YOUNG PARENTS POLICY
Principles
We recognise the rights which are extended to all children, everywhere. Every adult in the school shall consider the impact of their actions on our pupils’ fundamental rights, above anything else. We share the duty to teach our pupils to behave in ways that ensure their rights, and the rights of others, are upheld. Our policies and practices must be free from unlawful discrimination and must comply with current legislation.
Aims
1. For parents and pupils to know what to expect from the school, and how they will be supported during a pupil’s pregnancy
2. To include young fathers to be as well as young mothers to be To ensure that every young person receives the same support
3. To ensure that young mothers and young fathers do not suffer discrimination
Objectives
1. To appoint a member of staff with special responsibility for young parents and parents to be
2. To deliver a PSHE lesson about the challenges faced by young parents
3. To treat with respect and confidentiality the young parents’ wishes about informing parents and support agencies of the pregnancy, except:
a. If the mother to be is under 13 – Social Care or the Police MUST be notified
b. If sexual exploitation is suspected , the CPLO MUST be informed and appropriate continued measures must be made
c. We would aim to persuade the mother to be to inform her parents about her pregnancy
4. To refer cases of pregnancy to the YPSS and provide support and continued liaison throughout antenatal and postnatal phases
5. To consider Health and Safety issues relating to the young mother to be in school and take appropriate protection actions
6. To support young parents with childcare needs through ‘Care to Learn’ applications
7. To provide alternative for school activities which have to be missed due to pregnancy or parenting
8. To be flexible with timetable and use of telephone for young parents
9. To be sympathetic to the young parent suffering competing pressures of pregnancy, parenting and educational examinations.
10. Named member of staff for supporting young parents/parents to be: Mrs T. Gabriel
Evaluated by: EP Committee
Review date: June 2019
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Developed in partnership with the secondary schools’ of Portsmouth and the Young Parents’ Support Service – 2012
Contents: Page
Introduction 1
What does the school do following a disclosure of pregnancy? 2
What we don’t do… 2
Child Protection & Safeguarding 3
Confidentiality 3
Health & safety, risk assessment 4
Practicalities; antenatal, postnatal 5
Childcare & continuing education 6
Young fathers 7
Appendices
A. List of relevant services and contacts 8
B. Law re: sexual activity 9
C. Guidance re: Health and Safety 11
D. Dfe and PCC key messages on the ‘Education of School Aged Parents’ 12
E. Information re: Care to Learn 14
F. ‘I think I might be pregnant’ guidance for a young person re: their options if pregnant 15
G. What young parents’ want and need & the realities of being a young parent 16
Aims of this policy:
ü For parents’ and pupils’ to know what to expect from the school, and how they will be supported.
ü To include young fathers’ as well as young mothers’.
ü To ensure that any young person will get the same support whatever school they attend.
ü To ensure that young mothers’ and young fathers’ are not discriminated against.
Introduction
At Priory we believe that all children and young people have the right to an education, regardless of their circumstances or what is happening at home. When a young person becomes a parent to be or is parenting, he or she may need a little extra support to help him or her get the most out of school, and to achieve their full potential. Our ‘Young Parents Policy’ says how we will help any studentwho is a parent to be, or who is parenting.
Our school:
Has a member of staff with special responsibility for young parents to be and young parents and lets all new staff and pupils know who they are and what they can do to help (young parent to have a say in the staff member who is their key link where possible).
Informs a PSHE lesson on the challenges faced by young parents.
Will make a referral for young parents to be and young parents, to the Young Parents Support Service (YPSS) based at The Harbour School @ Milton, and support attendance at the ‘Young Parents Programme’ (1 day a week), whilst also referring to other relevant support services.
Will support ‘Care to Learn’ applications or equivalent for childcare so that the young parent can attend school.
Respects the young person’s right to privacy and will only share information about them and their family with people who need to know to help them and to keep them safe, fit and healthy.
Will consider alternatives if a young parent to be or a young parent is unable to attend out of school activities e.g. detention, sports coaching, concerts, due to their pregnancy / parenting related commitments.
Be flexible around timetabling to accommodate the needs of the young parent to be or young parent.
Allows young parents to telephone; childminder / carer / nursery during breaks and lunchtimes.
Is mindful of the competing pressure of pregnancy / parenting and the pressure to achieve educational outcomes (exams).
1
What does the school do following a disclosure of pregnancy?
Ø Listen to the young person without judgement. Ask: Has the pregnancy been confirmed? Do they need any support with getting the pregnancy confirmed? Who else have they spoken to?
Ø Encourage the young person to tell their parents, and offer support to do this (school staff are not legally obligated to inform parents, but the young person should be encouraged to tell their parents about the pregnancy). (See Appendix D for further information)
Ø Discuss with young person regarding sharing information with their peer group and or staff
Ø Offer ‘I think I might be pregnant’ information (see Appendix F)
Ø Inform the DOSC (Designated Officer for Safeguarding Children) at school, and discuss any safeguarding concerns (See Appendix B for further information)
Ø Complete a referral form (The Harbour School referral form) for YPSS (Young Parents Support Service) if continuing with pregnancy when between 14-16 weeks pregnant
Ø Complete a young person friendly plan to include who to talk to in school, and a diary planner with important dates
Ø Liaise with YPSS re young person’s education
What we don’t do
Judge them!
Try to counsel about continuing with the pregnancy or a termination
Tell everybody in school!!
Phone parents
Phone social care, unless the girl is under 13 or there is concern about coercion, grooming or abuse
Discriminate / exclude on the basis of pregnancy or parenting
Make them work in; isolation, inclusion units, learning support units (unless this is requested by the young parent and is therefore their choice)
Exclude young parents with their babies from maintaining contact with school as appropriate
2
Child Protection & Safeguarding
In the case of students under 16, if the member of staff judges that there may be a child protection issue to be addressed, they should liaise with the school’s designated person (name to be inserted).The designated person has training / knowledge of Child Sexual Exploitation, and a sound understanding of the Fraser Competency Guidelines.
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 is not intended to criminalise people under 16 of a similar age who have consensual sex. A child protection issue arises when there has been non-consensual sex or an exploitative relationship, particularly with an older person or someone in a position of trust.
Children under 13 cannot consent to ANY sexual activity. In all cases involving under 13s there must be a formal recorded consultation with Social Care and or the police.
Liaison between the Young Parents Support Service, school and other related agencies, to monitor the progress and well being of the young mother, father and baby, and appropriately share either any pre-existing or new concerns with involved services is a shared ongoing safeguarding responsibility.
Confidentiality
Don’t tell everybody – no gossiping
School staff don’t have to legally inform parents, but encourage the young person to do this themselves
Discuss child protection procedures with the young person and liaise with the DOSC
Inform only necessary people or agencies (this will be discussed with the young person)
Keep confidential information in a separate file in a locked cabinet
Remind young people that they have a responsibility about their own confidentiality – discourage them from sharing on facebook or with friends as the information can be passed on, and they can share the information with teaching staff themselves
Remind friends that they are not helping by gossiping and discuss confidentiality with them
Remind them about confidentiality of other services (that may be different to school)
(See Appendix B for further information) 3
Health & Safety, Risk Assessment
Young parents to take level of personal responsibility for own health and safety
To stay in school until 38 wks pregnant if fit and well and no concerns from midwife or doctor
Fill in a risk assessment for a young person’s pregnancy, in the same way as you would for a member of staff
Assessment of suitability of courses / options eg: hairdressing - chemicals, on their feet all day; construction – risk assess; science – radio waves, work experience
Avoid chemicals and radio waves, or risky situations
Inform welfare / nurse – risk of chicken pox / measles etc… or if the young parent to be has health concerns eg diabetes, epilepsy
Medical card for toilet use
Leave lessons early / late when heavily pregnant
Extra consideration for exams / assemblies (eg need to sit on a chair and not stand for too long)
Relaxed rules for uniform, but along the lines of the rest of the school so that it’s not obvious
Monitor for signs of increased violence if concerns already about home / relationship
Dietary needs (ensure that they are accessing Free School Meals (FSM) if they are entitled)
(See Appendix C for further information)
4
Practicalities
Antenatal:
Time out cards / Toilet pass
Authorised time off for appointments (including young fathers where appropriate i.e scans)
Adapted timetable
Uniform
Be mindful of possible lack of sleep
1:1 time – YPSS and or CAMHS Little Minds Matter if appropriate
Exams – medical dispensation if they are ill
Look at early entry for exams (if appropriate for the young person)
School plan – young parent’s wishes / voice to be represented
Stay in school until 38 weeks (if all okay)
Postnatal:
Authorised time off (verified with the parent of the young person) for; medical appointments for themselves or their baby (illness or checkups and immunisations) (including young fathers)
Time out cards / Toilet pass
Lack of sleep
Uniform
Hormones – post natal depression / just being a bit down
Exam dispensation – if in labour or just given birth
School plan – YPSS, regular ½ termly reviews, include the young person’s wishes and voice
Encourage the young mother to return to school on a phased return to match childcare, 6 weeks after the birth
Young father to return to school after up to 2 weeks after the birth
Remind staff which young people are also young parent’s, so that new staff are aware and are mindful of the above
If the young parent is choosing to breastfeed, a private space to express milk and suitable storage will be provided in school.
(See Appendices G & H for further information) 5
Childcare and continuing education
Care 2 learn to fund childcare
Funded travel to school from childcare placement (for both boys and girls)
Role of Young Parents Programme to support education (for girls)
Careers advice (IYSS) (for both boys and girls)
Support with parenting skills – childcare sessions with Young Parents Support Service (for both boys and girls)
Continued education at school – consider reduced timetable / reduced GCSEs?
Paternity leave (2 weeks from birth of baby) and maternity leave (maximum of up to 6 weeks after the birth of the baby, unless there are exceptional circumstances)
Authorised absences for parents to be for antenatal and post natal care and for any absences due to the baby’s illness once born (where possible, shared between the 2 parents)
Notification to exam board if due date is during exams
Consider how controlled assessments will be accessed if studentis on maternity leave
Work / coursework to be set for them whilst they are on maternity leave or unable to return to school until suitable child care kicks in (parents might be working, nurseries will not take babies until they are 12 weeks old)
Sexual health / relationship work to be offered, which could be supported or delivered by the Young Parents’ Support Service
(See Appendix E for further information)
6
Young Fathers
Who can they talk to before Young Parents Support Service becomes involved – nominated person within school, for young father’s to speak to
Should be treated equally regarding; appointments where appropriate / scans / paternity leave
Support the potential young father with any issues regarding his parenting role, whether he is the biological parent or is adopting the role of parent
Sexual health / relationship work to be offered, which could be supported or delivered by the Young Parents’ Support Service
Being given opportunities to education regarding parenting skills