NSPCC Schools Service agreement

NSPCC Schools Service - Schools Agreement (“Agreement”)

Last updated: 08 August 2024

Welsh/Cymraeg

The NSPCC Schools Service has a wide range of services that it has developed, which are aimed at providing safeguarding messages to primary school children and/or their parents/carers.

The Schools Service wishes to work in partnership with schools and organisations to deliver these messages through our Speak out. Stay safe. programme (the “Programme”) for children from the age of 5 to 11 (4 to 11 in Northern Ireland and Scotland).

We are pleased your School wants to participate in our Programme and this Agreement sets out how we will work together to deliver the Programme.

The Programme is being provided free of charge to the School. If the School would like to fundraise to support the NSPCC, we are happy to provide ideas.

It is agreed by NSPCC and the School, that the terms of this Agreement shall govern any joint working in relation to this Programme.

This Agreement is for a period of 1 (one) year from the date of signature (the “Term”).

1. The NSPCC agrees to:

• 1.1 provide the School with age-appropriate resources (virtual assemblies and teaching resources), for delivery of the Programme.
• 1.2 provide face to face workshops for age 6-7 and 9-11 upon agreement based on capacity.
• 1.3 provide the School with adequate information for parents/carers to enable them to make an informed decision about their child’s participation in the Programme, including key information about the Programme, its purpose and objectives.
• 1.4 give the School access to surveys to feedback on the Programme.
• 1.5 upon request, provide the School with the “NSPCC Compliments, Comments and Complaints Policy” document.

Where the Programme involves face to face delivery of workshops by NSPCC volunteers, or “champions” (champions are specialist volunteers who are members of staff from other organisations such as youth workers or the police who are permitted to volunteer with the Programme by their organisations), attending the School in person, or your own teaching and learning staff, who volunteer to deliver other parts of the Programme in addition to the assemblies, the NSPCC also agrees to:

• 1.6 ensure that the Programme is delivered in a sensitive, age-appropriate manner.
• 1.7 provide training (if required), to enable those who deliver the Programme to recognise and respond appropriately to child protection and safeguarding issues.
• 1.8 ensure that the Programme both in content and delivery adheres to recognised safeguarding principles, standards and relevant legislation and guidance.
• 1.9 ensure that all NSPCC staff, volunteers and champions involved in the delivery of the Programme, have an enhanced DBS (a check of the Disclosure and Barring Service in England, the Isle of Man and Wales), Access NI (Northern Ireland) or PVG Checks (managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland in Scotland).
• 1.10 ensure that its staff, volunteers and champions who may participate in the delivery of the Programme comply with the School’s child protection procedures, and any other policies or procedures that the School make them aware of while on the School premises;
• 1.11 ensure that staff, volunteers, and champions advise the children taking part of the boundaries of confidentiality.

2. The School agrees that it shall:

• 2.1 provide information to parents /carers about the Programme.
• 2.2 be responsible for deciding whether to seek consent from parents/carers prior to a child participating in the Programme.
• 2.3 ensure that the class teachers are present throughout the delivery of the Programme, so that staff are familiar with the key messages and can support children after the sessions.
• 2.4 ensure that adequate space and facilities are available to carry out the Programme at the time required and are in line with current Health and Safety legislation.
• 2.5 ensure that any School staff member involved in the delivery of the Programme has a valid enhanced DBS check i.e. a check of the Disclosure and Barring Service in England, Isle of Man and Wales, Access NI in Northern Ireland or PVG check managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland in Scotland.
• 2.6 make NSPCC staff or volunteers, or champions involved in the delivery of the Programme aware of the School’s child protection procedures and any other relevant School policies or procedures.
• 2.7 not share Programme content and resources with other schools or networks without the prior permission from the NSPCC.
• 2.8 within ten days of delivery of the Programme, encourage participating staff and pupils (i.e. pupils as appropriate per offer) to complete the relevant survey, which helps inform future Programme development.

3. Safeguarding – Child protection and child welfare concerns

• A child protection concern is information that suggests a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
• A child welfare concern is information that suggests a child’s health or development is being, or may be impaired, but where it is not believed that this meets the threshold of a child protection concern.

The safety and wellbeing of a child is of paramount importance. If safeguarding concerns arise during the delivery of the Programme, the following is agreed:

• 3.1 If a concern is identified by a member of School staff involved in the delivery of the Programme, they will follow School procedures and pass this on to the designated teacher for child protection.
• 3.2 The NSPCC has statutory powers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales under the Children’s Act 1989 having Authorised Person Status to take action to protect children and can act independently if necessary to ensure the safety of children. The NSPCC does not have Authorised Person Status in Scotland and is subject to The National Guidance for Child Protection Scotland 2021 which is non-statutory and describes responsibilities and expectations for all involved in protecting children in Scotland.

Where delivery of the Programme involves NSPCC volunteers or champions attending the School in person, the following is also agreed:

• 3.3 It will always be the responsibility of the School to ensure that their safeguarding procedures are followed where a NSPCC staff member or volunteer or champions involved in the delivery of the Programme has reported a child protection concern and/or a child welfare issue.
• 3.4 If a safeguarding concern arises during the delivery of the Programme that relates to the conduct of a member of School staff, the NSPCC will raise this with the Head Teacher but reserves the right to make contact directly with the Safeguarding in Education Lead Officer and or the Designated Officer (Northern Ireland – Child Protection Support Service).
• 3.5 Should a safeguarding concern be identified by the NSPCC staff member or volunteer or champion, they will follow School and NSPCC procedures. This will include passing to the class teacher (if present at the time) and the designated teacher for child protection, Head teacher or Principal (if available) and NSPCC Schools Co-ordinator before they leave the School premises.
• 3.6 If a circumstance arises where a child or young person is deemed to be in need of urgent medical attention or in immediate danger, the NSPCC staff or volunteers or champions will endeavour to follow the School procedures but are required to contact the emergency services without delay in an emergency.
• 3.7 In the case of a safeguarding concern being identified, an NSPCC staff member will contact the School within 24 hours to ascertain what actions the Designated Teacher for Child Protection intends to take.
• 3.8 If a child protection concern is identified, details of this concern, actions taken and risk identified will be recorded by the NSPCC and sent as a referral to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection within one working day. These details will also be recorded on the NSPCC database.
• 3.9 The NSPCC staff member will contact the School to follow up on any new child protection concerns that are referred to the School to establish what actions have been taken, and any outcomes, within either 24 hours or 5 working days depending on the NSPCC risk rating high or medium. For child welfare, feedback will be sought no later than 5 working days where necessary depending on the level of information gathered at the initial point of the NSPCC staff member sharing the concern with the School.
• 3.10 In the unlikely event that School procedures have not been followed or the School does not take appropriate protective action, the NSPCC will attempt to resolve with the School. However, the NSPCC reserves the right to escalate further by making a referral to statutory agencies such as Children's Services/CPSS in Northern Ireland. We will keep the Head Teacher informed of this action.

4. Confidentiality and information sharing records:

The NSPCC and the School agree to comply with all applicable laws, and regulations relating to data or privacy, including but not limited to the General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018 and all relevant statute, statutory provisions, regulations, codes of practice and guidance in relation to this Agreement.

• 4.1 The NSPCC will not routinely keep records about individual children taking part in the Programme, but we will need to keep records about the planning, preparation and delivery of the Programme that will include information about the staff we speak to and the number of pupils involved.
• 4.2 Notwithstanding clause 4.1, the parties acknowledge that should a safeguarding concern arise, personal data or sensitive personal data relating to a pupil may, if required, be shared by the NSPCC (in exercise of its statutory power to protect children) with statutory agencies, including Children’s Services, UK Police forces, Serious Crime Agency and Adult Social care in the relevant local authority, within the United Kingdom, each acting as a data controller for use by such recipient agencies in accordance with their statutory powers and in accordance with provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018.
• 4.3 If the School receives a request from a pupil or parent/carer to access information held by the NSPCC, the School must direct the individual to put their request in writing to the NSPCC Schools Service or Data Protection Officer, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH. dataprotectionoffice@NSPCC.org.uk

5. Programme materials:

• 5.1 The NSPCC owns, or has the licence to use, all intellectual property rights in the materials used by the School in the delivery of the Programme.
• 5.2 The NSPCC provides the School with a non-exclusive and terminable licence to use and distribute the materials provided to the School by the NSPCC for the sole purpose of the delivery of the Programme to pupils for the aims as detailed in the Programme details.
• 5.3 The materials are to the best of NSPCC’s knowledge accurate and up to date at the time of delivery of the Programme.

6. Liability

The School shall at all times remain solely responsible for the provision of care to the pupils. To the extent permitted by law, the NSPCC excludes liability in respect of all claims arising out of or in connection with the provision of care to the pupils involved in the delivery of the Programme and the School shall indemnify the NSPCC against any claim made against it by a pupil or a person who has parental responsibility of a pupil or on behalf of a pupil to the extent that the claim arises as a result of the default, negligence or other act or omission of the School or its personnel to comply with any of its obligations in relation to the delivery of the Programme.

Cytundeb Gwasanaeth Ysgolion yr NSPCC

Gwasanaeth Ysgolion yr NSPCC – Cytundeb Ysgolion (“Cytundeb”)

• 1.1 darparu adnoddau sy’n briodol i oedran (gwasanaethau rhithiol ac adnoddau addysgu) i’r ysgol, er mwyn cyflwyno’r Rhaglen. 
• 1.2 Darparu gweithdai wyneb yn wyneb ar gyfer plant 6-7 oed a 9-11 oed ar ôl cytuno ar sail eu capasiti. 
• 1.3 rhoi gwybodaeth ddigonol i'r Ysgol ar gyfer rhieni/gofalwyr i'w galluogi i wneud penderfyniad ar sail gwybodaeth am gyfranogiad eu plentyn yn y Rhaglen, gan gynnwys gwybodaeth allweddol am y Rhaglen, ei phwrpas a'i hamcanion.
• 1.4 galluogi’r ysgol i gael gafael ar arolygon i roi adborth ar y Rhaglen. 
• 1.5 ar gais, rhoi’r ddogfen “Polisi Canmoliaeth, Sylwadau a Chwynion yr NSPCC” i’r ysgol ar gais yr ysgol

• 1.6 sicrhau bod y Rhaglen yn cael ei chyflwyno mewn modd sensitif ac sy’n briodol i oedran.
• 1.7 darparu hyfforddiant (os oes angen), er mwyn galluogi’r rhai sy’n darparu’r Rhaglen i adnabod ac ymateb yn briodol i faterion amddiffyn a diogelu plant. 
• 1.8 sicrhau bod y Rhaglen, o ran y cynnwys a’r ddarpariaeth, yn glynu wrth egwyddorion, safonau a deddfwriaeth a chanllawiau diogelu cydnabyddedig.   
• 1.9 sicrhau bod pob aelod o staff, gwirfoddolwyr a hyrwyddwyr yr NSPCC sy’n gysylltiedig â chyflwyno’r Rhaglen wedi cael archwiliad manwl gan y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd (sef archwiliad gan y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd yng Nghymru, Lloegr ac Ynys Manaw), Access NI (Gogledd Iwerddon) neu Archwiliadau Grwpiau Agored i Niwed (sy’n cael eu rheoli a’u cyflawni gan Disclosure Scotland, yn yr Alban).
• 1.10 sicrhau bod ei staff, ei gwirfoddolwyr a’i hyrwyddwyr a fydd yn cymryd rhan yn y gwaith o gyflwyno’r Rhaglen yn cydymffurfio â gweithdrefnau amddiffyn plant yr Ysgol, ac unrhyw bolisïau neu weithdrefnau eraill y bydd yr Ysgol yn tynnu eu sylw atynt tra byddant ar safle’r ysgol.
• 1.11 sicrhau bod y staff, y gwirfoddolwyr a’r hyrwyddwyr yn cynghori’r plant sy’n cymryd rhan o’r terfynau cyfrinachedd. 

• 2.1 rhoi gwybodaeth i rieni / gofalwyr am y Rhaglen;
• 2.2 bod yn gyfrifol am benderfynu a ddylid gofyn am ganiatâd rhieni/gofalwyr cyn i blentyn gymryd rhan yn y Rhaglen;
• 2.3 sicrhau bod yr athrawon dosbarth yn bresennol gydol cyfnod cyflwyno’r Rhaglen er mwyn i staff fod yn gyfarwydd â'r negeseuon allweddol a gallu cefnogi'r plant ar ôl y sesiynau. 
• 2.4 sicrhau bod digon o le a chyfleusterau ar gael i gynnal y Rhaglen ar yr adeg a fynnir ac maent yn unol â'r ddeddfwriaeth Iechyd a Diogelwch gyfredol. 
• 2.5 sicrhau bod gan unrhyw aelod o staff yr Ysgol sy'n ymwneud â chyflwyno'r Rhaglen wiriad DBS uwch dilys – hynny yw, gwiriad gan y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd yng Nghymru, Ynys Manaw a Lloegr, Access NI yng Ngogledd Iwerddon neu wiriad PVG a reolir ac a ddarperir gan Disclosure Scotland yn yr Alban.
• 2.6 gwneud staff, gwirfoddolwyr neu hyrwyddwyr yr NSPCC sy’n gysylltiedig â chyflwyno’r Rhaglen yn ymwybodol o weithdrefnau amddiffyn plant yr Ysgol ac unrhyw weithdrefnau neu bolisïau perthnasol eraill sydd gan yr Ysgol.
• 2.7 peidio â rhannu cynnwys nac adnoddau gydag ysgolion neu rwydweithiau eraill heb gael caniatâd gan yr NSPCC ymlaen llaw.
• 2.8 o fewn deg diwrnod i gyflwyno’r Rhaglen, annog staff a disgyblion sy’n cymryd rhan (h.y. disgyblion fel y bo’n briodol i bob cynnig) i lenwi’r arolwg perthnasol. Mae hyn yn helpu i lywio datblygiad y Rhaglen yn y dyfodol.

• Mae pryder yn ymwneud â diogelu plant yn wybodaeth sy’n awgrymu bod plentyn yn dioddef, neu’n debygol o ddioddef, niwed arwyddocaol. 
• Mae pryder yn ymwneud â lles plant yn wybodaeth sy’n awgrymu bod iechyd neu ddatblygiad plentyn yn dioddef, neu o bosibl yn dioddef, ond sydd ddim yn cael ei ystyried yn un sy’n cwrdd â’r trothwy o ran pryder yn ymwneud â diogelu plant.

Mae diogelwch a lles plentyn o'r pwys mwyaf. Os bydd pryderon yn ymwneud â diogelu yn codi yn ystod cyfnod darparu'r Rhaglen, cytunir ar y canlynol:

• 3.1 Os bydd aelod o staff yr ysgol sy’n ymwneud â darparu'r Rhaglen yn codi pryder, byddant yn dilyn gweithdrefnau'r Ysgol ac yn pasio’r wybodaeth ymlaen i'r athro penodedig ar gyfer amddiffyn plant.
• 3.2 Mae gan yr NSPCC bwerau statudol yng Nghymru, Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon o dan Ddeddf Plant 1989 sy’n golygu bod ganddo Statws Person Awdurdodedig i weithredu i amddiffyn plant ac y gall weithredu'n annibynnol os oes angen, i sicrhau diogelwch plant. Nid oes gan yr NSPCC Statws Person Awdurdodedig yn yr Alban

Pan fydd darparu'r Rhaglen yn cynnwys gwirfoddolwyr neu hyrwyddwyr yr NSPCC sy'n mynychu'r ysgol yn bersonol, cytunir ar y canlynol hefyd:

• 3.3 Cyfrifoldeb yr ysgol bob amser yw sicrhau bod ei holl weithdrefnau diogelu’n cael eu dilyn pan fydd gwirfoddolwr, hyrwyddwr, neu aelod o staff yr NSPCC sy’n ymwneud â'r gwaith o ddarparu’r Rhaglen, wedi rhoi gwybod am bryder amddiffyn plant a/neu fater cysylltiedig â lles plentyn.
• 3.4 Os bydd pryder diogelu sy'n ymwneud ag ymddygiad aelod o staff yr Ysgol yn codi wrth ddarparu'r Rhaglen, bydd yr NSPCC yn codi’r mater gyda'r Pennaeth ond yn cadw'r hawl i gysylltu'n uniongyrchol â'r Swyddog Arweiniol Diogelu Plant mewn Addysg a/neu'r Swyddog Dynodedig (Gogledd Iwerddon – Gwasanaeth Cymorth Amddiffyn Plant).
• 3.5 Os bydd gwirfoddolwr, hyrwyddwr, neu aelod o staff yr NSPCC yn nodi pryder diogelu, byddant yn dilyn gweithdrefnau’r Ysgol a'r NSPCC. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys uwchgyfeirio i'r athro dosbarth (os yw'n bresennol ar y pryd) a'r athro dynodedig ar gyfer amddiffyn plant, neu’r Pennaeth (os yw ar gael) a Chydlynydd Ysgolion yr NSPCC cyn iddynt adael safle'r Ysgol.
• 3.6 Os bydd amgylchiadau’n codi lle'r ystyrir bod angen sylw meddygol brys ar blentyn neu berson ifanc, neu fod plentyn neu berson ifanc mewn perygl uniongyrchol, bydd staff, gwirfoddolwyr neu hyrwyddwyr yr NSPCC yn ymdrechu i ddilyn gweithdrefnau'r Ysgol, ond mewn argyfwng, mae'n ofynnol iddynt gysylltu â'r gwasanaethau brys yn ddi-oed.
• 3.7 Os rhoddir gwybod am bryder diogelu, bydd aelod o staff yr NSPCC yn cysylltu â'r ysgol o fewn 24 awr i ganfod pa gamau y mae'r Athro Penodedig ar gyfer Amddiffyn Plant yn bwriadu eu cymryd.  
• 3.8 Os rhoddir gwybod am bryder amddiffyn plant, bydd manylion y pryder hwn, y camau a gymerir a'r risg a nodwyd yn cael eu cofnodi gan yr NSPCC a'u hatgyfeirio at yr Athro Dynodedig ar gyfer Amddiffyn Plant o fewn un diwrnod gwaith. Bydd y manylion hyn hefyd yn cael eu cofnodi ar gronfa ddata'r NSPCC.
• 3.9 Bydd aelod o staff yr NSPCC yn cysylltu â’r Ysgol er mwyn cael gwybodaeth ddilynol am unrhyw bryderon amddiffyn plant newydd a atgyfeiriwyd i'r Ysgol i sefydlu pa gamau a gymerwyd, ac unrhyw ganlyniadau, o fewn 24 awr neu 5 diwrnod gwaith yn dibynnu a yw sgôr risg yr NSPCC yn uchel neu'n ganolig. Ar gyfer lles plant, gofynnir am adborth heb fod yn hwyrach na 5 diwrnod gwaith lle bo angen, yn dibynnu ar lefel yr wybodaeth a gasglwyd ar ddechrau'r cyfnod y gwnaeth aelod o staff yr NSPCC rannu'r pryder â'r ysgol.
• 3.10 Os bydd sefyllfa annhebygol yn codi lle na ddilynir gweithdrefnau’r Ysgol, neu na chymerir camau diogelu priodol gan yr Ysgol, bydd yr NSPCC yn ceisio datrys y mater gyda'r Ysgol. Fodd bynnag, mae'r NSPCC yn cadw'r hawl i uwchgyfeirio hyn ymhellach trwy gyfeirio at asiantaethau statudol fel Gwasanaethau Plant/CPSS yng Ngogledd Iwerddon.  Byddwn yn rhoi gwybod i'r Pennaeth am y camau hyn.

4. Cyfrinachedd a chofnodion rhannu gwybodaeth:

• 4.1 Ni fydd yr NSPCC, fel mater o drefn, yn cadw cofnodion am blant unigol, cymryd rhan yn y Rhaglen, ond bydd angen i ni gadw cofnodion mewn perthynas â chynllunio, paratoi a darparu'r Rhaglen a fydd yn cynnwys gwybodaeth am y staff rydym yn siarad â nhw a nifer y disgyblion oedd yn gysylltiedig. 
• 4.2 Er gwaethaf cymal 4.1, mae’r partïon yn cydnabod, os bydd pryder yn ymwneud â diogelu yn codi, y gall data personol neu ddata personol sensitif sy’n ymwneud â disgybl gael ei rannu gan yr NSPCC (wrth arfer ei phŵer statudol i amddiffyn plant) ag asiantaethau statudol, gan gynnwys Gwasanaethau Plant, Heddlu’r DU, yr Asiantaeth Troseddau Difrifol a Gofal Cymdeithasol i Oedolion yn yr awdurdod perthnasol yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae pob un yn gweithredu fel rheolydd data i’w ddefnyddio gan asiantaethau o’r fath yn unol â’u pwerau statudol ac yn unol â darpariaethau Deddf Diogelu Data 2018. 
• 4.3 Os bydd yr Ysgol yn cael cais gan ddisgybl neu riant/gofalwr am weld gwybodaeth a ddelir gan yr NSPCC, mae’n rhaid i'r Ysgol ddweud wrth yr unigolyn wneud ei gais yn ysgrifenedig a'i anfon at y Gwasanaeth Ysgolion neu'r Swyddog Diogelu Data, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, Llundain, EC2A 3NH. dataprotectionoffice@NSPCC.org.uk

5 Deunyddiau'r rhaglen:

• 5.1 Mae'r holl hawliau eiddo deallusol yn y deunyddiau y bydd yr ysgol yn eu defnyddio i gyflwyno’r Rhaglen yn eiddo i'r NSPCC, neu gan yr NSPCC y mae'r drwydded i'w defnyddio.
• 5.2 Mae'r NSPCC yn rhoi trwydded barhaus, anghyfyngedig y gellir ei dirwyn i ben i'r Ysgol i ddefnyddio a dosbarthu'r holl ddeunyddiau y mae'r NSPCC wedi’u darparu i'r Ysgol at ddibenion cyflwyno'r Rhaglen i ddisgyblion a’u rhieni/gofalwyr er mwyn cyflawni'r nodau sydd wedi’u nodi ym manylion y Rhaglen.
• 5.3 Hyd y gwyddys yr NSPCC, mae’r deunyddiau yn gywir ac yn gyfredol adeg cyflwyno'r Rhaglen.