Park View Primary School

 Confidentiality Policy

Introduction

We recognise that there are occasions when pupils are worried about something and feel that they cannot talk to their parents/carers. Some pupils may feel that they can turn to teachers and other staff members for support and we want to be as helpful as we can whilst recognising that there may be some potential difficulties in being supportive.

All schools may be asked on occasion to keep information confidential. This may relate to a variety of issues such as drug use, abuse or other dangerous or illegal activities. It is important that in these situations, the whole school follows the same clear and explicit policy.

Aims

• To protect our pupils at all times
• To give clear guidance to all members of staff around confidentiality
• To give staff the confidence to deal with sensitive issues
• To encourage pupils to talk to a trusted adult if they are having problems

Personal Disclosures

Disclosures from pupils may take place at an inappropriate time or place. If this happens, the member of staff should talk again individually to the pupil before the end of the school day. Following this, the member of staff should follow the school’s confidentiality policy.

Key points

• Pupils should be reassured that their best interests will be maintained
• It must be made clear to pupils and their parents/carers that staff cannot offer unconditional confidentiality
• If confidentiality has to be broken, pupils should be reassured that they will be informed first and given appropriate support
• Pupils should be encouraged to talk to their parents/carers about issues that may be troubling them and offered support in doing this where appropriate
• Pupils should be made aware of confidential sources of support e.g. school nurse
• Clear ground rules must be set for any classroom work such as circle time and other PSHE sessions dealing with sensitive issues
• If a member of staff received information that leads them to believe that there is a child protection issue, they should refer the case to a designated teacher for child protection (at Park View school, this is either the Headteacher or the Assistant Headteacher/Senco)
• Child protection issues are understood by all staff and training for staff is undertaken regularly.

Health Professionals

Health professionals such as the school nurse, are bound by their professional codes of conduct to maintain confidentiality. When working in the classroom they are bound by school policies. They should seek to protect privacy and prevent inappropriate personal disclosures by negotiating ground rules and using distancing techniques.

Further Guidance

• Governors

From time to time, issues will be discussed or brought to the attention of governors about staff and children. Governors must observe complete confidentiality when asked to do so by the governing body, especially in relation to matters concerning individual staff, pupils or parents.

• Parents

 Parents in school, working as volunteers or as parent of the PTA should not report/discuss cases of poor behaviour or pupil discipline to other parents in school.

• Performance management

Staff performance management will be carried out privately and targets for individuals, named lesson observations and other performance data will be securely maintained by those responsible for carrying out the management process.

Park View Primary School has a duty of care and responsibility towards pupils, parents/carers and staff. It also needs to work with a range of outside agencies and share information on a professional basis. The care and safety of the individual is the key issue behind this policy.

This confidentiality policy seeks to support the following policies:

• Anti-bullying
• Child protection
• Health and safety
• PSHE
• Substance abuse and misuse.

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