside school. We contact students through official channels, mainly the e-register. Staff do not keep private contact with students on social media and do not give them their private phone number.
Relationships between children
We teach children to respect each other and respond to every instance of peer violence. This includes hitting and pushing, but also mocking, excluding from a group and online violence.
An adult who notices a child being hurt by another child stops it and informs the form teacher or the school counsellor. We talk to both sides and their parents.
Internet and images
School computers have software that blocks content harmful to children. Students use the internet at school under a teacher's supervision, and we talk about safe internet use in lessons and form periods.
Photos and recordings of children are taken with school equipment. We publish them only with parental consent and without captioning children with their full names.
How to report a worrying situation
We accept reports from anyone: students, parents, staff and people from outside the school. Reports can be anonymous.
Person receiving reports
School counsellor Magdalena Nowak. In her absence reports are received by the psychologist Tomasz Wiśniewski or the head teacher.
| How to report | To whom or where |
|---|---|
| In person | school counsellor, psychologist, form teacher or head teacher |
| In writing | the box next to the school office, anonymously if you wish |
| By e-mail | pedagog@szkola.czytelnastrona.pl |
| By phone | 71 000 10 20, extension 7 |
| For children, outside school | helpline for children and young people 116 111, free and open 24 hours a day |
What happens after a report
Receiving the report
The person who received the report writes a note and passes it to the head teacher the same day.
Ensuring safety
If a child is in danger, we act immediately, before any further investigation. If necessary we call an ambulance or the police.
Assessing the situation
The conversation with the child is held by the psychologist or the school counsellor. We make sure the child does not have to describe what happened to them repeatedly.
Informing the parents
We inform the child's parents or guardians, unless they are suspected of harming the child.
Notifying the authorities
If we suspect a crime, we notify the police or the public prosecutor. If the child's welfare is at risk, we notify the family court. If domestic violence is suspected, we start the Blue Card (Niebieska Karta) procedure.
Support plan
The school counsellor and psychologist draw up a support plan for the child and provide psychological and educational support, regardless of how the case develops.
Protecting the person who reports
A person who reports a matter in good faith faces no consequences, even if the suspicion is not confirmed. This applies to both staff and students.
Information about the report and the intervention is kept in the school counsellor's records, accessible only to the people handling the case.
Staff vetting
Before allowing anyone to work with children, we check them in the Register of Sex Offenders and the National Criminal Register. This also applies to people running extra activities, trainees and volunteers.
Training
All staff know the standards and receive training in recognising and responding to child abuse. Training is organised by a person designated by the head teacher, and new staff complete it before starting work.
Review of the standards
We review the standards at least every two years and after any incident that shows they need improving. Staff, parents and students take part in the review, and the conclusions are recorded in a note.