Child Safeguarding Policy

Janusz Korczak’s Polish Saturday School in Cardiff

Date adopted: 27.09.2021
Date for review: 12.09.2025
Headteacher: Agnieszka Ludynia-Chudy

Safeguarding Officers

The named responsible person is: Agnieszka Ludynia-Chudy
In her absence, please contact: Magdalena Thomas

Important Contacts

• Social Services (Mon–Fri): 029 2053 6400
• Out of hours & weekends: 029 2078 8570
• Emergency number: 999

Objective

The aim of this policy is to contribute to the personal safety of all children attending our school by promoting child protection awareness, good practice and sound procedures. This policy applies to all staff, volunteers and trustees, and it is reviewed regularly to ensure effectiveness.

Policy Statement

Janusz Korczak’s Polish Saturday School in Cardiff is committed to supporting the right of children to be protected from abuse and to ensuring all staff and volunteers work together to protect children. We believe that:

• The welfare of the child is paramount.
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• Working in partnership with children, young people, parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

Good Practice

• Always work in an open environment, avoiding private or unobserved situations.
• Treat all children equally, with respect and dignity.
• Encourage children to feel comfortable and confident in expressing concerns.
• Maintain a safe and appropriate physical and emotional distance with children.
• Involve parents/carers wherever possible.
• Be an excellent role model — this includes not smoking, drinking or swearing in the presence of children.

Safe Recruitment

All staff and volunteers are carefully selected and vetted to ensure they are suitable to work with children. Recruitment procedures include:

• Completion of an application form and interview.
• Verification of identity and references.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
• Commitment to the safeguarding policy and code of conduct.

What To Do If You Suspect Abuse

If any member of staff or volunteer suspects abuse, they should:

1. Report concerns immediately to the Safeguarding Officer.
2. Record the details of the concern in writing using the school’s safeguarding report form.
3. If the Safeguarding Officer is unavailable, contact Social Services directly.
4. In an emergency, call 999.

Definitions of Abuse

Abuse can take many forms. The main categories are:

• Physical abuse: including hitting, shaking, poisoning, burning, or causing physical harm.
• Emotional abuse: persistent emotional maltreatment that impacts a child’s emotional development.
• Sexual abuse: involving or forcing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether physical or non-contact.
• Neglect: persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and psychological needs.

Good Practice Guidelines

To protect children and themselves, all staff and volunteers should:

• Always treat children with respect and dignity.
• Respect children’s rights to personal privacy.
• Be aware of children with special needs and vulnerabilities.
• Avoid situations where you are alone with a child, if possible.
• Ensure that if physical contact is necessary, it is appropriate and within clear guidelines.

Reporting Procedures

All concerns must be reported, no matter how small. The procedure is as follows:

1. Concerns are reported immediately to the Safeguarding Officer.
2. The Safeguarding Officer will decide whether to refer the matter to Social Services.
3. A written record of the concern and action taken will be kept securely.
4. Confidentiality will be maintained, sharing information only with those who need to know.

Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and best practice guidelines.


📄 Download full policy in PDF