As a parent or carer, we would like you to know what schools are obliged to do to keep all children and young people safe. You will find our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy on the websites of all of our schools.
The most important thing you need to know is that there are specific instructions that all members of school staff need to follow if they have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person. Members of staff are not allowed to deviate from these instructions.
If we have information that leads us to believe that your child or any other child is at risk, we are instructed to call the Joint Child Protection Unit (JCPU) for advice or to report an issue. The JCPU will then decide on the appropriate actions to take.
You may not be contacted at all regarding a Child Protection Concern because it may be that there is no action required. If action is required it is likely that the JCPU will contact you rather than the school.
We know that parents and carers can find this course of action difficult to deal with. School staff are not working against you, but following the very strict guidelines to safeguard all of our children and young people.
Further information for parents/carers can be found on the following websites:
Harlaw Academy website The full policy is available under the Information tab.
Aberdeen City Council website
This is child protection information for Parents and Carers – Child Protection Process, Alcohol and Drugs, CSE, Domestic Abuse, Radicalisation, Forced Marriage, FGM, Hate Crimes, On-line Safety Netaware Guide (The NSPCC with O2 have launched a Net Aware Guide as an app to support parents on the go and help them keep their children safe on the move).
Resources for parents/carers. In partnership with 02
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-protection-system/scotland/
Together we can prevent Child Sex Abuse
https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/scotland.htm
Child Exploitation and On-Line Protection – section for parents/carers