Child Safeguarding

The Cottage School is committed to ensuring the safety, protection and wellbeing of all children and young people at the school and in all school environments.

At The Cottage School, we have a zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect and grooming.

The school’s commitment to child safety is based on the following overarching principles that guide the development and regular review of our work systems, practices, policies and procedures to protect children from abuse.

All children and young people have the right to be safe.
The welfare and best interests of the child or young person are paramount.
The views of the child or young person and their privacy must be respected.
Clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children and young people are established in our Child Safe Code of Conduct and Maintaining Professional Boundaries policy.
The safety of children and young people is dependent upon the existence of a child safeguarding culture.
Child safety awareness is promoted and openly discussed within our School community.
Procedures are in place to screen all staff, Committee members, Volunteers, Third Party Contractors and External Education Providers in accordance with the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013 (Tas).
Child safety and protection is everyone’s responsibility.
Child protection training is mandatory for all Committee members, staff members, Direct Contact Volunteers and Direct Contact Contractors.
Procedures for responding to alleged or suspected incidents of child abuse, neglect or grooming are simple and accessible for all members of the school community.
Procedures are in place to ensure all school premises are designed to ensure the safety of children and young people.

Child Safe Code of Conduct

Safeguarding Policy

Maintaining Professional Boundaries

Mandatory Reporting policy and procedures

Mandatory Reporting simple flowchart

Child Safeguarding Complaints Management Policy and Procedures

Our Promise to Keep You Safe – Child Friendly Child Safe Code of Conduct

Student Problem Solving Policy

Student Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct

Procedures for Managing Child Safety Incidents or Concerns At or Involving the School or its Staff, Volunteers or Contractors

2023 Completed Actions

Policy and Procedures	Appointment of Child Safety Officers Development of Child Safety policies and procedures Screening process for all staff, Committee members, volunteers, contractors in accordance with Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act Safeguarding incorporated into recruitment practices (selection criteria, interview questions, reference checks)
Teaching and Learning	Rights and responsibilities whole school teaching and learning Explicit teaching of language and strategies for boundaries, consent and help seeking Risks to child safety identified in camp, environment day risk assessment processes, mitigations planned and implemented
Professional Development	3 x in house Safeguarding professional learning sessions All staff PL in Ten Principles of Child Safe Organisations and Conventions on the Rights of the Child All staff completed 2 x modules of Australian Human Rights Commission Whole staff review of existing practices, specifically in relation to adult:child relationships, camps, toileting. Collaboratively developed updated understanding of accepted practices. 6 x staff completed Social Stencil training, incorporating children’s rights and consent School Leader PL Safeguarding toolkits and digital resources
Community Engagement	3 x newsletter articles about Safeguarding in Friday Notice communications Links provided to all families to Ten Principles of Child Safe Organisations and Conventions on the Rights of the Child
Governance and Strategy	Committee involvement in the development and adoption of all Child Safe policies

2024 Completed Actions

Policy and Procedures	All school policies and procedures updated to incorporate Child Safety principles where relevant OHO Automated Service for initial and ongoing weekly screening of all staff and volunteers – Term 2 2024 – ongoing subscription
Teaching and Learning	Development of Student Parliament in 2024, with opportunity for student voice / agency in development of child safety policies, actions and language Continued whole school teaching and learning focus on rights and responsibilities Continued explicit teaching of language and strategies for boundaries, consent and help seeking – ongoing Implementation of Social Stencil program, including pre and post student, parent and staff qualitative and quantitative surveys Continued Social Plays in Gathering / classes – ongoing weekly Explicit teaching of help-seeking strategies, including online safety – May 2024 Child developed flowchart / help seeking posters shared and displayed in all classrooms – June 2024
Professional Development	Staff induction – all staff have read and signed off following policies: Maintaining Professional Boundaries, Child Safe Code of Conduct and Mandatory Reporting – 9 Feb 2024 All staff induction – re: understanding their responsibilities for child safe practices – Term 1 2024 Safeguarding goal in all staff members’ 2024 Professional Development Plans (PDPs) to complete all ten modules of Australian Safeguarding with individual staff formally and informally – commenced Term 2 2024, ongoing Human Rights Commission 10 Principles of Child Safe Organisations by end of year – May 2024
Community Engagement	Parent Social Stencil information sessions Updates in Friday Notice permanent link embedded in Friday Notice to safeguarding information – June 2024 online safety and help-seeking information links emailed to Grade 5-6 families – June 2024 Question included in Parent Survey re: personal safety / rights and responsibilities (100% satisfaction) – November 2024 Complaints process added to school website Contact page – November 2024 Parent survey 2024 & invitation for feedback – December 2024 and ongoing
Governance and Strategy	Committee involvement in development and adoption of all policies & procedures – ongoing Safeguarding goal is included in 2024-2026 Strategic plan Australian Government Safeguarding Self Assessment Tool collectively completed by all staff – completed 31 Jan 2024 Staff working group established for follow up actions 2024 – established 31 Jan 2024 Child Safety standing agenda item in weekly staff meetings All staff Professional Development re: understanding responsibilities for child safe practices – 29 April 2024 Commitment to safeguarding professional standards added into staff letters of employment – June 2024 Safeguarding actions reported to school governance each month – June 2024

2025 Completed Actions (in addition to 2023/2024)

Policy and Procedures	Volunteer application process updated – February 2025 Introduced annual application for volunteer status – Term 1 2025 Relief staff induction process updated and completed ready for start of 2025 Policies suite reviewed – February 2025 Updated policy suite Child Safe in Tasmania – for Committee review March / April 2025 Child Safe suite of policies update – review 6 monthly – scheduled Review of offsite risk planning to include safeguarding controls, (including public spaces and camp settings). All staff involved in planning review and upskilling – Term 1 2025 Identified the need for offsite safety plans for individual children – developed Term 1 2025
Teaching and Learning	Student Parliament extended to all grades P-6 – February 2025 Continued Social Plays in Gathering / classes – ongoing weekly Child friendly complaints policy developed (Problem Solving Policy) – March 2025 Anonymous student suggestions / worries box introduced at Gathering – March 2025 Child friendly Code of Conduct developed (Our Promise to Keep you Safe) – March 2025
Professional Development	Staff induction – all staff have read and signed off the following policies: Maintaining Professional Boundaries, Child Safe Code of Conduct and Mandatory Reporting – 31 Jan 2025 All staff induction – re: understanding their responsibilities for child safe practices – Term 1 2025 Safeguarding with individual staff formally and informally – ongoing All staff review of Ten Principles school audit – 29 April 2025
Community Engagement	Safeguarding information in Friday Notice – February 2025 Child safety and help-seeking information emailed to all families – January 2025 Back to school updates from School Leader – January 2025 Declarations of staff student interactions outside of school hours completed all staff – May 2025
Governance and Strategy	Admin working group established for follow up actions 2025 – January 2025 Constitution updated at AGM to include governance Child Safety responsibilities – 26 February 2025 All Committee members completed Child Safety for School Leaders 2025 training – March 2025 Committee involvement in development and adoption of all policies & procedures – ongoing Child Safety standing agenda item in weekly staff meeting Risk Management Strategy review and update including Safeguarding – February 2025 ongoing Safeguarding Audit report formally endorsed by Committee – 26 March 2025 All Child Safety policies and procedures reviewed and endorsed by Committee – 4 June 2025