RIPPONLEA PRIMARY SCHOOL

CHILD SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY 

 

GETTING TO KNOW THE CHILD SAFE STANDARDS & WHAT RPS DOES

Child Safe Standard 2:

Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in the organisational leadership, governance, and school culture.

 

At Ripponlea Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every student is our highest priority. We recognise that creating a child safe culture requires strong leadership, sound governance practices, and a commitment to continuously embedding child safety into every aspect of school life.

Our Commitment and Actions

1. Strong Policies and Clear Expectations

  • Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy: This policy outlines the measures we have in place to create and maintain a child safe environment and is actively implemented across the school.
  • Child Safety Code of Conduct: Adopted and enforced by school leadership, this document sets clear expectations for appropriate behaviour. Any inconsistent conduct by staff, contractors, or volunteers is swiftly addressed.
  • Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures: Staff are trained and required to follow clear procedures to report any concerns relating to child safety.
  • Public Visibility: Our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Code of Conduct are publicly available and regularly promoted to our school community through our website, enrolment packs, and school events.

2. Monitoring and Risk Management

  • A detailed Child Safety Risk Register is maintained and reviewed annually, or after any significant child safety concern or incident, ensuring continual reflection and improvement.
  • Volunteer Policy: All volunteers are supported to understand their legal obligations regarding information sharing and recordkeeping.

3. Ongoing Awareness and Education

  • PROTECT posters and the Four Critical Actions guide are displayed prominently across the school, reinforcing the steps to take when responding to child safety concerns.
  • Records Management: All staff and volunteers are trained to follow the Records Management - School Records Policy, ensuring secure, confidential, and accurate recordkeeping.

4. Embedding a Child Safe Culture

  • Leadership Responsibility: School leaders regularly communicate and model the importance of child safety.
  • Community Communication:
    • Information about child safety is shared through newsletters, information sessions, and other school communications.
    • We explicitly communicate that mistreatment, discrimination, and racism will not be tolerated.
    • Students are encouraged to speak out, and their voices are listened to and respected.
  • Visible Commitment:
    • Child safety commitment statements are displayed at reception, in school grounds, enrolment packs, and our Foundation "Stepping Up" program materials.
  • Open Dialogue: Regular discussions on child safety are held at leadership team meetings, staff meetings, and school council meetings.

5. Child Safety ChampionsTo support a proactive and responsive child safety culture, we have appointed and trained dedicated Child Safety Champions:

  • Natalie Rose
  • Julie Nield
  • Jaryn Rambaran
  • Lydia Ioannidis
  • Marta Campbell
  • Caroline Robertshaw

These leaders act as points of contact for raising concerns, promoting awareness, and supporting continuous improvements in child safety practices.

 

Recognising Signs of Abuse

We know that abuse can be difficult to detect and that children may not always disclose harm directly. Staff are trained to observe for possible indicators, including but not limited to:

  • Changes in behaviour, mood, academic performance, or attendance.
  • Physical indicators such as unexplained injuries.
  • Emotional signs like withdrawal, anxiety, fearfulness, or hypervigilance.
  • Concerns raised by other students.

Staff understand that while these signs may not always mean abuse is occurring, any concerning changes are taken seriously and acted upon in accordance with reporting obligations.

What a Child Safe Culture Looks Like at Ripponlea Primary School

  • Leaders and staff prioritise child safety openly and consistently.
  • Children’s voices are heard and valued; adults actively listen and respond to their concerns.
  • Staff and volunteers speak up without fear when they observe unsafe practices or behaviours, and know the school will act fairly and appropriately.
  • Child safety concerns are taken seriously, reported promptly, and addressed transparently in partnership with relevant authorities.
  • Consequences for breaches of the Child Safety Policy or Code of Conduct are clear and consistently applied.
  • Our culture of vigilance and collective responsibility makes it difficult for abuse or harm to occur unnoticed.

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are proud to foster a strong, transparent, and proactive culture where every student feels safe, respected, and supported to thrive.

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