Welcome to Harris Academy Sutton

Child on Child Abuse

 

 

 

What is Child  on Child  abuse? 

Children can abuse other children (often referred to as Peer on Peer abuse) and it can take many forms. It can happen both inside and outside of school and online. This can include (but is not limited to): 

  • bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying); 

  • abuse within intimate partner relationships; 

  • physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm; 

  • sexual violence and sexual harassment; 

  • consensual and non-consensual sharing of nude and semi-nude images and/or videos; 

  • causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, such as forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party; 

  • upskirting and initiation/hazing type violence and rituals 

 

Child-on-Child abuse is harmful to both the perpetrator and the victim. Children who harm others may have additional or complex needs (e.g., significant disruption in their lives, exposure to domestic abuse, witnessing or suffering abuse, educational under-achievement, or being involved in crime).   

Actions the school will take 

The school deals with behaviour on a day-to-day basis and is dealt with in accordance with our relevant policies. These are outlined in the following policies: 

Behaviour & Anti-Bullying Policy 

E-Safety Policy 

Attendance & Punctuality Policy 

Sex and Relationship Education Policy 

The school will also act to minimise the risk of Child on Child abuse by ensuring a safe environment, promoting positive standards of behaviour, have effective systems in place where children can raise concerns and provides safeguarding through the curriculum via our Tutor Time Personal Development Curriculum and other subject based opportunities. We also make use of our full time on-site counsellor and our wider Pastoral Team.  

Action on serious concerns 

The school recognises that children may abuse other children physically, sexually and emotionally; this will not be tolerated or passed off as ‘banter’ or ‘part of growing up’. The school will take this as seriously as abuse perpetrated by an adult and address it through the same processes as any safeguarding issue. We also recognise that children who abuse others are also likely to have considerable welfare and safeguarding issues themselves. 

Child on Child abuse may be a one-off serious incident or an accumulation of incidents. Staff may be able to easily identify some behaviour/s as abusive, however in some circumstances it may be less clear. In all cases the member of staff will discuss the concerns and seek advice from the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). 

Any suspicion or allegations that a child has been sexually abused or is likely to sexually abuse another child (or adult) should be referred immediately to Children’s Social Care and the Police.