Assignment 4 – the Role of the Teaching Assistant
Assignment 4 – The Role of the Teaching Assistant
1. Explain the responsibilities of the school relating to the duty of care and the welfare of the child.
All adults working alongside children have a responsibility to keep them safe. As a teaching assistant, initial training will be given outlining your role and any other particular areas which your employer would like you to focus on to improve the schools child welfare system. The Children Act1989 states that the welfare of the child is paramount and sets out to detail what Local Authorities and Courts should to protect children. The school must designate a Senior Teacher who will hold specific responsibilities for child protection within their school, they will be clear and familiar with the rules and steps to follow regarding any matters of child welfare. They should also be confident and clear when offering advice and guidance to colleagues who are unfamiliar with the child protection service.
Teachers and teaching assistants have a duty of care to their students and because they have daily contact with them they are able to identify any signs of abuse, neglect, failure to develop or any unusual change in behaviour. If a member of staff has any knowledge or suspicion that a child is or has been suffering in silence then they must take action, the usual course of action will be to consult with the designated colleague or if absent the most senior member of staff available. Furthermore the student must be informed that this information cannot be kept confidential and will be passed onto the appropriate person. An immediate written record of the conversation passed must include information such as dates and time reported, dates and place of alleged abuse, the names of all the people involved, nature of alleged and description of any injuries observed, any information contributed by siblings or friends and finally confirmation that the student has been advised of the next steps.
The designated Child
1. Explain the responsibilities of the school relating to the duty of care and the welfare of the child.
All adults working alongside children have a responsibility to keep them safe. As a teaching assistant, initial training will be given outlining your role and any other particular areas which your employer would like you to focus on to improve the schools child welfare system. The Children Act1989 states that the welfare of the child is paramount and sets out to detail what Local Authorities and Courts should to protect children. The school must designate a Senior Teacher who will hold specific responsibilities for child protection within their school, they will be clear and familiar with the rules and steps to follow regarding any matters of child welfare. They should also be confident and clear when offering advice and guidance to colleagues who are unfamiliar with the child protection service.
Teachers and teaching assistants have a duty of care to their students and because they have daily contact with them they are able to identify any signs of abuse, neglect, failure to develop or any unusual change in behaviour. If a member of staff has any knowledge or suspicion that a child is or has been suffering in silence then they must take action, the usual course of action will be to consult with the designated colleague or if absent the most senior member of staff available. Furthermore the student must be informed that this information cannot be kept confidential and will be passed onto the appropriate person. An immediate written record of the conversation passed must include information such as dates and time reported, dates and place of alleged abuse, the names of all the people involved, nature of alleged and description of any injuries observed, any information contributed by siblings or friends and finally confirmation that the student has been advised of the next steps.
The designated Child