Policy Guidance

What is presented below is guidance based upon the principles of good practice set out in the Sex and Relationship Education Guidance - DfEE 2000, Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures 2007 and Confidentiality in Schools, Sheila White, Brook Advisory Centres publication 2001.

What Are Schools Required to Do?

• The Safeguarding Children Procedures have to be followed by all who work with young people.
• It is essential that senior staff and child protection co-ordinators familiarise themselves with the new procedures (2007)
• All staff should have personal information on procedures to follow in the case of child protection issues.

Good Practice

It is strongly recommended that schools have policy guidance and prodedures for student and teacher confidentiality. There is no statutory requirement to have such guidance and procedures, however, the DfEE Sex and Relationships Education Guidance (2000) states;

"Schools should have a clear, explicit confidentiality policy which should be advertised in the school community"

Enchanced national healthy school status (2005) requires schools to have an up to date and clear confidentiality policy. The policy will also provide evidence of the school working towards the Be Healthy, Stay Safe outcomes of Every Child Matters (2004).

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