TAMAITI PROTECTION POLICY

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RATIONALE

Geraldine Preschool, as an early childhood education provider, is committed to tamaiti protection and prevention of child abuse and neglect and its responsibilities under the Children’s Act, 2014.

The interest, safety, and well-being of tamariki is paramount and all adults at Geraldine Preschool

have an obligation to ensure the wellbeing of tamariki in our care and community. We

provide a safe environment free from physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse. We maintain a culture where employees feel confident to raise issues of concern, keeping the tamaiti at the centre of all decision-making when responding to suspected abuse. We support whānau to protect their tamariki.

TE WHĀRIKI

Well-being/ Mana atua - Goal 3: Tamariki experience an environment where they are kept

safe from harm.

Tamaiti protection principles:

We make the safety and wellbeing of tamariki our primary concern, with the tamaiti at the centre of all decision-making when responding to suspected abuse or neglect.

We promote a culture where staff feel confident to challenge poor practice and raise issues of concern.

We recognise the importance of the whānau and their right to participate in decision-making about their tamaiti, unless this would result in an increased risk to the tamaiti.

Staff at Geraldine Preschool are aware that they can report suspected child abuse and neglect to Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Vulnerable Children or the Police.

(Ref Ministry of Education-Child Protection Policy)

Our commitments

To help us act in a way that reflects our principles we make the following commitments:

1. To work together to ensure the best possible outcomes for the tamaiti.
2. All policies and initiatives are designed to promote (and be inclusive of) a tamaiti protection culture and to work towards continuous improvement in tamaiti protection practices.
3. To develop and maintain links with iwi, Pasifika and other cultural and community groups to ensure that important cultural concepts (e.g., whakamanawa, whakapapa, te reo Māori, tikanga, kaitiakitanga, wairuatanga) are integrated, as appropriate, into practice.
4. To have open and transparent relationships with whānau and service users, including sharing concerns about tamaiti safety issues with the whānau unless this would result in an increased risk to the tamaiti.
5. To support all staff to work in accordance with the policy, to work with partner agencies and community organisations to ensure tamaiti protection policies are consistent and of high quality and to always comply with relevant legislative responsibilities.
6. To share information relevant to the tamaiti safety and well-being in a timely way and to discuss any concerns about an individual tamaiti with colleagues, Centre manager/person responsible or the designated person for tamaiti protection.
7. A commitment to meet all existing statutory and contractual obligations, including matters relating to employment.

(Ref Ministry of Education-Child Protection Policy)

PROCEDURES

Definitions:

Abuse: the harming (whether physically, emotionally or sexually), ill-treatment, neglect or

deprivation of any tamaiti. (Oranga Tamariki Act, 1989)

This policy covers all types of possible abuse: emotional, physical, sexual, cyber and neglect.

Neglect: the persistent failure to meet the basic physical or psychological needs of a tamaiti,

leading to adverse or impaired physical or emotional functioning or development.

Early Childhood Services Regulations state 1:5 kaiako/tamaiti ratios for tamariki 0-2

and 1:10 kaiako/tamaiti ratio for tamariki aged 2-5.  Geraldine Preschool maintains higher

kaiako/tamaiti ratios than those specified by the 2008 Regulations.

New children workers  will undergo required safety checks that comply with the Vulnerable Children’s Act 2014. This will include: a police vet, identity verification, references where previous employers will be contacted, work history, qualifications check, and an interview. A risk assessment will be completed by the centre manager. If there is any suspicion that an applicant might pose a risk to tamaiti, that applicant will not be employed.   Safety checks will be completed every three years on all children workers.

All employees at Geraldine Preschool are made aware of this policy and how to raise issues of concern at the time of their induction.

Possible situations of abuse in early childhood education could be:

• Adult to Adult
• Adult to Tamaiti
• Tamaiti to Adult
• Tamaiti to Tamaiti

This policy addresses adult to tamaiti and tamaiti to tamaiti abuse. The police will be contacted where appropriate for adult to adult abuse. If one tamaiti is suspected of abusing another, it may indicate that the abusing tamaiti has been abused. Treat this as an indicator and compile and record information about the behaviour of this tamaiti over time to look for a pattern.

Geraldine Preschool team members have a responsibility to protect not only tamariki enrolled at Preschool, but all tamaiti in our community. Therefore, this policy relates to all tamariki where team members are concerned for their wellbeing.

We require employees to be observant and if they have any concern regarding a tamaiti to document this concern and pass it onto the Centre manager immediately, who will help to decide the appropriate course of action. Written statements will be retained and kept confidential. Early identification and timely action is encouraged.

Employees are encouraged to professionally and constructively challenge poor practice, or raise issues of concern with their Centre manager without fear of reprisal.

Touch and physical affection is important for tamariki healthy development.  If a tamaiti initiates physical contact to seek affection, reassurance, or comfort, it is appropriate to respond.  Physical contact for changing or cleaning bodies, is also acceptable for that task only. It is not appropriate to force unwanted affection or touching on a tamaiti. If any team members are concerned about ways other team members are interacting with tamariki, they should raise it with the Centre manager as

above.

Any serious incident or near incident that involves harm to a tamaiti will be fully investigated by the Centre manager.

RESPONDING TO SUSPECTED ABUSE

The following measures will be taken by all kaiako regarding suspected abuse:

• All allegations of tamaiti abuse will be taken seriously.
• If any employee sees a tamaiti being abused, observes signs of abuse, or a tamaiti reports being abused, we will follow the reporting process for tamaiti abuse, as detailed at the conclusion of this policy.
• If a tamaiti makes a verbal disclosure of abuse to a staff member, that staff member will have a conversation with the tamaiti to reassure them.   Employees will use open ended prompts, and not ask leading questions, to ensure they don’t put  words into their mouths.  Staff members won’t push tamaiti to give more information than they are willing to share.  Conversations will be recorded and discussed with the Centre manager.
• Disclosures can also come in the form of behaviour, or through comments from other tamariki and adults.  In these cases written observations will be recorded, discussed with the Centre manager and signed.  Observations to be filed in tamaiti enrolment file and kept for 7 years.
• All suspicions or observed incidents, or reports of incidents, should be reported directly to the Centre manager as soon as possible. The Centre manager will immediately take steps to protect the tamaiti and record the report.
• If the Centre manager feels there is reasonable cause to believe a tamaiti is unsafe, the concerns will be reported  to Oranga Tamariki) - 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459).  The centre manager will take action in the short term to ensure the immediate safety of the tamaiti. This may mean contacting Oranga Tamariki or the police immediately.
• If staff members feel they cannot go to the Centre manager (for example they have concerns about the Centre manager’s practice or wish to make an allegation involving the centre manager), they will report directly to the Board of Governance.
• No kaiako will act alone regarding suspected tamaiti abuse. The Centre manager will be consulted for all concerns.
• To protect the privacy and dignity of the tamaiti and whānau, information will be kept confidential with the persons concerned.
• Geraldine Preschool will offer support to all those involved in any abuse allegations.
• We realise and accept our own limitations in dealing with issues of abuse.

Professional agencies such as the preschool social worker, police and Oranga Tamariki will be involved in suspected cases of abuse. These agencies are sought for their specialised knowledge.

If a tamaiti behaviour affects other tamariki health and wellbeing at Geraldine preschool, a whānau meeting will be called by the Centre manager to discuss the situation. The final decision of future action remains with the centre manager.  Geraldine preschool reserves the right to exclude any tamaiti if their behaviour poses a significant danger to the safety of others.

ALLEGATIONS ABOUT GERALDINE PRESCHOOL EMPLOYEES

• If there are any allegations of abuse or ill-treatment of a tamaiti by a Geraldine preschool employee, the authorities will be informed immediately, and the employee will be suspended while the matter is investigated. Procedures to follow will align with the individual’s employment agreement. The tamaiti abuse case and employment case will be treated separately with different Geraldine preschool representatives assigned to each.
• Geraldine Preschool will report to the Teaching Council if required.

INFORMATION SHARING

• The Privacy Act, 2020 and the Oranga Tamariki Act, 1989 allow information to be shared to keep tamariki safe when abuse or suspected abuse is reported or investigated. Any person disclosing information in good faith regarding suspected abuse, will be assured the protection afforded by law that no civil, criminal or disciplinary proceedings may be brought against them.
• The Privacy Act, 2020 allows professionals to share information about tamaiti and young people with other professionals when they have a serious concern for their wellbeing. Sharing information must contribute to prevention or reduction in harm or contribute to an assessment of risks and needs for the tamaiti.
• All information will be kept confidential with the parties concerned and concern records kept secure.
• Unless it increases the risk to the tamaiti, or places staff members in a dangerous situation, whānau will be informed if Geraldine preschool  is making a report of concern. This is not to gain consent. If a report is being made legislation allows Geraldine preschool to share information without the consent of whānau if parents object.  Facts will be recorded along with reasons for decisions made.
• There may be cases where the involvement of statutory agencies is inappropriate and potentially harmful to whānau. If the centre manager feels there is reasonable concern for the wellbeing of a tamaiti, they will work to respond to the needs of this tamaiti in a manner proportionate to the level or need and risk, working with external agencies and whānau as appropriate.
• Regulated child welfare and protection agencies are listed in the Oranga Tamariki Act and includes all health services.

GENERAL CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES

• Our playground, indoor play areas, sleep rooms and tamariki bathrooms and changing

areas are designed to ensure they can be by supervised by kaiako.

• Whānau at Geraldine preschool are encouraged to visit at any time during the day. Whānau settling tamariki into the centre are encouraged to observe and take part in our

programme until such time as they feel secure enough to leave.

• Only adults named on the enrolment form are able to collect tamariki from the centre.
• If a tamaiti is to be collected by someone other than the persons on their enrolment

form, whānau are required to give permission.

• Adults authorised to collect tamaiti are given individual pins to enter into childcare discover software on pick up.  This enables the centre to have a record of tamaiti collection.
• All information regarding tamaiti will be made available upon request.  Where there is a custody arrangement parental parties will be consulted.
• A complaints procedure ensures issues of concern are dealt with appropriately.
• Volunteers and student teachers will be welcomed into Geraldine preschool subject to safety checking procedures. If we are relying on the safety check completed by another

organisation (for example a tertiary institution) we will obtain written confirmation of

the components of the safety check completed.

• All employees are responsible for ensuring visitors, students and volunteers know

what health and safety, and child protection behaviour is acceptable.

• Any adult who has not had a safety check completed, will not be left alone with

tamariki without a permanent employee, or have responsibility for tamariki.

• No visiting student or volunteer is to be left alone with any tamaiti or group of

tamariki.

• No visiting student or volunteer is to change or toilet any tamaiti.
• Regular relievers will be allowed to change or toilet tamariki.
• Staff will never take photographs or videos of tamaiti anogenital areas, even as a record of concerns.
• We value the internet as a learning tool. Geraldine preschool kaiako will only access tamaiti appropriate websites when exploring with tamariki.
• There is a zero tolerance for staff members working at the centre under the influence

of drugs or alcohol. If any whānau arrives to pick up their child whilst suspected to be

under the influence of drugs or alcohol, staff will use their discretion to decide if the

tamaiti is safe to be collected by the whānau member. Staff can offer to call another whānau member to collect tamaiti. If whānau member is non-cooperative, staff should call the police (111).

TAMAITI CURIOUS BODY PLAY

• We believe that curiosity about bodies among tamariki is healthy and normal. However, kaiako are there to provide guidelines needed to ensure that the physical and emotional wellbeing of tamariki is protected.
• Tamariki keep their underwear or nappies on, unless they are getting changed.
• Whānau will be notified of any inappropriate sex play involving their tamaiti.
• Strategies will be developed in consultation with whānau, should any tamaiti engage in unusually regular self-stimulation.
• Kaiako will ensure all team members know of instances of frequent or inappropriate sex play.
• Whānau should advise kaiako of anything their tamaiti says which may point to inappropriate sex play having occurred and vice versa. This will be recorded confidentially.
• We use language that promotes a positive body image and awareness, and how to take care of themselves. Tamariki will be encouraged to have ownership over their bodies and move away from play or say no if they are feeling unsafe and to inform a kaiako.
• Kaiako will intervene at any point if curious body play is inappropriate, hidden from adults, if there is any coercion, or if the play is frequent.
• Kaiako will consult with external agencies for support if required.
• We ensure tamariki develop respect for their own and others’ bodies, minds and spirits. We encourage good self-esteem, awareness of body health and such concepts as ‘my body, my choice’ and ‘I have the right to say no’.

LINKS TO:

• Privacy Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• GM7A Safety Checking - Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
• Children’s Act, 2014
• Oranga Tamariki Act, 1989
• Family Violence Act, 2018
• The Privacy Act 2020 and

Date approved:  September 2024

Review date: September 2025