The Responsible Organisation

Children are viewed as the most important people in the school dynamic, schools centre around the child to fulfil their needs. They are minors and can’t really speak for themselves, so their needs and rights need protecting, legislation/policies/procedures are put in place to ensure this. Schools play an important role in The Children’s Act 1989 by following the guidelines to ensure they uphold every child’s right to feel safe in their environment. The school takes responsibility to identify any child who is not safe in their environment. This could be within the family home, should a problem be identified the school are duty bound to relay issues to the relevant authority/agency. The Human Rights Act 1998 is supported by implementing policies such as anti-bullying or health and safety. The Act protects children against corporal punishment which is an infringement of their rights, the schools role is to uphold these rights. Daily the Data Protection Act comes into force, confidential and personal information is collated and used frequently in schools.

Staff play an important role ensuring confidentiality. They deal responsibly with attendance records, exam results, medical information and make sure it is only used for intended purpose. The age of legal capacity 1991/Gallick competence, allows a child to consent to a medical procedure/intervention under the age of 16 without parental/carer consent. Schools support this by assesing if the child is capable of understanding the nature of possible consequences. A school may need to take on this role, if, for instance a child is self-harming, self harming behaviours are by nature secretative and a parent/carer will often not be aware what is happening, some young people may talk to a trusted professional in school, the school then need to take on this role and responsibility.

The Children and Young Persons Act 1933/2008 makes it unlawful to wilfully abandon and neglect a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health, the school need to take responsibility for the act in various ways. For example, a teacher would have knowledge of any pupil’s health problems such as asthma or maybe allergies. Staff need to take responsibility for those pupils. Should a child suffer an asthma attack, the correct course of action needs to be followed. With a known allergy, such as a food allergy, if the teacher gives a child the inappropriate foods, they could be charged with wilful neglect. Schools also need to make sure that they provide adequate care regarding welfare and standards, to include the environment or attainment of pupils within the establishment, be that in the playground or in the school classroom. Under the regulation of care act, a school that does not take on the role can have its premises closed down. The school has to follow guidelines carefully and make sure it adheres to the standards/regulations set, and has adequate provision and maintains its standards.

S Crowe